Windows Media Player.. How to stop it from automatically creating files?

Question

Okay so there has been various threads on this BUT they seem extremely outdated (2009) and the "fix" I found for my problem has been patched? I think so.. although I'm not a Registry Editor pro or anything or the sorts, I cannot for the LIFE of me find these "values" or whatever they're called within said program. I found the folder tho but I'm so confused now.

My entire point is I want to stop WMP from creating the hidden "folder.jpg" and other automatically created album art files. They "overwrite" the original album art that is imbedded within the .mp3 files and show me whatever they deem should be the default for multiple .mp3s.

I saw this online:
"A simple Process Monitor review of the [version 12] player shows

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Preferences]
"LargeAlbumArtSize"=dword:00000320
"SmallAlbumArtSize"=dword:00000190

windows-media-player-destroys-the-album-art-pictures

Answer 1

Metadata of your music is automatically updated by the Windows Media Player.

Press the Windows key and E key, this will open the Windows Explorer for you.

Navigate to the folder “C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc”.

Right-click the hosts file and select Open with Notepad.

Copy and paste the lines below at the end of the Hosts file in Notepad.

127.0.0.1 windowsmedia.com

127.0.0.1 services1.windowsmedia.com

127.0.0.1 www.windowsmedia.com

127.0.0.1 redir.metaservices.windowsmedia.com.akadns.net

127.0.0.1 serviceswitching.metadata.windowsmedia.com.akadns.net

Click File on the Notepad menu bar and choose Save. Click File and Exit to close Notepad.

Restart the computer and check if the issue still persists.