How to Fix a Corrupted Windows Media Player Library Database

If you’re experiencing issues with your Windows Media Player library, such as being unable to view, add, or delete items, it’s likely that the database has become corrupted. This can happen due to various reasons, including power outages, system crashes, or even a virus infection. Fortunately, there are several methods you can try to fix a corrupted Windows Media Player library database.

Method 1: Rebuild the Windows Media Player Library Database

One of the simplest ways to fix a corrupted Windows Media Player library database is to rebuild it. Here’s how:

Press the Windows Key R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Media Player” and hit Enter.
Press Ctrl A to select every file in the folder.
Press Shift Delete to permanently delete all the files in the folder.
Restart your computer.

After restarting your computer, Windows Media Player will automatically rebuild the database. This process may take some time, depending on the size of your media library.

Method 2: Clear the Windows Media Player Database Cache Files

If rebuilding the database doesn’t work, you can try clearing the Windows Media Player database cache files. Here’s how:

Press the Windows Key R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft” and hit Enter.
Locate the Media Player folder and delete it.
Restart your computer.

Windows Media Player will automatically rebuild the database and cache files after restarting.

Method 3: Stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service

Sometimes, the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service can interfere with the database. To fix this:

Open the Start menu and type “services” in the search box.
Open the Services app and locate the “Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service”.
Right-click on the service and select “Stop”.
Restart your computer.

After restarting, the service will automatically start again, and the database should be rebuilt.

Method 4: Run a Clean Boot

If none of the above methods work, you can try running a clean boot to eliminate any potential conflicts with other programs or services. Here’s how:

Open the Start menu and type “msconfig” in the search box.
Open the System Configuration utility and go to the “General” tab.
Select “Selective startup” and uncheck “Load startup items”.
Go to the “Services” tab and check “Hide all Microsoft services”.
Click “Disable all” and then “Apply”.
Restart your computer.

After restarting, try using Windows Media Player to see if the issue is resolved. If it is, you can gradually re-enable the disabled services and startup items to identify the culprit.

If none of these methods work, it’s possible that the corruption is more severe and may require professional assistance or even a system restore.