Windows Media Player (WMP) 12 which comes with lighter and brighter user interface as well as several new features, is scheduled to be shipped with Windows 7. Unfortunately Microsoft is not planning to release it sooner than the official launch of Windows 7 and this leaves people who are eager to use the latest version of Windows Media Player restless.
While we only see WMP 12 is distant away from reaching, Mikasi2009, a user over at Devianart brings the lovely WMP 12 closer for grab by coming up with a way to install Windows Media 12 on Windows Vista. For what is worth, this guy is one of the lucky 1000 participants who got invitation for Windows 7 Beta 2 Closed Testers and has access to the Windows Media Player 12.0.7000.7000 original files from Windows 7 Build 7000.
How to install Windows Media Player 12?
1. Download this file and extract it.
2. - copy wmploc.dll in C:\Windows\System32
- copy Windows Media Player folder to C:\Program Files
Damn easy huh? Not really because overwriting on Windows Vista is not really that simple. For your information, Windows Vista has an annoying feature that deny ourselves from accessing our very own files on Windows Vista though we are the administrator! It's not covered here but you may take a look a tutorial on how to get around the problem at this reference (How to gain access on a system file in Windows Vista). The tutorial doesn't necessarily work for everyone but you can also examine other solutions provided by other users (comments) in the reference link.
Note: Please make sure to backup your files before proceeding. There is no roll-back-to-previous-version feature like in Windows XP otherwise you need to reinstall Windows Vista if your Windows Media Player goes haywire).
Technorati Tags: Windows Media Player 12, WMP 12, Windows Media Player 12 beta, Windows Vista, Windows 7
Jan 5, 2009 at 17:39:06
hmmmmm it doesnt seems to work when i replace and delete and paste it.. its stil my current window media player 11 on my xp.. need help.. i seen wmp12 cause im one of the beta tester window 7 built 7000
Jan 8, 2009 at 06:15:09
he did say it was for Vista
Jan 15, 2009 at 00:20:49
thanx for download link and explanations.
but i couldnt do.
because of system protection of “system 32″ folder.
i got back up files, in case of roll – back need.
then, tried to copy .dll file into system 32 folder, as you’ve told.
but “you need permission” screen came. i press “ok”.
“access denied, try again” screen came.
i turned on windows in “safe mode”.. but same result.
what have i to do?
Jan 18, 2009 at 20:18:56
I maneged to replace wmploc.dll in C:\Windows\System32 using the tutorial mentioned but in order to replace the folder Windows Media Player i have to repeat the steps for each file in the folder 59 files to be more exact, so i quited. Hope someone will make a toll to install this automaticaly.
I tested this on windows 7, and i liked it, espacialy the mini mode is very nice and practical, but it is to work-damanding to instal it on Vista.
Jan 20, 2009 at 11:16:32
wmplayer.exe is not a valid Win-32 application!!!!
wats dis man….!!????
Feb 4, 2009 at 15:43:59
yeah, wmplayer is not a valid win-32 application… its not working on vista dude.
Feb 17, 2009 at 04:14:55
this will not work on vista or xp because they are not capleble with windows vista or xp and when u get the windows saying not a system 32 applicatio its cuz its not going to work the best u could do is find a windows media player 12 thee because thats what am using…..
Feb 26, 2009 at 03:00:40
NOT WORKING.. Error is “wmplayer is not a valid win-32 application”
Please change subject or give a solution..
Have a nice day..
Mar 2, 2009 at 13:18:50
This is not a valid win32 application is an error which i get.
Mar 9, 2009 at 04:23:19
how can i uninstall it?
Apr 9, 2009 at 16:21:12
For those who are running 64bit windows, place the program in the C:\program Files (x86)
Apr 13, 2009 at 21:31:42
It’s easy for use
Apr 14, 2009 at 00:30:04
this doesn’t work either.
Apr 29, 2009 at 04:55:44
I came to this approach because I started, all of the sudden, to get the dreaded “failed to start” error message when attempting to start Windows media Player 11 version 11.0.6000.6336. After trying to find a way to uninstall it to reinstall it, not being able to see it in the programs list in control panel. Then after removing all relevant registry keys for Windows Media Player and renaming folders in c:\users\PC\appdata\microsoft\ that relates to Windows Media *, and then renaming the wmploc.DLL file found at %windir%\systemm32 to wmpploc.DL_.bak then I ran the WMP11 installer only to see that the f__tard of the installed still manages to DECIDE that I still have a “newer” version of WMP11 installed and that I cannot inscall because of this, even tho WMP is no where any more to be found in my system after my manual uninstall (did I forgot a file/directory, etc???), then I found this website, I tried to install WMP12 based on this guy’s instructions only to get the “wmplayer.exe is not a valid Win32 applicaton”.
I would HATE to have to do a reinstall of Vista JUST because of WMP not working, everything else works just fine. OR I can just use a different player like VLC, Nero show time, and/or WinAMP and just forget about this M$ crap (another reason why I shouldn’t have upgraded to Vista.)
And no, system restore wont fix this. Once you get hit by this problem you get “stigmated” M$ refused to provide users with an uninstaller in the event of a problem. And no, its not data errors on the hard drive, I ran the CHKDSK /F /R on the C: drive and no errors were found, and finally, no its not a virus/malware/spyware either.
I even tried the TupeUP utimily and it found a fixed just a few registry problems and MMP still gave its original error message (before trying to do the WMP12 “upgrade”)
DONT TRY THIS WMP12 UPGRADE, IT DOES NOT WORK IN WINDOWS VISTA 32BIT
May 18, 2009 at 15:05:09
Well duh it will not work for you guys. Windows 7 is x64 build. 32 bit vista will not work out.