FIX: Starting Windows Media Player with a skin parameter changes the default skin preference (888407)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows Server 2003
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP

SYMPTOMS

You start Microsoft Windows Media Player by using one of the following skin parameters:
  • The WMPSkin query string parameter
  • The Layout command-line switch
The next time that you start Windows Media Player without any startup options, the previously selected skin is replaced by the skin that you specified by using the skin parameter.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows Media Player incorrectly saves the skin that is specified by the skin parameter as the user preference.

RESOLUTION

Update information

You must download a software update for your language version of Microsoft Windows.

English

Windows Media Player 9 Series for Microsoft Windows XP The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsXP-KB888407-x86-ENU.exe package now.Windows Media Player 9 Series for Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsMedia9-KB888407-x86-ENU.exe package now.

Chinese (Simplified)

Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsXP-KB888407-x86-CHS.exe package now.Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsMedia9-KB888407-x86-CHS.exe package now.

Chinese (Traditional)

Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsXP-KB888407-x86-CHT.exe package now.Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsMedia9-KB888407-x86-CHT.exe package now.

French

Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsXP-KB888407-x86-FRA.exe package now.Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsMedia9-KB888407-x86-FRA.exe package now.

German

Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsXP-KB888407-x86-DEU.exe package now.Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsMedia9-KB888407-x86-DEU.exe package now.

Japanese

Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsXP-KB888407-x86-JPN.exe package now.Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsMedia9-KB888407-x86-JPN.exe package now.

Korean

Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsXP-KB888407-x86-KOR.exe package now.Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsMedia9-KB888407-x86-KOR.exe package now.

Spanish

Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsXP-KB888407-x86-ESN.exe package now.Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the WindowsMedia9-KB888407-x86-ESN.exe package now.

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

File information

The English version of this software update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time   Version     Size       File name
   ----------------------------------------------------
   23-Oct-2004  01:17  9.0.0.3261  4,870,144  Wmp.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to reproduce the behavior

  1. Start Windows Media Player by using one of the following command-line commands:
    • wmplayer "Path\FileName?WMPSkin=SkinName"
    • wmplayer /Layout="SkinName" "Path\FileName"
    Note Replace SkinName with the name of a skin or a skin file name.
  2. Exit and then restart Windows Media Player. Notice that the skin is changed.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/2/2006
Keywords:kbfile kbBug kbfix kbQFE kbHotfixServer KB888407 kbAudDeveloper kbAudEndUser kbAudITPRO kbAudOEM
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.