Windows Media Player 11

[ibmuser]

Intalled WMP 11 - but when I load it, and get the screen to validate the operating system, I cannot click on the validate button (it does not to respond or activate at all). Can't uninstall it either for some reason. Anyone else had such issues or can anyone help here?

[Stargate199]

You probably don't have the WGA validation tool on your computer. You can find it on M$ website. Once that is installed, then you should be able to validate.

[ibmuser]

Actually I had validation tool, but the permissions of the data folder had to be reset. Thanks.

[beaker]

You might want to reconsider installing WMP11. It's major feature is new DRM, and it installs four more services.

One of the new services depends on the Universal Plug and Play Host which is a security vulnerability. This service basically opens port 5000 on your box.

So I suggest that you uninstall it.

[K0LO]

Which 4 services? I could only find one; the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service, which is easily disabled if you don't want to share your music library with other networked devices. Services are easily disabled. I've had UPNP disabled for ages on this box.

The new DRM is for commercial music services like Napster. You don't have to subscribe to these services if you don't agree with their terms and conditions.

I like the new Media Player. It's faster, better organized and better looking than the last version. There's no reason to throw it out if you can disable the parts that you don't like.

[Kyocera]

K0lo:

I like the new Media Player. It's faster, better organized and better looking than the last version. There's no reason to throw it out if you can disable the parts that you don't like.

I pretty much agree, I like it too.

[beaker]

I don't remember which four services they were, but I specifically remember that there were four less services in task manager after I uninstalled WMP 11.

I don't like having any unnecessary services on my box; I especially didn't like the UPNP service dependency. The new look/functionality did not justify the additional services for me.

[jdhurst]

WM 11 works just fine and validates just fine, but I am fed up to the teeth with this validation stuff popping up over and over and over and over again. This is driven by greed - nothing else. They are not solving the piracy problem, so they are just making everyone's life miserable in a thinly veiled attempt to extract as much money as possible via Digital Rights Managment. Rights only for the music industry and none for consumers who pay dearly for the stuff. ... JD Hurst

[ibmuser]

Good point. The issue is so ubiquitous - and here's one particularly perverse application of it:

http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/bpl.html