Windows Media Player Won't Install on XP Home
- 1). Download the correct version of Windows Media Player. The XP operating system is only compatible with Windows Media Player 10 and 11, even though later versions of Windows Media Player are available.
- 2). Download the latest service pack for XP. Windows Media Player will not install unless you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 or 3 installed. To install the required service packs and any other operating system updates, click on the desktop start menu and select "Windows Update."
- 3). Download the correct bit version. Windows XP comes in a 32-bit and 64-bit version. A specific installation file for Windows Media Player exists for each bit type of the operating software. To see what bit type you have, click on the Control Panel in the desktop Start menu. Select "System," then "System Properties" and then the "General" tab.
- 4). Ensure that the computer has the required components. There must be at least 64 MBs of RAM, at least 200 MBs of free hard disk space, at least a 16-bit sound card, a CD or DVD drive, and the system must be using Internet Explorer 6 or later. To verify the amount of disk space or RAM, click the Control Panel in the desktop start menu. Select "System," then "System Properties" and then the "General" tab. To see the sound card type, click "Accessories" from the start menu. Then choose the "System Information" folder. Click the "+" symbol next to "Components." Select "Sound Device."
- 5). Install "Update Rollup 2" for Windows Media Center. If you are running Windows Media Center and haven't installed this update, you will not be able to install Windows Media Player 11. To see whether the update is installed, click "Run" in the desktop start menu. Type "appwiz.cpl" in the search field, and then click "OK." Check the "Show Updates" box. Look for "Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Hotfix (KB886904)" in the Currently installed programs list. If it is not available, click "Windows Update" from the Start menu and download the update.
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