Windows Media Player Won't Rip MP3's

Question

I've got an E1505 that has Media Player 10. I went to rip some old cd's to MP3, but it brought up a link saying I needed an encoder. I followed the link back to the Microsoft page that says that it is included free with Media Player 10, but older versions will need to have it added as a plugin (at charge). I have version 10.00.00.4019, so it should be in there! I went to do an update, using the 'check for updates' option from the help menu. I get a message that I already have a newer version. So what gives? I removed Music Match due to the hanging file problem at shutdown, plus I don't really want it anyhow. So that's not an option. Steve

joe53 · Answer

Hi:

Try this registry edit (back up your registry first, or create a restore point):

Click on Start>Run> and type regedit >OK.

Navigate to

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding

In the right hand pane, PreferredCodecPath originally reads C:\windows\system32\l3codec a.acm

Right-click on PreferredCodecPath, and change this to C:\windows\system32\l3codec p.acm

Message Edited by joe53 on 05-14-200612:18 AM

fireberd · Answer

Download the free 'Audiograbber' which is an excellent CD ripper.  You can rip to wav or MP3.  Do a google search for Audiograbber.

esquire · Answer

Can you check your WMP Options.  Is WMP ripping at 128Kbps?  Try setting to a higher bitrate and see if the problem disappears.

leafwalker · Answer

I just tried ripping MP3's with Windows Media Player 10 and had the same problem.  Version is the same too.   Reading the last message, I had it set to rip MP3's but the default was 128 bits.  I changed it to the next higher bit setting 192 bits.  Now I can successfully rip MP3's.  My question is why can't I rip at 128 bits?  The higher bit rate will make the musc files larger.

AGuyNamedSteve · Answer

@joe53 wrote:

Hi:

Try this registry edit (back up your registry first, or create a restore point):

Click on Start>Run> and type regedit >OK.

Navigate to

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding

In the right hand pane, PreferredCodecPath originally reads C:\windows\system32\l3codec a.acm

Right-click on PreferredCodecPath, and change this to C:\windows\system32\l3codec p.acm

Message Edited by joe53 on 05-14-200612:18 AM

Here's an update.

I tried doing it at different bitrates - it didn't work.

So I did the above and I was off and running. Is there an explanation behind this?

SydneyHConsulting · Answer

Hi there,

I just wanted to thank you for the registry change details, I have been experiencing this problem since the day I got my PC six months ago and this is the first time I've been able to find someone with a solution. THANKS!

troy1672 · Answer

Iam having a problem ripping cd's onto my computer. the media player says:

C00D0FAA

Windows Media Player cannot rip the track because a compatible MP3 encoder is not installed on your computer. Install a compatible MP3 encoder or choose a different format to rip to (such as Windows Media Audio).

can you help me getting the right thing downloaded onto my laptop model INSPIRON E1705.

thanks

troy1672

joe53 · Answer

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/mediaadvice/0103.mspx#EXD

Entropy42 · Answer

@AGuyNamedSteve wrote:

@joe53 wrote:

Hi:

Try this registry edit (back up your registry first, or create a restore point):

Click on Start>Run> and type regedit >OK.

Navigate to

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding

In the right hand pane, PreferredCodecPath originally reads C:\windows\system32\l3codec a.acm

Right-click on PreferredCodecPath, and change this to C:\windows\system32\l3codec p.acm

Message Edited by joe53 on 05-14-200612:18 AM

Here's an update.

I tried doing it at different bitrates - it didn't work.

So I did the above and I was off and running. Is there an explanation behind this?

The short answer - the music industry would prefer that you rip to a DRM-protected format that is locked to your machine, even though the source format (Audio CD) is not protected. Microsoft has given in to the RIAA's wishes on this, and in fact from what I've heard it is even more difficult to rip to non-DRMed formats with later versions of WMP.

The easy solution - Download a better ripper. I think iTunes has built in ripping capability, and others mentioned Audiograbber. I'm not familiar with the details of either, I use grip + cdparanoia + lame on a Linux box, I've never ripped a CD under Windows. :)

AGuyNamedSteve · Answer

Interestingly I downloaded the newest version of Media Player and it crashes upon launching - every time. I've opened a video file that defaults to WMP, and it played. But when I double-click the media player, it always fails and wants to phone home about it. I'm wondering if the above 'fix' could be the cause of the problem with the updated player?

Windows General

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