I spent the morning trying to install Windows Media Player Classic on Windows 11 22H2 with no luck. I tried everything I could possibly find on-line, with no luck.
I can't get it to show up under optional features, or under media features, in 'Turn Windows features on or off'. When I try installing the numerous methods from the command line using DISM I come up with the same errors everyone else with the same problem is experiencing.
The only solution I was able to run across was to reinstall windows, which is ridiculous considering there are hundreds of media players out there that install just fine, incluing the media player that came with Windows 11.
I've not had any trouble installing any of their various codec packages. The codecs just work.
I've had those installed for quite a while.
I can click on the WMA files from File Explorer, and they play find. The problem is for some reason Band In A Box needs the legacy media player to play the WMA Style demos according to the popup message I get when I click on the Demo Button in the Style Picker.
What version of BIAB are you running? I have Windows 11 and I have no issue playing demos. My Windows was a new install just 12 months ago. An option that might help is to activate "allow internet to play demos". For version 2025, this option is found under the "Demo" menu... click on the "+" sign and then select it from the dropdown list.
Band-in-a-Box uses standard tools and media functionality included with Windows. If your system does not include a media player etc., you probably have an "N" version without the media feature pack installed. There are some "N" editions of Windows distributed in the EU that do not include a media player, to comply with EU regulations. You can still download the complete set of missing features to restore all functionality of Windows. Search for and download Media Feature Pack
I've tried adding it using the "Optional Features" function, I've tried installing it from the command line, I've tried downloading several difference versions of Media Feature Pack with no luck.
Judging by the Windows support forums, I'm not alone. Some people seem to get it to work, others keep getting the same cryptic errors I have seen while trying to install it. If I click on the WMA files outside of Band in a Box the media player that came with Windows 11 plays the WMA file no problem.
To get it partially working in Linux under Wine, I had to add these files from my Windows 10 into the Wine System32. Just check what you have there now.
Can you describe the problem you are trying to solve in more detail? Maybe it isn't what you think it is. E.G. are you pressing the Demo button in the StylePicker, and do you see an error message? If so, you can see a log of the errors in Help | Utilities | Display Log
Do you actually *have* an N version of Windows? Open the Windows Event Viewer after trying to add the optional feature - I suspect you will find more details about the error there. May still be cryptic but it might give you a specific error message to search for.
I'm not positive if I have the N version, but I do not have any of the games or 3rd party applications loaded, so I'm guessing it is the N version This is what comes up in the System About page
Edition Windows 11 Pro Version 22H2 Installed on 8/31/2023 OS build 22621.4317 Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1041.0
The event log claims there is not enough memory resources are available to process this command. I guess it needs more than 16GB of ram and 300GB of free hard disk space to load the old media player.
The error I get in Event Log is Log Name: Application Source: WindowsMedia Date: 1/4/2025 11:02:36 AM Event ID: 4373 Task Category: None Level: Error Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: DeskPC Description: The description for Event ID 4373 from source WindowsMedia cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.
If the event originated on another computer, the display information had to be saved with the event. The following information was included with the event: Windows
Not enough memory resources are available to process this command.
The message resource is present but the message was not found in the message table.
When I try installing it from the command line I get
Windows update could not be installed because of error 2149842967 "" (Command line: ""C:\Windows\system32\wusa.exe" "C:\Users\DeskPC\Downloads\Windows_MediaFeaturePack_x64_1903_V1.msu" ")
I've pretty much given up. Aside from clicking on Style Demos I have no need for the old Windows Media Player. If I want to listen to the demo of a style I'll just open up Band-in-a-Box DAW Plugin Standalone.exe and use the demo button there which works.
I'm not positive if I have the N version, but I do not have any of the games or 3rd party applications loaded, so I'm guessing it is the N version This is what comes up in the System About page
Edition Windows 11 Pro Version 22H2 Installed on 8/31/2023 OS build 22621.4317 Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1041.0
This does NOT appear to be an N version.
Quote
When I try installing it from the command line I get
Windows update could not be installed because of error 2149842967 "" (Command line: ""C:\Windows\system32\wusa.exe" "C:\Users\DeskPC\Downloads\Windows_MediaFeaturePack_x64_1903_V1.msu" ")
1903 is for Windows 10, and the error indicates a version mismatch, so this makes sense. It appears that there is no longer a stand-alone download for the feature pack for Windows 11, as you've found out.
I don't think there would be a memory problem on your system, but you could monitor the Task manager while attempting to add the feature and see if anything unusual is happening.
In Settings | System | Optional Features | Scroll to bottom | More Windows Features, are Media Features and Windows Media Player (legacy) fully unchecked, partially checked, or fully checked? If it is checked or partially checked, you could try unchecking to remove, then reboot, and then check to re-add. On the other hand if most things are working properly for you maybe best to leave it alone and not risk making it worse.
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