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    Windows Media Player Added Righ-Click without Notice

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by gonwk, Apr 19, 2009.

  1. gonwk

    gonwk Notebook Deity

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    Hi folks,

    I just noticed on my Vista Home Prem. 64-Bit that somehow (mysteriously) Windows Media Player on it's own (I assume) has added the follwoing Shortcuts to my "Start Button" and the "Explorer" Right-Click function ... shortcuts are as follows:

    - Add to Windows Media Player List
    - Play with Windows Media Player List
    - Shop for Music Online

    Q1: How can I Uninstall the above shortcuts the right way?
    Without uninstalling WMP11 ... since it came with my Vista and I do NOT have the Program Install CD.

    Q2: Can you guess how in the world it got installed or activated?
    Since I sure as heck did not activate it ... knowingly anyway?

    Thanks,

    G! :)
     
    gonwk, Apr 19, 2009
    #1
  2. beige

    beige Notebook Deity

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    i have
    - Add to Windows Media Player List
    - Play with Windows Media Player List
    only and they came with my vista installation , i have no idea where did they get from , i am happy with them, but shop for music is really a spam
     
    beige, Apr 19, 2009
    #2
  3. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    I use ShexView myself. It works all the way up through Vista. I haven't tried on 7 yet.
     
    ZaZ, Apr 20, 2009
    #3
  4. Padmé

    Padmé NBR Super Pink Princess

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    . Search the net for "disable/remove context menu items in Start Button"

    . This involves tweaking registry entries, so do this at your own risk.

    . If you do, back up your registry and/or create a restore point first.
     
    Padmé, Apr 20, 2009
    #4
  5. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    A lot of installers install things without asking, particularly desktop shortcuts(which I loathe), so doubtless the WMP11 installer installed those context menu changes in a similar fashion.

    Removing them will involve editing the registry. As Padme says, do a bit of research on google before you dive in. For starters, tho, MSDN has a webpage on adding items to the standard context menu for IE, here, which should give you some idea of what you'll need to be looking for in the registry to remove the entries added by the WMP11 installer.
     
    Shyster1, Apr 20, 2009
    #5
  6. drjohn

    drjohn Notebook Consultant

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    Don't know whether this works on Vista or not, but in XP, you can add/remove some right-click options in the
    C:\Windows\Documents and Settings\ YourAccountName\SendTo folder.

    If Vista stores SendTo shortcuts this way, simply delete the WMP entries.

    ~john
     
    drjohn, Apr 20, 2009
    #6
  7. Kocane

    Kocane Notebook Deity

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    What even makes you believe you can uninstall WMP lol...
     
    Kocane, Apr 21, 2009
    #7
  8. deeastman

    deeastman Notebook Deity

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    No problem. Just go to Control Panel Add/Remove programs. On the left side of the panel select Add/Remove Windows Components. Untick Windows Media Player when the panel opens and uninstall.
     
    deeastman, Apr 21, 2009
    #8