Cleaning Up Your Library in Windows Media Player
Learn how to remove duplicate and invalid entries from your library in Windows Media Player.
Answers refer to Windows Media Player 10, unless otherwise noted.
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My library contains two entries for each file. How can I fix this?
If you upgraded your Player to Windows Media Player 10, this might be just a temporary visual defect in the Player. To clear the duplicate entries, click another feature tab in the Player (such as Now Playing), and then click Library.
If this doesn't clear the duplicate entries from your library, you can use the Add to Library by Searching Computer dialog box to scan a folder on your computer that the invalid duplicate entries point to. The Player will remove the invalid entries in your library that point to files that no longer exist in the folder.
To use the Add to Library by Searching Computer dialog box
1. | Start Windows Media Player. |
2. | Press F3 on your keyboard to open the Add to Library by Searching Computer dialog box. |
3. | Click the Browse button to locate the folder on your computer for which your library contains invalid entries. Specify the folder location in the Look in box. If you are not sure which duplicate entry in your library is invalid, you can add a File Path column to your library display by following the instructions in the last question. Specify the folder on your computer that matches the invalid file path displayed in your library. |
4. | Click the Search button. The Player will search for digital media files and playlists in the folder that you specify and will remove the invalid entries in your library that point to files that no longer exist in the folder. If invalid duplicate entries point to other folders on your computer, repeat this procedure, specifying a different folder each time. |
If only a small number of duplicate entries exist, you can delete the invalid ones manually by right-clicking the invalid entry, and then clicking Delete.
If you have a large number of duplicate entries in your library (or if your entire library is duplicated), it might be best to create a new library. See the next question for instructions on how to do this.
How can I create a new library?
1. | Close Windows Media Player. |
2. | Locate the database file on the computer that contains your library entries. Typically, the library database file (CurrentDatabase_219.wmdb) is located in the following directory: systemdrive\Documents and Settings\user_name\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player |
3. | Right-click the file, and then click Rename. |
4. | Rename the file by changing its file extension to .bak. |
5. | Start the Player. When you do so, a new library database file is created. |
6. | Press F3 on your keyboard to open the Add to Library by Searching Computer dialog box. |
7. | Click the Browse button to locate a folder on your computer that contains digital media files. Specify the folder location in the Look in box. |
8. | Click the Search button. The Player will search for digital media files and playlists in the folder that you specify and add them to your library. If you have your files and playlists stored in different folders on your computer, you may need to search for files several times, specifying a different folder each time. |
How can I prevent duplicate or invalid entries from being added to my library when I play music files?
When you move digital media files on your computer, the file name and file path information remain unchanged in your library. Then when you select a file to play from its new location, a new entry is created in your library if the option to automatically add it to your library when it is played is selected. As a result of this, your library may quickly contain a large number of duplicate or invalid entries.
To prevent music files from being added automatically to your library
1. | In Windows Media Player, on the Tools menu, click Options. |
2. | On the Player tab, clear the Add music files to library when played check box. |
Now, when you play any music files on your computer or from the Internet, the file will not be added automatically to your library.
Why does the Player keep replacing library entries I delete?
The Player is monitoring a folder and replacing the entries in your library that point to files in that folder. For example, you may have copied the files to a new folder but didn't delete the original files from the folder that is being monitored.
To prevent entries from being re-added to your library
1. | Delete or move the files from the folder that is being monitored. |
2. | Delete the invalid entries by performing the procedure in the first question. -or- Right-click the invalid entry, and then click Delete. |
The Monitor Folders feature is useful for automatically updating your library when media information in monitored digital media files changes. However, you must be careful to keep the list of folders monitored by the Player up-to-date to avoid invalid entries in your library.
To specify folders for the Player to monitor
1. | On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click Library. | ||||
2. | On the Library tab, click the Monitor Folders button. | ||||
3. | Do one or both of the following:
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Now, when a change is made to the digital media files in a monitored folder, including digital media files that are added, removed, moved, or renamed, the media information in the library is automatically updated to reflect the changes to the digital media files in the monitored folders.
Why does the same album appear more than once in my library?
In some instances, the same album appears twice in your library, once without the artist name and once with the artist name, or it appears with different spellings of the artist name. If this occurs, it indicates that the songs in the album don't have a value entered for the Album Artist attribute, or the value is incorrect. To fix this, see Fix Duplicate Albums in the Library.
How can I view the path and file names for files in my library?
The File Name column displays by default in your library and lists the file names for audio or video files. However, to display both the path and file name for files in your library, you need to display the File Path column.
To display the path and file names for music and videos in your library
1. | In Windows Media Player, click Library. |
2. | On the View menu, click Choose Columns. |
3. | In the Choose Columns dialog box, select the File Path check box. |
4. | If you want, click File Path, and then click the Move Up or Move Down buttons to determine the order in which the column will display in the Details pane of your library. |
5. | Click OK. |
The path and file names of the different music and video files in your library will now display. To view the File Path column, you may need to scroll to the right in the details pane of your library.
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.