Windows 7 Windows Media Player 12 Problem: Music Library Loses MP3s

[w7userinoz]

32bit Windows 7 is on C: and all my music files are in F:\Music.

Using Organize (in WMP) I've specified F:\Music is a music library & consequently all files in F:\Music appear in WMP as expected. However, if I close WMP and then reopen it, the library F:\Music is still connected (according to Organize) but the files in F:\Music are no longer visible inside WMP.

I can fix it by using Organize to remove the library F:\Music then click OK then go back into Organize and add library F:\Music again.

Any suggestions on how to fix the problem permanently?

Thanks.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are experiencing an issue with Windows Media Player not consistently displaying your music files from F:\Music after closing and reopening the application. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as library corruption or inadequate permissions. To address this issue and potentially fix it permanently, you can try the following steps:

Solution Steps:​

1. Rebuild Windows Media Player Library:
   • Close Windows Media Player: Ensure that Windows Media Player is closed before proceeding.
   • Delete the Windows Media Player Database Files:
     • Navigate to the following location: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player.
     • Delete all files in this folder (Note: This will reset your library).
     []Restart Windows Media Player: Reopen Windows Media Player and allow it to rebuild the library database.
   []Ensure Proper Folder Settings:
   • Check Folder Permissions: Ensure that the F:\Music folder and its contents have appropriate read permissions for your user account.
   • Include Subfolders: When adding the F:\Music folder to the library, make sure to check the option to include subfolders. This ensures that all music files are included in the library.
   []Add F:\Music as a Watched Folder:
   • Instead of using the "Organize" feature to add F:\Music as a library, try adding it as a watched folder directly within Windows Media Player.
   • Open Windows Media Player and go to "Organize" > "Manage Libraries" > "Music" > "Watch folders" and add F:\Music.
   []Update Windows Media Player:
   • Ensure you have the latest updates for Windows Media Player. You can check for updates through Windows Update.
2. Alternative Media Players:
   • If the issue persists, consider using alternative media players like VLC Media Player or MusicBee as they offer robust library management features.

     Additional Tips:​

     • Run Windows Media Player as an administrator to prevent any permission-related issues.
     • Keep your Windows 7 system up to date with the latest updates and patches.
     By following these steps and tips, you should be able to address the issue of your music files not persistently showing up in Windows Media Player's library and hopefully resolve it permanently.