WMP - can't stop it from connecting to net

[~* Parrish *~]

-> I Googled how to stop WMP from constantly connecting to the net and
downloading whatever it downloads when I pay a music CD on W-7. I can't find
anywhere in the program to stop this from happening.
Since Verizon doesn't give unlimited download data, I don't want
anything downloading behind my back.

Then, go to your c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc and open the file called
"HOSTS" in notepad. Add these lines at the very end:

127.0.0.1 windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 services1.windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 www.windowsmedia.com

3. Use a software firewall to block internet access for WMP


- > It doesn't say what to do with Notepad after entering the information.
Maybe I need a Firewall that can be set to block unseen outgoing
connections.

 

[charlie]

-> I Googled how to stop WMP from constantly connecting to the net and
downloading whatever it downloads when I pay a music CD on W-7. I can't
find
anywhere in the program to stop this from happening.
Since Verizon doesn't give unlimited download data, I don't want
anything downloading behind my back.

Then, go to your c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc and open the file called
"HOSTS" in notepad. Add these lines at the very end:

127.0.0.1 windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 services1.windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 www.windowsmedia.com

3. Use a software firewall to block internet access for WMP


- > It doesn't say what to do with Notepad after entering the
information. Maybe I need a Firewall that can be set to block unseen
outgoing connections.

Notepad is a fairly primitive text editor. Obviously, when you type
something, be it quite brief, you don't really want to have to do it all
over again, should the need arise. What to do? You save it, of course!
When you edit a text based file such as hosts, if you want the changes
to take effect, you save the results. With things like the hosts file,
it's always a good idea to save a copy of the original with an easily
remembered name before you modify it, and save to the original name.

 

[Paul]

-> I Googled how to stop WMP from constantly connecting to the net and
downloading whatever it downloads when I pay a music CD on W-7. I can't
find
anywhere in the program to stop this from happening.
Since Verizon doesn't give unlimited download data, I don't want
anything downloading behind my back.

Then, go to your c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc and open the file called
"HOSTS" in notepad. Add these lines at the very end:

127.0.0.1 windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 services1.windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 www.windowsmedia.com

3. Use a software firewall to block internet access for WMP


- > It doesn't say what to do with Notepad after entering the
information. Maybe I need a Firewall that can be set to block unseen
outgoing connections.

This is my guess. I'm not a "WMP person".

http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/...dit-media-information-in-Windows-Media-Player

http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/...ndows-Media-Player-frequently-asked-questions

"How do I tell the Player to automatically fix the media information in my files?

1. Click the arrow below the Library tab, and then click More Options.
2. In the Automatic media information updates for files area, select
the Retrieve additional information from the Internet check box.
3. Do one of the following:
* If you want the Player to only add media information that is
missing from your files, click "Only add missing information".
* If you want the Player to overwrite all the media information
in your files, click "Overwrite all media information".

Use caution with this option. If you manually modify media
information in your files, this option will potentially overwrite
all of your changes.
"

Looking here, perhaps disabling "Retrieve additional information
from the Internet" will help. There is no guarantee though,
that WMP won't still deliver the query anyway. The Windows Search
does something similar, in that it can contact a machine
at Microsoft and "looks for some update information". But I'm not
sure what it's actually doing. I haven't bothered to try
blocking that with the hosts file.

http://images.jakeludington.com/wmp/wmp11_options_library.png

Paul

 

[Wolf K]

Notepad is a fairly primitive text editor. Obviously, when you type
something, be it quite brief, you don't really want to have to do it all
over again, should the need arise. What to do? You save it, of course!
When you edit a text based file such as hosts, if you want the changes
to take effect, you save the results. With things like the hosts file,
it's always a good idea to save a copy of the original with an easily
remembered name before you modify it, and save to the original name.

I would save a copy of the original Hosts file, though. Call it, um, er,
ad, lessee, how does "hosts-old" sound?

 

[Rob]

-> I Googled how to stop WMP from constantly connecting to the net and
downloading whatever it downloads when I pay a music CD on W-7. I can't
find
anywhere in the program to stop this from happening.
Since Verizon doesn't give unlimited download data, I don't want
anything downloading behind my back.

Then, go to your c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc and open the file called
"HOSTS" in notepad. Add these lines at the very end:

127.0.0.1 windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 services1.windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 www.windowsmedia.com

3. Use a software firewall to block internet access for WMP


- > It doesn't say what to do with Notepad after entering the
information. Maybe I need a Firewall that can be set to block unseen
outgoing connections.

You've received some good replies already, but I'll tell you how
most folk address this problem:

They use a different media player.

There are lots of free ones and most of those don't use your
internet connection for anything by default, unless you configure
them to.
Most of them are easier to use, too. VLC would probably do
everything you need, for example.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

-> I Googled how to stop WMP from constantly connecting to the net
and downloading whatever it downloads when I pay a music CD on W-7. I
can't find anywhere in the program to stop this from happening. Since
Verizon doesn't give unlimited download data, I don't want anything
downloading behind my back.

Then, go to your c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc and open the file
called "HOSTS" in notepad. Add these lines at the very end:

127.0.0.1 windowsmedia.com 127.0.0.1 services1.windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 www.windowsmedia.com

3. Use a software firewall to block internet access for WMP


- > It doesn't say what to do with Notepad after entering the
information. Maybe I need a Firewall that can be set to block unseen
outgoing connections.

Why not just block Windows Media Player with the firewall? Adding a rule
to block program access is easy.

 

[~* Parrish *~]

Why not just block Windows Media Player with the firewall? Adding a rule
to block program access is easy.
--
Crash

"Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies."
~ Honore de Balzac ~

Thank you all for your help. I see nowhere to set a rule in WMP. It's listed
there in AllowedPrograms but the button's grayed out, both boxes are
unchecked. I'm getting a different Firewall that I can better control. Will
also get WinAmp. I had it in the past and was satisfied with it.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

(Probably track titles, and maybe an image of the cover. There is
provision for at least the track titles within the CD specification, but
as far as I know virtually no CD actually uses it, so in order to
display track titles, you either have to enter them yourself or it has
to fetch them from somewhere where others have done so.)

A list of titles and one image won't use much data - though I agree with
your principle.
[Someone's using WLM 15 or something similar, that upsets quoting
levels; this was obviously a _reply_ to the original post.]

Quit it, and say yes, you do want to save changes (-:.

I thought virtually any firewall did that - unless, maybe, you're using
the default Microsoft one, which may be set up to allow by default (or
even allow without option) Media Player. (I don't know, I've never used
it. I use the ancient KPF [Kerio Personal] 2.1.5, which serves me.)

Thank you all for your help. I see nowhere to set a rule in WMP. It's

In the version of Windows Media Player that I have here, 11.0.5721.5260
(probably old, as I've never updated it as I don't use it: yes, it says
2006), under Tools, Options, there's a Privacy tab, under which it says
Enhanced Playback and Device Experience [I _do_ wish Microsoft Would Get
Away From Their Obsession With Capital Letters!], there are options to:
Display media information from the Internet; and several other such. If
yours doesn't have it exactly as that, searching for the words Internet
or Download in the help system might find it.

listed there in AllowedPrograms but the button's grayed out, both boxes

When you say "It's listed there", where - in your firewall settings
page?

are unchecked. I'm getting a different Firewall that I can better
control. Will also get WinAmp. I had it in the past and was satisfied
with it.

Beware - the current (well, last time I looked!) version of WinAmp looks
a lot like Media Player, in layout at least. If you have visions of the
WinAmp that looks rather like a hifi stack (something like a cassette
player on top, then a graphic equaliser below that, then a playlist
window), you'll need to get an older version - I have 5.61.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Thank you all for your help. I see nowhere to set a rule in WMP. It's
listed there in AllowedPrograms but the button's grayed out, both
boxes are unchecked. I'm getting a different Firewall that I can
better control. Will also get WinAmp. I had it in the past and was
satisfied with it.

You don't set the rule in WMP. You can either change the default rules
for WMP in the firewall or create a new rule, which is much simpler.

 

[Char Jackson]

Beware - the current (well, last time I looked!) version of WinAmp looks
a lot like Media Player, in layout at least. If you have visions of the
WinAmp that looks rather like a hifi stack (something like a cassette
player on top, then a graphic equaliser below that, then a playlist
window), you'll need to get an older version - I have 5.61.

Not true, exactly. For many years now Winamp has been able to look
however you want it to look. It comes with a couple of skins, (I use
Winamp Modern myself), but there are nearly 3000 more available at
www.winamp.com and if none of those suit you, it's not all that
difficult to make your own, either from scratch or by tweaking an
existing skin.