This article explains how to fix corrupt settings in Windows Media Player 12. Instructions apply to Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

What to Know

  • To run MSDT, go to Start, enter msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic, and press Enter.Select Next > Apply This Fix > Close the troubleshooter.To run MSDT Tool in advanced mode, select Advanced and clear the Apply Repairs Automatically check box when starting MSDT.

Why Restore Default Settings

Windows Media Player 12 relies on its configuration settings to run smoothly. There are settings for the program to use and custom ones saved when you make a change—like customizing the view or adding music folders.

However, things can go wrong with these configuration scripts. Usually, corruption is the reason why you suddenly get a problem in Windows Media Player 12. For instance, when you run the program, a problem might arise, such as:

  • You can’t get any audio to play.Errors appear when burning CDs.Media indexes become corrupted.Video playback issues with formats that worked before.Windows Media Player 12 crashes or doesn’t run at all.

Learn how to reset Windows Media Player.

How to Run the MSDT Tool to Reset Windows Media Player

If you have a stubborn configuration problem in Windows Media Player 12 that you can’t fix, instead of uninstalling WMP 12 and starting again, all you might need to do is reset to its default settings.

In Windows 7 or higher, one of the best tools to use for this job is called the MSDT (Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool). It detects any corrupt settings in WMP 12 and can be used to reset them to the original settings. To discover how to do this, follow the simple tutorial below.

  • Select Start in Windows and type the following line in the search box: msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic and press Enter.
  • The troubleshooting wizard appears on the screen. Select Next to start the troubleshooter.
  • Select Apply This Fix to reset WMP 12’s settings to the defaults, or select Skip This Fix option to continue without making changes.
  • If you elected to skip, there’s a further scan for any additional problems. The option to choose will either be the Explore Additional Options or Close the Troubleshooter.

How to Run the MSDT Tool in Advanced Mode

If you want to switch to the advanced mode to view the diagnostics in verbose (detailed) mode, click the Advanced hyperlink and clear the Apply Repairs Automatically check box when starting the tool.

Select Start in Windows and type the following line in the search box: msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic and press Enter.

The troubleshooting wizard appears on the screen. Select Next to start the troubleshooter.

Select Apply This Fix to reset WMP 12’s settings to the defaults, or select Skip This Fix option to continue without making changes.

If you elected to skip, there’s a further scan for any additional problems. The option to choose will either be the Explore Additional Options or Close the Troubleshooter.

  • In Advanced mode, you can view extended information about any problems found by clicking the View Detailed Information hyperlink. This gives you the chance to discover any found issues in detail. Select Next to exit this information screen.
  • To fix any corrupt WMP 12 settings, leave the Reset Default Windows Media Player option enabled and select Next.
  • On the next screen, select Apply This Fix or, to avoid making any changes, choose Skip This Fix.
  • Just as in the normal mode above, if you elected to skip the repair process, a further scan is performed to find any additional problems. After the scan, either select Explore Additional Options or choose Close the Troubleshooter.

If you have problems with the music library in Windows Media Player, you might want to read about rebuilding WMP’s database.

In Advanced mode, you can view extended information about any problems found by clicking the View Detailed Information hyperlink. This gives you the chance to discover any found issues in detail. Select Next to exit this information screen.

To fix any corrupt WMP 12 settings, leave the Reset Default Windows Media Player option enabled and select Next.

On the next screen, select Apply This Fix or, to avoid making any changes, choose Skip This Fix.

Just as in the normal mode above, if you elected to skip the repair process, a further scan is performed to find any additional problems. After the scan, either select Explore Additional Options or choose Close the Troubleshooter.

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