Album Art Is Not Displayed When Offline (306734)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Professional

This article was previously published under Q306734

SYMPTOMS

When you play a CD in Windows Media Player, the album art may not be displayed in the Visualization pane (if you have selected this feature). This occurs if your computer is offline (not connected to the Internet).

CAUSE

You must click Work Offline in Windows Media Player or Microsoft Internet Explorer to display cached album art. You must also have previously played the album in Windows Media Player while the computer was connected to the Internet and the album art downloaded.

WORKAROUND

Make sure that the Work Offline option is selected on the File menu in Windows Media Player. Also, the album art must have been available and already downloaded to the hard disk before the computer was disconnected from the Internet.

Make sure the offline media information is being displayed:
  1. Start Windows Media Player.
  2. Switch to the Now Playing pane.
  3. On the View menu, click Now Playing Tools.
  4. Make sure that the Media Information option is enabled (there should be a bullet next to the option).
Make sure Album Art is selected as the visualization. Use either of the following methods:
  • In the Now Playing pane, right-click the visualization pane, and then click Album Art.
  • On the View menu, click Visualizations. Click Album Art.
If the media information pane displays a "Page cannot be displayed" error message, the Work Offline option was not previously selected. You may have to quit and restart Windows Media Player after you enable the Work Offline option to refresh the information.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

If the album art is not available in the WindowsMedia.com database, it is not displayed in Windows Media Player. If you have not connected to the Internet previously to play the CD, this also occurs.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/28/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB306734