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Play to function windows media player failed to initialize playlist

Anonymous
2011-11-12T18:48:41+00:00

Hi,

When I try to play videos to my Sony bravia TV after right clicking and selecting play to and the device, 95% of the time it says failed to initialize playlist while other times it just hangs on connecting. I have used this many times before without problems but now it doesn't work. I haven't done anything to windows media player (as I use VLC) and haven't made any changed to system files other than installing and uninstalling programs. I've tried removing media player from windows features and then ticking it in again with no luck. Any video file I choose i play in media player itself on my PC and it plays with no problems

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-11-22T21:25:07+00:00

    Try this quick walk through:

    Fix A Corrupt Windows Media Player Database

    First thing that needs to be done is to stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. This service controls media sharing over your network but it also locks the database file so it can’t be deleted by the user.

    To stop this service enter task manager (crtl+alt+del) and select the services tab.

    Find “WMPNetworkSvc” in the list then right-click and select “Stop Service”.

    If you receive a denied error you can also stop the service from the “Services” button at the bottom.

    Open Windows Explorer and go to “\Users\YOUR USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player”. It may be hidden but you can enable hidden folders to be shown on your pc by going to Control Panel > Folder Options and enabling showing hidden folders.

    Once you’re in the folder, locate the “CurrentDatabase_371.wmdb” file and delete it. If you receive a permission denied error the “WMPNetworksvc” may not have been stopped or you may need to restart your machine and start again.

    Once the wmdb file has been deleted, restart Windows Media Player and the database should begin to repopulate.

    eddie b

    6 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2011-11-22T21:43:09+00:00

    Try this quick walk through:

    Fix A Corrupt Windows Media Player Database

    First thing that needs to be done is to stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. This service controls media sharing over your network but it also locks the database file so it can’t be deleted by the user.

    To stop this service enter task manager (crtl+alt+del) and select the services tab.

    Find “WMPNetworkSvc” in the list then right-click and select “Stop Service”.

    If you receive a denied error you can also stop the service from the “Services” button at the bottom.

    Open Windows Explorer and go to “\Users\YOUR USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player”. It may be hidden but you can enable hidden folders to be shown on your pc by going to Control Panel > Folder Options and enabling showing hidden folders.

    Once you’re in the folder, locate the “CurrentDatabase_371.wmdb” file and delete it. If you receive a permission denied error the “WMPNetworksvc” may not have been stopped or you may need to restart your machine and start again.

    Once the wmdb file has been deleted, restart Windows Media Player and the database should begin to repopulate.

    eddie b

    current database was 372 and WMPN... wasn't running, so I deleted 372 and tried it and now it works, thanks :)

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2011-11-18T10:12:32+00:00

    Forgot to add that certain files play, but others don't. A few video files I played before with no problems, arn't playing now and comes up with failed to initialize playlist.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-18T10:03:11+00:00

    I tried all of those suggestions with no luck. When I came to redo the troubleshooter, even when it found and corrected the problem the first time (the yellow triangle was still there) it found a problem again the second try and with the yellow triangle. 

    The issue that was found on the playlist is that the media library is corrupted and it followed on to recreate it.

    The second issue that was found on the player settings was that config settings were set incorrectly and was reset to the defaults.

    I've restarted and still am receiving the same error that WMP is failing to initialize playlist.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-11-13T12:21:47+00:00

    Hi,

    What is the format of the file are you trying to play?

    Method 1:

    I would suggest you to run the media player settings troubleshooter and check if it helps.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Windows-Media-Player-Settings-troubleshooter

    Method 2:

    I also suggest you to run the media player library troubleshooter and check if it helps.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Windows-Media-Player-Library-troubleshooter

    For more information you may also refer the below article:

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Play-an-audio-or-video-file-frequently-asked-questions

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