# Windows Media Player

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 09-Mar-2011 12:11:35

Windows Media player is another extremely accessible program, and is already installed on most Windows computers. It can be updated, or even installed on systems that for some reason do not have it preinstalled. Here’s a short guide to help you get started with it, since again several people have expressed a need.
Installing the player.
If for some reason you do not have it installed, or your install needs repairing, or resetting to the default settings you can get it from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/windows-media-player
On this page you will find the correct player for you, and you can even install components so that it will work on your Mac if you have one.
Installing it is straight forward, and in it case you don’t have to worry about add ons, such as tool bars, changes of your search provider. Install it just like you would any program watching for the choices it offers. All you choose while installing can be changed later, so it is a pretty safe option to allow it to just install as Microsoft offers.
You can learn about the player simply by using alt H to get to the help section. In the help section you’ll find media player help, online help, checking for updates and the privacy statement. If you click media player help you can simply type in the search box the question you have, or tab down once to get to the list of topics. The list of topics, and information you will find does not explain things in an accessible manner, but will give you a good over view of what the player can do and how to do it. There are key strokes for us that use screen readers to control the player and you can find that list in the help section. Type alt H click on Windows Media player help then in the search box type Windows Media Player keyboard shortcuts. This works with media player 12 and Vista or Windows 7, and should work on XP with service patch 3. To locate this list online go to http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Windows-Media-Player-keyboard-shortcuts
This is a great list and will make your player shine. A popular feature that matches Winamp is to use alt U so that you can listen to radio stations by putting the URL in the player. Many have said that Winamp is the only player with this feature, but this is not so.
This is only a starter, and using your help section and these links you’ll be on your way. Enjoy.