Its a very common problem and occurs when you install a new Windows Media Player skin by replacing "wmploc.dll" file in "System32" folder.
Actually almost all WMP interface resources are stored in "wmploc.dll" file and most of the designers modify this file and replace existing resources with their customized ones to change the UI.
But "wmploc.dll" is a system file and whenever you start Windows Media Player, it checks the version number of this file and if a different version number is found, it shows an error message "Windows Media Player is not installed properly and must be reinstalled" similar to following screenshot:
As you can see in above screenshot, the error message indicates that the version number of "wmploc.dll" file should be "11.0.6002.16489" but the current file's version number is "11.0.6001.7000". It happened because the new file version number was different than the original file.
To fix this problem, you can restore the original "wmploc.dll" file but if you want to use the new customized file, then you'll need to follow a few simple steps which are as following:
METHOD 1: Using Command Prompt
1. Click on "Start button -> All Programs -> Accessories". Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run As Administrator". If you are prompted to enter password, enter the password and continue. You can also open Command Prompt in Administrator mode by typing "cmd" in Startmenu Search box and press "Ctrl+Shift+Enter".
2. Now provide following commands one by one:
unregmp2.exe /updatewmpversion
regsvr32 wmp.dll
3. It'll sync the WMP version number with Windows Registry and your problem should be solved.
METHOD 2: Using Resource Hacker
If the above method doesn't work, you can try following method which requires a little expertise.
1. Open "%windir%\System32\wmploc.dll" file in Resource Hacker and go to:
Version Info -> 1
2. In right-side pane, you'll see the file version info:
You'll need to replace all instances of the version number with the required and correct version number. For example, the new customized file contains version number "11.0.6001.7000" but the correct version number should be "11.0.6002.16489". So you'll need to replace all instances of "6001" with "6002" and all instances of "7000" with "16489" as shown in following screenshot:
3. Once you correct the version number, click on "Compile Script" button and save the file.
That's it. Now you'll be able to start Windows Media Player without any problem.
PS: If you don't have much idea about Resource Hacker, please go through following tutorial:
All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial
This article was posted by VG in following section: Resource Hacker, Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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ryan
wow thx so much worked like a charm
santosh
i thing troubleshoot problems by our own logic it's a real problem solving
blaze
Maybe you can't edit because you don't own or have write rights to directory "%windir%\System32\". Try moving the file out of the "%windir%\System32\" directory to some other location, maybe your desktop, edit it there...
FRANZ
its not working on me.. even if i changed my what is required to changed
RedHac
Hi,
I want to do the same thing but in command line, i used reshacker in command line to replace RCDATA resources ... but i can't update the version info section.
here is the command line i used:
ResHacker.exe -addoverwrite MyExe.exe, MyExe2.exe, version.rc, "Version info", 1030,
and i got this errors :
Error: Comma missing in - -addoverwrite Installer.exe, Installer2.exe, version.rc, Version info, 1030,
Error: invalid resource definition.
i copied all the version info of the visual studio generated rc fil in the version.rc file.
hoz can i update this ?
MSC
Hi,
My Lenovo laptop is running on Vista Home premium preloaded.
Had a problem with Windows media player after an automatic update. A dll - wmploc.dll was having a different version than expected by WMP. Found a tweak by VG using resource hacker. To do this the permission/ownership to the system32 folder had to be procured from TrustedInstaller to my administrator user logon. I am the only user for this laptop. The tweak worked, and the WMP worked fine. The write permission to the system32 folder was reset as before. The ownership was not able to be restored since the TrustedInstaller user was not found.
After the restart found couple of updates listed in the queue. Installed that and again had a restart. Then when I tried to connect to the internet, it says Dial-up cannot be found. I have 3 dial ups created for 2 mobiles and a WLL modem. None are seen when we look through the Internet options-connections or thru Connect To. And the system is not letting me create a new one. Saying no modems are connected, though it was. I tried System restore to the previous week and it took 4 hours to get restored. Then I found those dial ups, but only till the next restart. Again it went off. Network sharing centre is also blank. Not even settings are shown.
Dont understand how to get it done. Please help me.
Adroxxx
Thanks mate. Helped me a lot :D
abarcena
hi. i found this one and worked
this seems an easier/simpler solution and probably better. no need to tweak version numbers. just sync the version on the registry with what's actually installed.
Thanks Tweaking with Vishal
Thank you soo much, it worked for me. Thanks again
WIN7
i am using windows 7 x64 I tried the method 2 and 1 as well but no luck still now .
I am getting this message after updating version.
Windows Media Player not installed properly and must be reinstalled.