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Autoplay not working when attempting to directly open disc media with the File Explorer.

Anonymous
2014-06-13T00:02:49+00:00

I am unable to open audio discs by double clicking on the cd drive icon under This PC using File Explorer.  I receive an error stating "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action.  Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel."

I have already verified that the default program is set.  I have set the default program per the error message in the "Set Default Programs" window by selecting "Windows Media Player" and clicking "Set this program as default".  I have also made sure that in the "Autoplay" window, Audio CD is set to "Play audio CD (Windows Media Player).

When the audio disc is initially inserted into the pc,  the appropriate program(Windows Media Player) opens the media and begins playing the disc. 

I can right click on the disc icon in File Explorer, and select "Open Autoplay" and select the default program (Windows Media Player 12) and the media opens.

All attempts to play the disc from File Explorer by double clicking the disc icon, or right clicking and selecting "Play" fails with the error message mentioned above.

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-06-29T21:30:37+00:00

    After lots of research I was able to piece together a solution on my own.

    Solution: 

    To fix audio CD media:

    open regedit and navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AudioCD\shell\play\command and modify the Default value to C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe /device:AudioCD "%L"

    To fix DVD media:

    open regedit and navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DVD\shell\play\command and modify the Default value to C:\Windows\ehome\ehshell.exe /directmedia:discplayback

    These two registry entries will modify the default double-click and "Play" context menu actions for DVD and Audio CDs when being viewed from File Explorer.  The command line switches are specific to my selected default programs (windows media player for audio discs and windows media center for DVDs)

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-09-24T03:18:08+00:00

    I can't tell you how much this saved me, such a seemingly simple thing but for my client it was a big deal.

    Thank you so much for providing this answer it %100 worked for me when nothing else would.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-06-21T15:57:07+00:00

    Windows Media Player in Win 8 or 8.1 won't play a DVD movie disk or file due to licensing reasons.

    You will either have to activate Media Center, or use a 3rd party program...

    If it was activated before the upgrade, you may need to reactivate it.

    To set a default, you can right click on the drive or movie file, and select "Open With"....

    You can pick one that is already showing, or select "Choose Default Program"...

    Most every program on your computer that is capable of playing the file will show up on the list...

    This will work for any type of file that you want to set a default program to Open it...

    Like choosing Adobe Reader for a "PDF" file, for instance...

    I already stated that the media will play fine IF I manually open media player and play the disc OR if I insert the disc into the drive and let it open automatically.  The problem is not licensing, the problem is any attempts to play the disc from File Explorer by double clicking the disc icon, or right clicking and selecting "Play" fails with the error message.

    "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action.  Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel."

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-06-13T14:16:18+00:00

    Windows Media Player in Win 8 or 8.1 won't play a DVD movie disk or file due to licensing reasons.

    You will either have to activate Media Center, or use a 3rd party program...

    If it was activated before the upgrade, you may need to reactivate it.

    To set a default, you can right click on the drive or movie file, and select "Open With"....

    You can pick one that is already showing, or select "Choose Default Program"...

    Most every program on your computer that is capable of playing the file will show up on the list...

    This will work for any type of file that you want to set a default program to Open it...

    Like choosing Adobe Reader for a "PDF" file, for instance...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments