Don't know for how long, but you can get the wmplayer 7.1 at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6ccfee89-3d4f-42ee-9239-0893b2c40a62&DisplayLang=en

If you don't want to upgrade the player to 9, open a winmedia 9 file & it should download the nec. codecs. The codec pack itself is here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=06fcaab7-dcc9-466b-b0c4-04db144bb601&DisplayLang=en

If either address doesn't work, I got them off the std MS download search page, or else you could try using the google site search.

IMO, it's a matter of preference whether you like wmplayer 9 or not - since you can't use 6.4 any longer, & the RealOne player is next to adware, I've sort of given up on keeping things nice and simple.

mike

Here's the situasj.:
I have installed MP9 and both Vegas Video 3c and the 4 beta are unstable. This came after a total reformat/reistall of everything at C:
I still have the 7.1 download file, so I could install it again if you learned friends think it will make my Vegases more stable. I even have the 6.4 but I've forgotten what it looked like. As far as 7.1 and 9 are concerned I don't like the looks of neither, but I guess I gotta have one of them.

Tor

WMP9 is avaialble for Windows 98. Just go to the Windows Update Page and click "scan for updates". Windows Media Player 9 should show up on the list if you haven't installed it already. It's advisable to install all the critical updates for W98 as well.

I have used WMP9 on my Windows 98 PII 350 system for a little over a month now and am able to view any file created with Vegas. However, I do not have Vegas loaded on this system, so I don't know how it is affected by WMP9. I do use WMP9 for XP on my XP system with Vegas and have had no ill affects.

For what its worth version 9 of Media Player works fine with XP, both version 3 and the beta. I still think there are many BETTER players. Right now my favorite is the player that came with my Matrox video card. Not a lot of bells and whistles but it plays everything I throw at it and hasn't crashed yet. If you have a DVD burner they usually come with a copy of a player too. The point is you don't have you use Microsoft' Media Player.

Here's a great player: Zoom Player that someone turned me onto in this forum or at the Cow. You can even configure it to play your video avis in 4X3 mode. When I compile a movie I like being able to preview it in Zoom since I can play it full-screen or any size I want, whereas previewing it in Vegas I only have a choice of two sizes.

Paul,
While I have had no problems with Media Player 9 and my XP system I downloaded the Zoom player and I agree, it is an impressive player. Thanks for the info.
Barry

>>I have installed MP9 and both Vegas Video 3c and the 4 beta are unstable.
*If* it helps...
I've had problems after installing the VV4 beta & DVDA beta, but installed the winmedia 9 stuff as soon as it was available as a beta - before VV4 & DVDA no problemos. Still hassling through it as I occassionally come across stuff that doesn't work. I don't feel it's a bug necessarily, but the SOFO betas did change some registry settings (like most anything video), & I do have a lot of video related software installed. In most cases the broken stuff seemed to be caused by either windows or an app trying to use the wrong files &/or codecs.

mike

Learned friends,
The reason I suspect MP 9 is this.
Everything was OK, apart from the print to tape thing. I installed V4 beta and it was still OK. So I wanted to fix the PTT; cleaned the C:\ drive and reinstalled Win98SE, Finale, Digital Orchestrator Pro, Sound Forge, Paint Shop Pro, Acrobat reader, Vegas 3c and V4 beta. I left out a ton of clutter.
Instead of reinstalling MP 7.1, I installed MP 9. Now the print to tape works but like I said, both Vegases are unstable. The usual symptom is that they freeze some 4 or 5 seconds into the start-up. Most times they will start properly after a reboot.
Inspired by Paul's suggestion I de-installed MP 9 and installed Zoom player (looks good by the way - thanks Paul) and nothing changed (apart from the fact that I now have a player which does not assume that I will spend my life connected to the net, constantly searching for bits of content to keep me amused).

This is a fresh install - untweaked Win98SE. DMA is not enabled. Should it be? Anything else I ought to try to make things smooth?

Tor

Edit (addendum):
Tried to eneable DMA. Worked so far. Tried to open, use and close most apps, then open and use both Vegases (one at the time). No problems. Will try PTT now. Fingers crossed. T

Edit (second addendum):
Wow. Worked! DMA seems to be the solution. Thanks to all who responded. T