Using Online Stores in Windows Media Player 10
Learn to solve problems you encounter while visiting online stores in Windows Media Player 10.
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Why can't I play music on my iPod that I purchase from online stores in Windows Media Player 10?
Online music stores in the Player are Windows Media-based music services, that is, the songs that you can purchase are in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. The Apple iPod does not currently support the WMA format.
Why am I bombarded with pop-up ads when I visit an online store in the Player?
When you visit an online store in Windows Media Player 10, you're really just visiting the online store's Web site, which is displayed in the Player. To prevent pop-up windows from being displayed, adjust your Web browser settings. See your Web browser Help for more information about making these adjustments.
Note that if you use Internet Explorer to access the Internet, you can install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), which contains a pop-up blocker for Internet Explorer. This pop-up blocker can also prevent pop-up windows from being displayed when you visit an online store in the Player. For more information, see the Block Pop-up Windows with Internet Explorer Web page.
When I play audio files stored on my computer, they work fine, but why can't I hear music samples in my online store?
If you can hear audio except when you try to play a music sample, the most likely reason is that your Web browser is not configured to play sounds in Web pages. For the Internet Explorer Web browser, you can fix this by doing the following:
1. | In Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options. |
2. | In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. |
3. | In Settings, scroll down the list of settings until the Multimedia settings are displayed. |
4. | Make sure that the Multimedia setting Play sounds in web pages is selected. |
To configure other Web browsers to play sounds in Web pages, see your Web browser's Help documentation.
I see online stores in the Player, but I can't access them. What do I do?
Your security settings for the Internet Web content zone in Internet Explorer may be preventing the online store Web page from being displayed in the Player. You can lower the security level for Web pages in the Internet zone, which includes the online store Web page, by doing the following:
1. | In the Player, on the Tools menu, click Options. |
2. | On the Security tab, in the Security Zones area, click the Zone Settings button. |
3. | In the Security dialog box for Internet Explorer, click the Internet Web content zone and then adjust the security level by moving the slider. |
Keep in mind, however, that the previous steps change the security setting for all Web pages in the Internet zone. If you want to keep the security level you've set for the Internet Web content zone, you can instead grant an exception to the online store Web page that you are trying to access in the Player. You can do this by adding the online store as a "trusted site" in Internet Explorer by doing the following:
1. | In the Player, on the Tools menu, click Options. |
2. | On the Security tab, in the Security Zones area, click the Zone Settings button. |
3. | In the Security dialog box for Internet Explorer, click the Trusted sites Web content zone, and then click the Sites button. |
4. | Type the URL to the online store in the Add this Web site to the zone box. The URL is displayed just below the feature buttons in the Player. |
5. | Clear the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone check box. |
Before adjusting any security levels for the Player, we recommend that you review the Security and Windows Media Player 10 Web page.
How can I change the location on my computer where my online store puts my purchased music?
Most online stores will download your purchased music to the My Music folder on your computer so that it can be automatically displayed in your library. You can specify that another folder on your computer be the default location for your purchased music by running the Tweak UI PowerToy, which is available from the Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP Web page.
I don't have any online stores, even though the Player Help says they should be accessible from the View menu. What's wrong?
Online stores are only displayed in Windows Media Player 10 if they are available for your country or region. Most likely, the locale setting for your computer is set to a country or region where no online stores are available. To change this setting, see the next question.
My Player displays a limited number of online stores. Is there a way I can add more?
You can't add online stores to the Player. However, you can change the locale on your computer to a country or region that features more online stores, such as English (United States), by doing the following:
1. | Close Windows Media Player 10. |
2. | Click Start, and then click Control Panel. |
3. | Double-click Regional and Language Options. (If you are using the Windows Category view instead, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional options, and then click Regional and Language Options.) |
4. | In the Regional and Language Options dialog box, click the Regional Options tab. |
5. | In the Standards and formats area, select English (United States) in the list. |
6. | Click the Apply button to apply the new settings. |
7. | Reopen the Player. The online stores available in the United States should be displayed. |
If you don't find the answer to your question in this column, be sure to check the Archive. Media Advice is not an official Microsoft Support channel. If you need immediate help for an urgent problem, we recommend that you visit Microsoft Help and Support.