When you click on a hyperlink to a media file in Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player would automatically open and start playing the file. This functionality may get disabled when you install a third-party player, and you get the error Internet Explorer cannot display the Webpage when clicking on a hyperlink to an audio or video file. However, you may be able to download the file locally by right-clicking on the hyperlink and choosing Save Target as option.
This happens if the file type association and/or the MIME settings have been altered by a third-party application you may have installed. To fix the MIME and file association settings (reset WMP as the default), use these steps:
Windows XP
1. Click Start, click Set Program Access and Defaults
2. Click Custom
3. Select Windows Media Player
4. Click OK
Windows Vista
1. Click Start, select Default Programs
2. Click Set program access and computer defaults
3. Click Custom, and select Windows Media Player
4. Click OK.
Then, follow these steps:
5. Click Set your default programs
6. Select Windows Media Player from the list
7. Click Set this program as default
8. Click OK.
Note: Also configure third-party player so that it does not takeover the media file associations again.
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- Fix: MP3 Files Are Saved With Incorrect File Extension When Downloaded
- Add Videos Folder to the Windows Vista Start Menu
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It helped me also with Windows 7.
Thx for this post.
For Ramesh Srinivasan
I hope they pay you guys and gals what you’re worth!! I was fooling arounf trying to get the media player to work for hours. Then I found your site and: Worked perfectly! Thanks soooo much!
Troubleshooting Steps
Step 1: Change Your Settings in Internet Explorer
Follow these steps to enable custom settings for how Windows handles video playback:
1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click Programs.
3. Click Default Programs.
4. Click Set program access and computer defaults.
5. In the resulting dialog box, click to expand the Custom section.
6. Under Choose a default media player, click Windows Media Player, and then click OK.
7. Restart Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Change Your Media Player Settings
Follow these steps to ensure that Windows Media Player is set to allow multicast streams:
1. Start Media Player.
2. Press ALT+T, and then click Options.
3. Click the Network tab.
4. Under Multicast Streams, make sure that the Allow the player to receive multicast streams check box is selected.
For me, when I click on any Media file link on any web page, It starts downloading the file insted of playing it directly on media player in buffering mode. I am using Vista OS. However on my other computer (XP os) it works fine.
Any clues how I can fix this?
every time i try to download i get unsupported content error how can i resolve this. on a samsung phone
I also have this problem when i try to open the tutorial for the software that I just install.
I try to click on the topic in my IE, but nothings happen. I go to the tutorial file that save in the drive C, direct open it by Window Media Player, error message pop up, seems like Im missing some codec. I follow the instruction that leading me to install the missing codec.
Now, my .wmv file is working well in my IE.