Corentin Cras-Méneur
Guest
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 Posted:
Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:32 am Post subject:
Re: incorrect syntax |
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Wendy Asea <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
Hi Wendy,
| Quote: | I have an eMac with OSX and have Windows Media Player 9. I'm trying to
view some videos and keep getting the message "the file name, directory
name, or volume label syntax is incorrect." The links seem to work for other
people so I don't know what's wrong. Any help would be greatly
appreciated!!
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That's a VERY common problem with this version of WMP (check the 20 000
other similar posts in the newsgroup).
The application is crippled by numerous bugs.
Let me recapitulate a few workaround for the most common bugs in this
app here:
The app won't install or launch at all:
- repair permissions on the drive (and reboot... it can't hurt)
- delete the WMP pref files:
~/Library/Preferences/Windows Media Player Prefs
~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.mediaplayer.plist
******************************************
The file refuses to play my streaming content:
- try downloading the .asx file (sometime the ASX file has a wmv
extension by mistake: download it anyway and proceed the same way). Once
on your hard drive, open it in a text editor and look for a link
starting by "mms://". Copy this link, go back in WMP and use the Open
URL command with this link to get your streaming content.
Many formats still won't work simply because we have no support for the,
(eg: third party codecs like ACELP.net or files with DRM 7). Supported
codecs are listed here:
http://tinyurl.com/4jka
WMP9 for Mac only supports DRM up to version 1.3.
Sometimes, making sure there is no special characters in the name of the
drive helps. Avoid accented letters for instance.
******************************************
I want to trash this software but the Finder tells me the files are
locked when I empty the trash:
- press the alt key when you empty the trash
******************************************
How can I clear the list of recent items:
- delete the "Windows Media Favorites" file in the pref folder. In other
languages, this file might have a localized name like:
"Favoris de Windows Media" in French.
******************************************
The plug-in doesn't seem to pick up that I try to access Windows Media
data and doesn't open the files/streams in my web browser:
- you need to properly setup the Internet Config Database for the file
and MIME types WMP supports. The easiest way nowadays is to do it
through the Internet Explorer preferences (the modifications will be
written back to the Internet Config database for all other browsers).
You'll find all the appropriate settings there:
http://tinyurl.com/76f5
******************************************
I can't play avi files in WMP:
- WMP on the Mac never ever ever ever intended to play these files. Use
QuickTime Player for that (you can install additional codecs like the
DivX or 3ivX codecs) or use VLC or MPlayer (both EXCELLENT .avi
players).
Same thing for .mp3 and wav files: use QT player or iTunes.
******************************************
A few additional common questions:
* When will all these issues be fixed: I don't know
* When are we going to have DRM 7 support ?? : I don't know
* Can I create and organize playlists like in Windows ??: No. Not from
WMP anyway but there is no reason why you couldn't use a third party app
to manage file lists and launch them in WMP.
*- I'm not a happy camper and I would like to express my opinion about
the app/send suggestions...: use this page:
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/feedback/suggestion.asp
Finally my personal favorite:
* Do you work for MS? : NO I DON'T. No use complaining or even insulting
me (I've seen that in the past). I don't work for MS and I don't have
any contact for people working on the Mac version of WMP.
I hope I haven't forgotten too many of the (most common) bugs in WMP9.
Corentin
--
--- Mac:MS MVP (Francophone) ---
http://www.mvps.org - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
MVPs are not MS employees - Les MVP ne travaillent pas pour MS
Remove "NoSpam" to e-mail me - Retirez "NoSpam" pour m'écrire
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