Where to Find a Free Download of Windows Media Player
As the name suggests, Windows Media Player (WMP) is used to play music and movies, on a CD, DVD or stored on a hard drive. However, the latest version may not be available with a fresh install of Windows XP, and the latest versions are not compatible with older versions of Windows. There are several places you can obtain the version that will work with your version of Windows.
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Windows Update
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The easiest method is to go to Windows Update, which you can access from the "Tools" menu in Internet Explorer. This will load the Windows Update website (also known as Microsoft Update). If you have not been there before, or you are using a fresh install of Windows, Microsoft may ask to install an "ActiveX Control." This is required for Windows Update to function.
Once you have done that, choose the "Custom" option to see all the available updates, rather than having Windows grab everything automatically. (It may otherwise auto-download large files that you don't want or don't need). On the left-hand side of the window, you will have navigation options to search by download type or by product. While most updates require you to reboot your computer, installing Windows Update will not.
Direct Download from Microsoft.com
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Sometimes Windows Update can behave oddly, or perhaps you do not want to use Internet Explorer. In either case, you can directly download Windows Media Player from Microsoft's website. However, unlike Windows Update, you will not automatically be referred to the version of Windows Media Player that is compatible with your operating system.
However, older versions of Windows are no longer supported by Windows Update, so this may be your only option. You can also download WMP 9 for Mac OSX, WMP 7 for Max OS8 and OS9, and even a plug-in for the Firefox Internet browser. This plug-in allows you to use WMP from within Firefox.
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Oldversion.com and the CNet Downloads Center
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If, for some reason, you need to download a very old or obscure version of Windows Media Player, oldversion.com provides WMP 5.1 and WMP 7.0, in addition to the more recent and widely available versions.
Lastly, you may want to experiment with other media players, since WMP is not always compatible with the file type of the media you wish to play. The CNet Downloads Center offers several options including Media Player Classic, WinAmp and VLC Media Player.
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