Windows Media Player

Some websites require the use of the Windows Media Player (WMP) for certain content such as embedded audio and video. This article describes how to get the WMP plugin working with Firefox or Mozilla Suite on Windows along with instructions for installing the ActiveX plugin for Mozilla and Firefox.

Security alert

Microsoft issued a security bulletin on Feb 14 2006 regarding a vulnerability in the Windows Media Player plugin file npdsplay.dll on Windows 2000 and Windows XP systems that could result in remote code execution when using non-Microsoft web browsers. Affected users should install the "Security Update for Windows Media Player Plug-in (KB911564)" available from Windows Update or from the download links given in the security bulletin. This will update npdsplay.dll to version 3.0.2.629.

New plugin - Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2

Microsoft's Technet division has developed a new Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin (file name "np-mswmp.dll") for Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2 systems. This new plugin can be installed to solve the missing plugin issue (see below) or to take advantage of its new features (e.g., scripting support) on systems that already include the standard WMP plugin. Instructions to install the new WMP plugin in Firefox or another browser are given below.

Missing plugin

A version of Windows Media Player is included on most Windows systems but the plugin files needed for certain webpage content may be missing. You may receive a message such as Unknown plugin (application/x-mplayer2) or you may be incorrectly directed to reinstall the WMP program, which is not a solution, since reinstalling or updating Windows Media Player does not add the missing plugins [1]). You can solve this problem as follows:

Installing the new plugin

The WMP plugin files are not included in Windows Vista [2] and may also be missing in some Windows XP SP2 systems. The new Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin for Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2 systems will solve this problem.

The plugin installer adds the file "np-mswmp.dll" to the Firefox installation directory plugins folder, typically C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins. In cases where the Firefox installation directory cannot be located, the plugin may be placed in another location such as "C:\PFiles\Plugins\" [3] [4] and you will need to copy the "np-mswmp.dll" file to the Firefox plugins folder.

If another browser that requires the WMP plugin is installed, the file "np-mswmp.dll" can be copied to the plugins folder of that browser, for example, to the "C:\Program Files\mozilla.org\SeaMonkey\plugins" folder for SeaMonkey.

Important: The new plugin works in SeaMonkey 1.0.x and SeaMonkey 1.1.x as well as in Firefox 1.5.x and Firefox 2; however, it does not work in the older Mozilla Suite or in Firefox 1.0.x [5] and may not work in other browsers. If the new plugin does not work in your browser, remove the file "np-mswmp.dll" from the browser plugins folder and follow the steps below to restore the standard WMP plugin.

Restoring the standard plugin

You can restore the standard WMP plugin files that are normally included on most Windows XP and earlier operating systems. To check for these files, type about:plugins into the location bar. There should be an entry for Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link Library (File name: npdsplay.dll) and two entries for Microsoft® DRM (File name: npdrmv2.dll and File name: npwmsdrm.dll). If you do not see these files, follow these steps:

1. If some or all of the files are missing, you can download the individual files from dlldump.com and place them in the Windows Media Player directory (usually C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player):
   • npdsplay.dll: http://www.dlldump.com/download-dll-files_new.php/dllfiles/N/npdsplay.dll/3.0.2.629/
   • npwmsdrm.dll: http://www.dlldump.com/download-dll-files_new.php/dllfiles/N/npwmsdrm.dll/9.00.00.3250/
   • npdrmv2.dll: http://www.dlldump.com/download-dll-files_new.php/dllfiles/N/npdrmv2.dll/9.00.00.32508/
2. Reopen your browser and see if the WMP plugin is now working. If it isn't, follow these additional steps:
3. A Windows Media Player Plug-in for Netscape Navigator installer (not supported on Windows Vista) can be downloaded here and should resolve the issue [6] but the included files are older versions. After running the installer, copy the more recent versions of npdsplay.dll, npdrmv2.dll and npwmsdrm.dll from dlldump.com to the Windows Media Player directory, if they were replaced by older versions.
4. If the Windows Media Player plugin still does not work, copy the npdsplay.dll, npdrmv2.dll and npwmsdrm.dll files to the installation directory plugins folder; for example, to the C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins folder in Firefox.

Alternative solution

Instead of restoring the missing WMP plugin, an add-on such as the MediaPlayerConnectivity Firefox extension (also available for SeaMonkey) can be installed to launch embedded media on a web page in an external player [7].

Testing

You can test the WMP plugin using these test pages:

• Broadband
• Narrowband (dialup)

If the above pages are unavailable, the Testing plugins article links to other audio video and embedded sound test pages that include WMP plugin tests.

Troubleshooting

Video is invisible or disappears when you click a control

• When the player is active, right-click on it and select 'Options...'
• At the bottom of the window should be a 'Video Acceleration' option. Change it from full to half by moving the slider.

Firefox crashes on exit if the WMP plugin has been used (Windows 2000)

• Double-click on the 'My Computer' icon on the desktop, then double-click on 'Control Panel'.
• Double-click on the Java icon to bring up the Java control panel.
• Click on the 'Update' tab, and then the 'Update Now' button.

WMP6 used even though WMP9 or later is installed

If the player controls look like they are from an older version of Windows Media Player:

• Right-click this link and save it to your desktop: http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/resources/wmp9.reg
• When it has downloaded, double-click it. A pop-up will ask if you want to add the information in it to the registry - click Yes.

If the above registry patch doesn't help then reinstalling a downloaded version of Windows Media Player, such as WMP10 or WMP11 for Windows XP, is reported to fix the problem [8] (details here).

"Cannot create DirectShow Player"

This could be a symptom of this problem. Failing that, try reinstalling WMP and installing the latest version of DirectX. Windows XP users with WMP 9 can try upgrading to WMP 10, and WMP 10 users can also try rolling back to WMP 9. Booting Windows in Safe Mode, deleting WMP, then reinstalling WMP may solve it.

Nothing happens when pressing Play

The players in the test links here have the status bar - it tells you what the player is doing. This is not always the case. Sometimes when you hit play on a player without a status bar, it seems like nothing happens - in fact, the player is probably just downloading enough of the file to start playing it (buffering) and if you give it a moment, it will start.

Illegal operation in Windows Media Player plugin

Illegal Operation in Plugin
Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link Library
The plugin performed an illegal operation. You are strongly advised to restart Navigator.

This can be caused by having JavaScript disabled. To enable JavaScript:

• Firefox: Click "Tools → Options → Content (or Web Features) → Enable JavaScript".
• Mozilla Suite: Click "Edit → Preferences → Advanced → Scripts & Plug-ins → Enable JavaScript for → Navigator"

Make sure that any extensions you might have that can block JavaScript are not blocking the site in question or are disabled. These include NoScript[9] and Adblock Plus.

Windows XP Home N or Windows XP Professional N

Because of a recent decision by the European Commission, Microsoft have been required to offer these new European versions of Windows XP Home/Pro in addition to the standard verisons, with Windows Media Player and all built-in media playback abilities removed - including the Windows Media Player plugin. The N stands for 'Not with Windows Media Player'. Because of the scope of the changes, you cannot simply install Windows Media Player to get full functionality back. Microsoft have released an update to convert Windows XP N to regular Windows XP (by restoring all the missing files). Users of Windows XP Home/Pro N will need to install this update to run the Windows Media Player plugin. This update is also available on Windows Update. This cannot be undone. After installing this update, the only way to revert back to Windows XP N will be to re-install Windows.

Player appears, player status bar says 'Ready', no error messages, but nothing happens when you click Play

Internet Explorer needs to be able to connect to the internet for the Windows Media Player plugin to work:

• Make sure that Internet Explorer is not set to Work Offline mode: To check if IE is in 'Work Offline' mode, open IE and open the File menu. There would be a tick by the 'Work Offline' option. Click it to take IE off Work Offline mode.
• Make sure that Internet Explorer's proxy settings are correct
• Make sure that IE and WMP are not blocked by your firewall.

This can also be caused by DSL/cable providers using Network Address Translation (NAT) not forwarding UDP packets properly. The solution is to disable UDP in Windows Media Player:

• In WMP, click Tools > Options
• Select the 'Network' tab
• Deselect 'UDP'

It has also been reported that reinstalling/upgrading/downgrading Windows Media Player can solve this.

Crashes or missing WMP controls while trying to play embedded WMV files

Your browser may crash or, if the video does play, the WMP controls (play/pause/stop) or right-click options may be missing [10]. This can happen when the VLC Media Player is installed and its own browser plug-in takes precedence over the WMP plug-in, causing a conflict. Remove the VLC plug-in file npvlc.dll from the Mozilla Suite or Firefox installation directory plugins folder so that embedded WMV files can play properly.

Player does not appear, but audio (sometimes) still plays - all plugin files are listed in about:plugins

If the Adblock extension is installed, the OBJ-TABS setting may hide the WMP plug-in. If you find this happens to you, disable Obj-Tabs in your Adblock options. If that doesn't work, try installing the new WMP plugin or restore the standard WMP plugin, as described above and place the plugin file(s) in your browser's plugins folder. The VLC Media Player plug-in has also been known to do this - try removing the VLC plug-in (see above).

Another problem where file may play audio but the video will play only on the Primary monitor even though both would otherwise have the same view. (Windows control panel, Display, Advanced, Displays)

Firefox 1.5.0.5

Firefox 1.5.0.5 has a bug that interferes with the Windows Media Player plug-in (fixed in Firefox 1.5.0.6).

Windows XP Media Center Edition

Windows XP Media Center Edition does not come with the Windows Media Player plugins so you will need to add them (see Missing plugin, above). If these solutions don't work, the update for Windows XP N (XP with no media playback ability (see Windows XP Home N or Windows XP Professional N, above) is reported to to add back the missing files and settings that allow Windows XP Media Center Edition to support the WMP plugins [11]. Warning: this update cannot be uninstalled. The only way to undo it is to re-install Windows, so attempt at your own risk. The update is here.

ActiveX

Some sites are coded to invoke Windows Media Player through ActiveX. An ActiveX plugin is available for some versions of Mozilla products, but it's generally not recommended.

See also

• Video or audio does not play
• Yahoo Music videos do not work

External Links

• Official Windows Media Player Support
• Step-By-Step Guide: Embedded Windows Media in Firefox MozillaZine forum topic
• Windows Media Player: WMP mini FAQ at zachd.com
• PluginDoc entry for Windows Media Player