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Installing Media Player Classic - A step by step guide

Last Update: Tue, 10/21/2008 - 13:20 — joe.bennett

I've had a few people ask me for directions on setting up Media Player Classic (MPC) as the default media player, so here are the steps I take to set it up for myself.  These instructions assume you have already downloaded it from the download link provided here.

  1. MPC is a portable application, so it doesn't need to go through a typical installation.  It can simply be copied to a folder on your PC and run fine from there.  I installed mine to c:\program files\media player classic. I manually created the directory and copied the program there.

  2. Open MPC and click on View > Options, then click on the section entitled, "Formats".

  3. Click the "All" button to make MPC the default player for all media types.  You can then close that section and close the program if you wish.

  4. At this point, MPC will play DVD's MP3's and a few other media types, but to get maximum functionality, you will need to download a codec pack and run its installation.  For more information about codecs, including what they do, legal issues and download links, see the article, "Understanding Codecs".

  5. At this point you could stop here and play 95% of the media out there, but if you really want to push the functionality of MPC, read on.  You can make MPC play RealPlayer  and QuickTime streaming audio and video.  If you have these programs installed on your system already, MPC will use them for playing your streaming media automatically with no changes to your existing MPC settings.  If you don't have them (Or don't want them) you can install "Real Alternative" and "Quicktime Alternative" codec packs.  These will allow you to view those streaming media types without installing RealPlayer or QuickTime.  Also, you can play ShoutCast streaming audio by installing the "WinAmp Alternative" codec.  Remember, RealAlternative, Quicktime Alternative and Winamp Alternative will install MPC if you are not careful. During the installation, you can specify not to install MPC and just install the codecs. 

You should now be all set at this point. Most every media should play through MPC and it will automatically use any codec's you have installed .

Enjoy!

Joe

 

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#1Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 15:11.

thanxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

#2Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 09:24.

Great article. But I have a couple of questions. I am currently using Powerdvd 9 and want to also play MKV. Ive been told that this is not possible. So I am intending to utilize MPC for MKV. However when I install MPC it alters my settings in Powerdvd and screws up all my codecs. Is there a way to install MPC without affecting Powerdvd. If so, could you explain?

Thanks

#3Submitted by joe.bennett on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 14:19.

MPC by itself doesn't install any codecs because it is not put on your system by an installer. It is simply copied to a folder on your hard drive and run. Unless you are installing a codec pack, I don't see how it could screw up any codec settings or PowerDVD settings.

#4Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 13:37.

I installed it but it won't play mp3 files. It gives me this message. Can you help me please?

MPEG-1 Audio Decoder::Out
Audio Switcher::Out

Media Type 0:
--------------------------
Audio: PCM 44100Hz stereo 1411Kbps

AM_MEDIA_TYPE:
majortype: MEDIATYPE_Audio {73647561-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_PCM {00000001-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_WaveFormatEx {05589F81-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}
bFixedSizeSamples: 1
bTemporalCompression: 0
lSampleSize: 1
cbFormat: 18

WAVEFORMATEX:
wFormatTag: 0x0001
nChannels: 2
nSamplesPerSec: 44100
nAvgBytesPerSec: 176400
nBlockAlign: 4
wBitsPerSample: 16
cbSize: 0 (extra bytes)

pbFormat:
0000: 01 00 02 00 44 ac 00 00 10 b1 02 00 04 00 10 00 ....D¬...±......
0010: 00 00 ..

#5Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 01/25/2009 - 23:12.

How can I burn c.d's with Media Player Classic?

#6Submitted by joe.bennett on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 04:09.

MPC does not have the ability to burn music CD's. It is strictly a media player.

#7Submitted by joe.bennett on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 02:40.

Streaming content played within your browser is handled by the Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link Library (npdsplay.dll). This dll makes all the necessary calls to WMP to play streaming media.

I know of no corresponding dll file for MPC that does the same thing, though I have heard that VLC player has such a dll file that gets intsalled for just such a purpose.

Joe

#8Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 01/04/2009 - 19:41.

How do you setup MPC to play streaming content within your web browser? I have completely removed WMP from my system and need MPC to be used as the alternative. Please and thanks.