Easy Start Guide for Windows Media Player 11 |
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June 2006
With Microsoft Windows Media Player 11, you can easily and quickly add the songs you want to your new portable media player.
There are three main tasks you need to learn before you can play your music on your portable media player. First learn how to put music on your computer that you want to sync (copy) to your portable media player. Second, learn how to connect to your portable media player, and third, sync the songs on your computer that you want to listen to on the portable player.
This article has the following sections:
Step 1: Ripping songs from CDs to your computerYou can use Windows Media Player 11 to rip (copy) songs from your CDs to your computer so that they become files on your computer. After that, you can sync the ripped songs with a portable media player, a Windows Mobile-based Smartphone or Pocket PC, or with other compatible portable media device; burn a customized music CD for enjoying at a party or in your car; or play the songs anytime from your computer without the hassle of having to find the original CD.
To rip music from a CD to your computerCheck that you are connected to the Internet and then start the Player. When you are connected to the Internet, the Player attempts to retrieve media information such as the album and artist name about the tracks being ripped from a Windows Media database that is maintained by Microsoft. The Player then adds the information to the files during ripping. If media information is incorrect or missing, you can add or edit it after ripping. For information about adding or editing media information, see Windows Media Player Help. (Optional) To select a different format or bit rate for the files that are created during ripping, click the arrow below the Rip tab, and then make your selections from the Format and Bit Rate commands. For more information about these options, click the arrow below the Rip tab, as shown in the following screen shot, and then click Help. You can also change the default settings later on the Rip Music tab of the Options dialog box. To access the Options dialog box, click the arrow below the Rip tab, as shown in the following screen shot, and then click More Options. Insert an audio CD into the CD drive, and then click the Rip tab, as shown in the following screen shot. By default, the Player begins ripping the CD automatically when you are in the Rip tab or when you first switch to it after the CD was inserted. You can also choose to have ripping begin immediately upon inserting the CD, or you can turn off automatic ripping from the Rip Music tab of the Options dialog box. For information about changing these settings, see Windows Media Player Help. Note that all songs are selected to be ripped if you have not previously ripped them. (Optional) As the Player begins to rip the CD, clear the check boxes next to any songs that you don't want to rip. Or, you can temporarily stop the rip process to make your selections. To do this, at the bottom of the List pane, click Stop Rip, as shown in the following screen shot. (Note that partially ripped songs are not saved.) Select the songs you want to rip, and then, at the bottom of the List pane, click Start Rip to restart ripping, as shown in the following screen shot. (Optional) In some instances, you may be prompted to manually add missing media information after ripping has completed. For information about adding or editing media information, see Windows Media Player Help.
After the songs have been ripped, you can find and play them in your library.
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Step 2: Connecting your portable media player to your computerTo connect your portable media player to your computer, you must have Windows Media Player open on your computer. Also, your portable media player and the cables that came with it should be with you.
To connect your portable media player to your computerIn the Player, click the Sync tab. Turn on your portable media player. Use the connection cables that came with your portable media player to connect your computer to your portable player. One end of the connection cable is a standard USB connector, as shown on the right in the following screen shot. Plug this end of the connection cable into a USB connector on your computer. The other end of the cable has a connector that fits into your portable media player. Plug this end into your portable media player.  Note Your cable may not look exactly like the one in the screen shot. If you need more information or help, consult the documentation that came with your portable media player.
When you connect your portable media player to the computer for the first time, you might need to charge the battery. When the battery is charged, the Device Setup Wizard will start. Click Finish to set up the sync relationship between your portable media player and your computer.
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Step 3: Synchronizing music to your portable media playerWhen you connect a device for the first time, the Player selects the sync method (automatic or manual) that works best for your device.
Note When you connect a device for the first time, Windows Media Player selects the sync method (automatic or manual) that works best for your device, depending on the device's storage capacity and the size of your library. If the storage capacity of your device is more than 4 gigabytes (GB) and your entire library can fit into the device, the Player automatically syncs your entire library to your device. Then, every time you connect your device to your computer in the future, the Player updates the device to mirror your library.
If the Player has selected to sync your device automatically, when you click Finish the Player will sync your entire library to your device. After that, your device will sync every time you connect it to your computer.
If the Player has selected to sync your device manually, when you click Finish Windows Media Player will open to the Sync tab where you can select the files and playlists you want to sync manually.
The Player adds the device to the Navigation pane with all of the default categories found in the library, as shown in the following screen shot.
To select items to sync manuallyOn the Sync tab, drag items such as files, albums, and playlists to the List pane to add them to the list of items to sync, as shown in the following screen shot. To select multiple adjacent items, press and hold the SHIFT key while selecting. To select nonadjacent items, press and hold the CTRL key while selecting. In the List pane, verify that the items you have selected to sync will all fit on the device, as shown in the following screen shot. If necessary, remove items from the list. Synchronization will start when you click the Start Sync, as shown in the following screen shot.
Switching between automatic and manual syncOnce you have set up a device for the first time, you can switch between automatic or manual sync for the device, depending on your preference.
To switch between automatic and manual syncClick the arrow below the Sync tab, point to the device, and then click Set Up Sync. Select or clear the Sync this device automatically check box.
For more information about sync options, click the arrow below the Sync tab, and then click Help.
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