Windows Media Center Gone

[+ Lucky]

Only the day after I used it, my WMC is now just a black screen. I have no idea why, or what to do about it. Does anyone else?

[+ deej]

If you double-click a video or music file does it play?

[+ Lucky]

I cannot do that as the screen shows nothing but black.

[+ deej]

OK, you're going to need to be a little more clear what you're asking about.

 

WMC is software that runs on Windows. Are you saying that Windows is blackscreened?

[+ Lucky]

Okay, usually I click on the WMC and it comes up no problem. Now, just the sound comes up along with a black screen. I have no control over the screen, that is, nothing I do brings it to life.

 

Something new now- I tried to start it, it went black. I logged off and back on, and an ad for a 7 day trial for Napster came up. I still couldn't get rid of it to go to the WMC though.

[+ deej]

So Windows itself is NOT frozen? Back to my first question... when you double click on a movie or sound file (in Windows Explorer) does it play? What icon are you clicking to start WMC? (Where is it?)

 

Alt-Enter should take that thing out of full-screen mode, FWIW. When WMC is blackscreened, does the computer respond to CTRL-ALT-DEL?

 

What version of Windows is this?

 

Remember that we can't see through your eyes and what you're seeing is certainly NOT normal so the more details you give the better.

[+ Lucky]

I am able to view videos on the net. I use Firefox. The computer does respond to control, ALT, delete. I am using Windows Vista.

I start WMC by using the menu at the start button, but it is no different when I use the icon on the desktop.

 

So, I have the box, it says Windows Media Center at the top, and the box is solid black. Right-clicking or left clicking on the box does nothing.

 

Thanks for your help.

[+ deej]

Sounds like the video decoder issue snarkily described (and fixed) here:

 

http://berryjooks.blogspot.com/2008/06/windows-media-center-black-screen.html

 

Failing that, try this:

 

http://tinyurl.com/ye3xl4r

[MsGuy]

Failing that, try this:

http://tinyurl.com/ye3xl4r

 

Just the opposite of that sour patch candy. First deej is sweet, then he's snarky.

[+ Lucky]

The system is Vista, so the XP decoder wasn't of use. The bottom line is that I don't use the media center rthat much, even though I was planning to build the library. I think I will proceed as if I don't have that feature anymore.

Thanks again for the help.