How to Maintain Ratings in Windows Media Player

Audio CDs, movies and even streaming media. Windows Media Player can play it all. The application, found on Windows-based computers, can also extract songs from audio CDs. Songs extracted from CDs or downloaded and placed in WMP's music library can also be rated by you. You can rate a song from one to five stars. If another user(s) has access to your computer, the user can see your ratings and modify them. There is a way to maintain your song ratings in WMP to keep another user(s) from altering them.

Things You'll Need

• Computer running Windows operating system
• Windows Media Player

Instructions

1. Turn on or restart your computer, if another user has been logged in.

2. Click on your "Username". Enter your password to log into your Windows-based computer using your account.

3. Open Windows Media Player by clicking on the program's icon or by clicking on the program's name on the "All Programs" menu.

4. Click on the arrow below the "Library" tab.

5. Click "More Options...". The "Options" dialog box will open.

6. Click on the check box by "Maintain my star ratings as global ratings in files" under the heading "Automatic media information updates for files". If a check mark is already in the check box, do nothing.

   When this setting is checked, your ratings are stored in your username's Windows Media Player database and can't be changed by another user.

7. Click "Apply". Click "OK" to close the "Options" dialog box.

8. Click on the "X" in the upper right-hand side to close Windows Media Player.

9. Click "Start" and "Log Off."

10. Click on the other user's "username." Have the other user log into your computer with his password.

11. Open Windows Media Player. Click on the arrow below the "Library" tab.

12. Click "More Options...".

13. Remove the check box by "Maintain my star ratings as global ratings in files" under the heading "Automatic media information updates for files."

    Now, the other user's ratings will be stored in their own Windows Media Player database and can't be changed by you.

14. Click "Apply." Click "OK" to close the "Options" dialog box.

15. Click on the "X" in the upper right-hand side to close Windows Media Player.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is more than two users using your computer, repeat steps 9 through 15 for each user.

References

• Microsoft.com: "Media Information in Windows Media Player: FAQs"

Resources

• Microsoft.com: "What Is Media Information in Windows Media Player and Why Is It Important?"