A little while after setting up 64-bit codecs for Windows Vista, my Windows Media Sharing suddenly died (taking my ability to connect to Windows Media Center from my Xbox 360 with it) with what might be the most infuriating error message ever displayed:
Great. Which Windows setting or component has changed? Why does that stop sharing from working? How do I fix it? The “Web Help” link is no more useful. On top of this, whenever I tried to launch Windows Media Player from the Start menu, nothing would happen – inspecting the Task Manager, I could see WMP running, but it wasn’t doing anything. Killing that process would allow me to start Media Player, but if I selected the sharing option, all I got was that despicable error dialog. Anyway, after a ton of trial and error, I found a way to fix things. Seems neither a Windows setting nor a component had changed – the Windows Media Player library database had gotten messed up. Simply going to C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player and deleting all the files there allowed me to start up Windows Media Player. I had to re-specify which folders I wanted to watch, and let it re-create my library. Then I could start sharing again, and re-register my Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender. I don’t know whether switching Windows Media Player to 64-bit killed things, or whether it was some crashes I had (related to improperly set memory timings), but I’m glad to have music in my living room again.
Update: Apparently this happens on Windows XP, too. On XP, you can find the same folder at:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Local\Microsoft\Media Player
Tags: Windows Media Player, Windows Media Sharing, Windows Vista, Windows XP
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Whew…..many thanks for that. Same happened to me and I spent ages trying to find a fix until I saw this. Worked a treat!
You my friend are a life saver. why is it that we have to search the entire web for simple solutions to problems??? Thanks again
Again, thanks!! I was pulling my hair out! Tried everything and then ran across your answer. Worked great!
Thanks..
After reading your post (and having the same problem !!), I go within the ‘C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player’ folder and apply again permissions to be sure my user AND wmpservice user got all permission on those files and folders..
Then I go in MP / options / Library and Monitor Folders, to do a manual search over my file again, WMP did not treallyound new files butat least update it’s library…
And then I could start sharing again… WHITOUT recreating my library, configs, etc, etc…
Hope this help!
I’m having the same problem… but this didn’t work. I deletled all the files at the location. I never had any problems with it not opening but it does freeze up a lot of the times. I feels like I’ve tried everything and still try it over and over again just hoping it will sort itself out.
I don’t want to rollback to WMP 9. I hate it.
In all seriousness I would kiss you if I met you in real life. Amazing that a multi billion dollar corporation can not send me to a fix for their own software but a single person can. Linux here I come.
Have been trying to find a solution for this for quite some time now, so thank’s very much for the solution, it worked for me.
Sir (or madam)
You are a genius, I thank you
Ditto, thank you very much.
I found your blog whilst on hold to MS Customer Support…
Eric’s suggestion of giving the wmpservice user all permissions addressed my issue. Thanks!
THANKS DUDE!
This fixed my problem as well mate thanks alot! I was creating a raid floppy driver as I came across this blog I was minutes from cleaning the drive and rolling back to winxp media center! :P
You saved me HOURS and I get to keep DX10!! For now anyway :)
Why is it that we have to keep our guard up for Microsoft Updates that threaten the stability of our systems? Aren’t they the ones that made this software to begin with?
This didn’t work for me.
Still get thesame error, butthanks anyway.
I HATE VISTA…
Damn Microsoft, I searched for 3 hours for an answer throug Microsofts site, as usefull as a ball of wooden bulldozer!
Thanks a lot
Another thanks here. I deleted all of the files from that directory then rebuilt my library. Why can’t Microsoft put this on the Support page? It isn’t like it is more complicated than the other troubleshooting steps they have listed.
It fixed my problem! I guess another Vista “Security” issue.
With this post, and the additional information from Eric I was also able to resolve the issue (my user account didn’t have full control to one of the database files in the Media Player directory). Now I can enable sharing again.
Unfortunately for some reason my PC isn’t listening on TCP port 10243 however, which is required. My firewall is completely turned off and the Windows Media sharing service is started. I can’t figure out how to open that port. The Media Player sees that the Xbox wants to share my files and I allow it but the Xbox itself doesn’t want to see my PC and I think it is almost certainly because that port isn’t listening for any connections. Anyone know how I can force that port open? Thanks.
Hm. I didn’t identify the port problem directly, but way back I used to have a problem where the Xbox wouldn’t see the PC but the PC could see the Xbox. What I had to do (this is bizarre) is remove the association with the PC if it was there (in the Xbox system tab), then shut off both my PC and Xbox, then start the Xbox, then start the PC. Then I could associate. Weird, I know. I probably didn’t need to do all that, but it made it work.
Does anyone know where this can be found for XP as am obviously having the same problem but can’t find what to delete?
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player
Thanks.
This finally fixed it damn Microsoft. Thanks.
I had to go through an additional step since I previously had Media Center Extender installed. That was to delete my C:\Users\Mcx1\ folder in it’s entirety. It was only then I was able to relaunch WMP11′s media sharing utility.
Can you explain what to do alittle better on like were to go?????????????????????
this worked for me after i checked…
“Are you running Windows Vista? In that case you must go to Network
Connection and Sharing Center and turn on Media Sharing there for it to work.”
i think i installed something that took it off as well.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Spent hours trying to fix this, and then came across this blog – seconds later it was all fixed!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
fantastic been trying for a month to find a solution worked a treat!
unreal that MS can’t send out a fix
You star!
I think you should work for Microsoft!!!
This has been bugging me for ages and such a simple solution.
Thank you so much…that did the trick…you are the MAN!!!
Stumbled upon this blog, and you have my DEEPEST thanks! I was also having problems having Windows Media Player 11 recognize my portable devices after having installed a new motherboard, and this solution fixed that as well. Great find, and thank you so much!
HOLY CRAP! BRH is the man! I tryed all of this stuff and his solution worked for XP! Shut down your PC, Shut down the 360, Turn on the 360 wait till it boots, then turn on your PC. Media sharing worked like a charm! LOVE YOU BRH!
I followed the instructions on how to fix this issue and there were NO files on the “Media Player” folder and I’m still getting this error message
“Media sharing has been turned off because a required Windows setting or component has changed”
Anyone else run into my same problem?
My problem started right after my laptop joined the domain. Your fix worked perfectly. TY.
I’m the happiest man alive!!!!! It’s taken me ages but i finally had the sense to google it and i’m so glad I stumbled upon this website. I tried so hard to do the “man” thing and try and work it all out by myself.lol Just by deleting the WP flies sloved everything! Excellent!!!!!
thanks so much man totally worked! you rock.
dude…thank you..this was about to drive me f-ing crazy…you’re a life-saver.
you are the best!!!! for anyone afraid of doing what he suggests, it erases the information windows media player has colected about your file, not your files. Great trick. It worked for me. This dude deserves a grammy and a nobel prize!
Setting all permissions and deleting the folder as described did not help. Still can change settings of Media sharing.
OK a take back my last comment. I had to combine two things.
#1 I had to rename the folder.
#2 I had to add all permissions for the service WMP service.
Then I opened WMP and then I could access sharing again.
The first time I just opened did the permissions and it did not work. Then I deleted the folder and it did not work. The key was to go back in and add the permissions after the deleting of the folder.
Thanks.
How do you change/add the “wmpservice” with correct permission to that folder?
MUCH FUCKING RESPECT!!!! I’VE BEEN SEARCHING OVER 2 HOURS NOW, AND ALL I DID WAS COPY AND PASTE THE “Media sharing has been turned off because a required Windows setting or component has changed” INTO GOOGLE AND WAAADAAAM!!!! THIS NICE MAN/WOMAN WHATEVER HAD MY SOLUTION, I WAS NERVOUS TO TRY IT AS MY MEDIA PLAYER DIDNT HAVE TROUBLE STARTING OR ANYTHING, JUST ALL OF SUDDEN STOPPED SHARING.. BUT IT DID WORK, ONE DOWNFALL ( I HAVE OVER 400 GIGS OF FULL CD’S, SO GONNA TAKE FOREVER TO ORGANIZE THEM ALL AGAIN… WISH THERE WAS A WAY WITH OUT HAVING TO ADD LIBRARY AGAIN….. BUT YOU DA MAAAAN
Thanks, I spent a good hour searching the Microsoft website for a solution before resorting to pasting the message into Google and up popped your solution.
I didn’t know wtf because this happened to me right after installing Zune & Microsoft “security updates” ( breef pause for snickers and laughter). I did what you said and it is rebuilding my library. Thanks Microsoft!!! I love it when you tell me I need it and it causes more probs than before!!
Thanks matey!
Much appreciated!
You are a gun, come to south australia and ill buy you a beer!, What caused this to happen though would be nice to know as i didnt do anything different that i was aware of
I saw this asked before without an answer. Anyone know where to find on XP the same files that on vista are located at C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player and when deleted solve this problem
Try C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player
Ben-Thank you. I was not able to find any directory named Appdata or Media Player. Any ideas on how to find that directory
Sorry…
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Local\Microsoft\Media Player
I always forget that the old XP folder names were so long. The Application Data folder is probably hidden, too, so you’ll need to make sure to show hidden files.
MP1217
Also having the same problem on XP with setting up my xbox360 after it was “repaired/replaced”
The folder seems to be located in XP at
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player
unfortunately my folder is empty so I guess this fix won’t work for me :(
I had to rename the Media player folder rather than delete the files in it. Media player is currently rebuilding the library so hopefully will be able to share again afterwards.