Black screen When I open windows media player and try to play a video the screen freezes for a secon then goes black, I can't so anything but dump it..please I could do with some help

Which operating system ? Which version of Media player ?
Though designed with Windows 7 in mind, Windows Media Player 11 (WMP 11) is fully compatible with Windows XP.

The trick is knowing which version of WMP 11 to download.
Different versions of the software exist not only for Windows 7, Vista, and XP, but also for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows XP.

Additionally, WMP 11 is only compatible with XP if it is using Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3. Before downloading the appropriate installation file, you will need to verify which version your system requires.

Open the "Start" menu.
Open "My Computer."

Click "Help", then select "About Windows."
This will display a window with system information.

Find the listing that specifies your Service Pack. If you are operating without Service Pack 2 or 3, you will need to install one (see Resources).


Open the "Start" menu and click "Run." Within the text field, type "winmsd.exe."

Click "OK." Select "System Summary."
Find the heading labeled "Item."

Under this heading should be the word "Processor."
The value associated with "Processor" will determine which version of Windows XP you are running.

If the value begins with "x86," you are running a 32-bit version.
If it begins with "ia64" or "AMD64," then you are running a 64-bit version.

Download the Windows Media Player installation file that matches your version of Windows (see Below).
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/windows-media-player

Open the file once it has finished downloading.
This will launch the installation wizard.

Follow the onscreen instructions to install WMP 11.
The program should now run normally.
How to Fix Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center is the home entertainment hub on a Windows computer.
With Media Center, you can play live television, songs, DVDs and slideshows.

It is preinstalled on Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium/Ultimate Edition and Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions.

From time to time, users run into issues trying to play audio or video files, or with an extender connected to Media Center.

Extenders are devices that allow you to "extend" the Media Center onto a TV screen or larger display.

The Xbox 360 gaming console is an example of an extender.
Launch Windows Media Center from your computer's Start menu.

Scroll down to "Music" on the Media Center home screen.
Select "Music library."

If you find an empty folder under "Music Library," navigate to the folder on your hard drive that stores your music file and add it to Media Center's library.

If the problem isn't an empty folder, look at the file extension on the music file that won't play. Media Center can't play files with unknown or incompatible extensions.

If you find a questionable extension, skip that file. Click once on another file with a different extension, one you know is compatible with Media Center, and then click "Open" to test if you can play that one.

Media Center will play MP3, CDA, WAV and other music file formats.
Open Windows Media Player from the Start menu if you receive a codec error while trying to play either audio or video files.

If you open the file in Media Player, the codec will download automatically.
You should then be able to play the file in Media Center.

Troubleshoot your firewall settings if a Media Center extender doesn't work.
You'll have a problem using an extender if Windows Firewall blocks it.

Go to "Control Panel" from the Start menu and double-click on "Windows Firewall."
Click on "Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall."

Click to check "Media Center Extenders."
Click on "Apply."

Check external speaker cables to make sure they're connected if you can't hear any sound. Check the computer's volume settings by clicking on the "VOL+" icon at the bottom right corner of the main Media Center screen to make sure the volume is not turned off or down too low.

You may need to reconfigure your speakers if you're having volume or sound issues.
Scroll down to "Tasks" in the Media Center home screen and select "Settings."

Click on "General" and select "Windows Media Center Setup."
Click on "Set Up Your Speakers."

Follow the on-screen prompts to reconfigure your speakers.

ive got a kav60 netbook and the video and audio freezes, makes a nasty buzzing sound. i also have a problem with my mouse, it goes crazy, or sometimes doesnt respond unless i apply pressure to one side of the netbook (slightly bending). tried disconnecting the touchpad, and applying an external usb mouse, but it sometimes freezes the cursor,or the cursor does its own thing. please help

The video file you have might be encoded with a codec you don't have installed.
There are codec packs which cover the most of them, so that media players can play videos.
You can try downloading the most popular I know, k-lite codec pack from here. And try to play the video again.

If you don't want to mess with codecs and stuff, you can always try downloading vlc media player, that plays nearly anything without the need of separate codecs.

sounds funny anyway i know when i want to watch a movie thats all i want to do. dont want to be download any software or anything... anyway please download vlc player ( http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ ) this will play almost anything u throw at it...it just works period. it sounds like a virus but i would need some more info make sure ur antivirus software is up to date and please run windows update and also make sure all third party applications are up to date.

Try right clicking the file your trying to play go to properties click change next to opens with then select windows media player see if it will re-associate the files.
don't forget to give testimonial and the votes 4 thumbs up if I helped.

some movie may not use the same format, so sometimes you need to have 2-3 players

1 - windows media player ......... this comes with Windows

2 - VLC media player
http://www.gofree.com/vlcmediaplayer.php?gclid=CMrayLGZsaYCFUdN4AodiAedoQ

3 - kantaris -

http://download.cnet.com/Kantaris-Media-Player/3000-2139_4-10702958.html

please be careful and know the the site you getting the movie from

maybe the windows has this security issues. coz from my point of view windows vista is dedicated on security. so that's why you cannot rip most of the songs very well.

Please download klcodec375f install it then restart and play all type movie file on your windows media player. Or you can also use VLC player.

Hello,
You can download free media players from the: Web WInamp, RealPlayer, QuickTime for Windows. There is a version of VLC you can install on and run from a USB key (pendrive). To download it go to PortableApps.com

Hope it helps.

down load vlc media player (video lan client ) it plays anything you can thinkof ask.com it