How to make 64bit Win Media Player the default?

[jonesad]

Hello -
Still getting everything set up on my Vista 64 bit box. I noticed that when I opened a WMV, it launched the Windows Media Player start up wizard, and I chose to add an icon for it to my quick launch. When I checked the properties of the quick launch, I noticed it was pointing to the (x86) Program Files, so I changed it to point to the regular (64 bit) version.

However, I think since I ran that set up, and WMV file I open will play with the 32 bit version, and I'd prefer to run the 64bit since I can.

So, do I need to do anything special? Also, are there any other items that default to the 32 bit versions? I already fixed the quick launch for Internet Explorer but let me know of anything else.

Thanks!

[Kowan]

Have you tried setting WMC as default in Control Panel/AutoPlay?

[Slade]

I just noticed this too... also noticed not all codecs work with WMP64...

[pxc]

^^ heed that warning

If you still want to switch, I found instructions on mydigitallife and packaged it up as files:

wmpx64.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \App Paths\wmplayer.exe]
@=hex(2):25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46, 00,69,00,6c,00,65,\
00,73,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73, 00,20,00,4d,00,\
65,00,64,00,69,00,61,00,20,00,50,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00, 72,00,5c,00,77,\
00,6d,00,70,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78, 00,65,00,00,00
"Path"=hex(2):25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,0 0,69,00,6c,\
00,65,00,73,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77, 00,73,00,20,00,\
4d,00,65,00,64,00,69,00,61,00,20,00,50,00,6c,00,61,00,79,00, 65,00,72,00,00,\
00



wmpx64.bat
%windir%\system32\unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:64

wmp-32.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \App Paths\wmplayer.exe]
@=hex(2):25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46, 00,69,00,6c,00,65,\
00,73,00,28,00,78,00,38,00,36,00,29,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,69, 00,6e,00,64,00,\
6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,64,00,69,00,61,00,20,00, 50,00,6c,00,61,\
00,79,00,65,00,72,00,5c,00,77,00,6d,00,70,00,6c,00,61,00,79, 00,65,00,72,00,\
2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,00,00
"Path"=hex(2):25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,0 0,69,00,6c,\
00,65,00,73,00,28,00,78,00,38,00,36,00,29,00,25,00,5c,00,57, 00,69,00,6e,00,\
64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,64,00,69,00,61,00, 20,00,50,00,6c,\
00,61,00,79,00,65,00,72,00,00,00



wmp-32.bat
%windir%\system32\unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:32


Save the 4 files with the name given. To switch to WMP x64, double click wmpx64.reg and import it into the registry, then run wmpx64.bat as administrator to switch WMP over.

Same goes for going back to 32-bit. Double click wmp-32.reg and import it and run wmp-32.bat as administrator.

The reg files just add or remove (x86) from the 2 keys and you can do it manually if you prefer.

I went back and forth and it didn't seem to cause any problems with the above files. It does switch which one is registered by default. It's a small change but use it at your own risk. /disclaimer

[Drexl]

I just noticed this too... also noticed not all codecs work with WMP64...

Yep, I had a file play the audio but not the video on 64-bit WMP, but the 32-bit version played the video. I'll stick with 32-bit for the time being (Foobar is 32-bit only, and I'm not giving that up for music playback).

[markt435]

go here:

http://www.jtow.net/users/triess/

download the VistaCodec pack, scroll down a bit more and download the x64 component pack. it has some start menu entries that allow you to do what pxc posted. if you're lazy like me and don't wanna make the files lol. you can also switch back and forth if you need to. works like a charm :) i also made a shortcut to the x64 version and stuck it in a Media folder i made in the start menu.