Problem un-defaulting 'Quicktime' player

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 4 Jan 2006 4:33 pm

After getting exasperated with Quicktime hijacking my settings therein; I uninstalled the darn thing, ...thinking another of the media players would pick up default. WRONG. Every time I now try to download audio files I get this Windows system "pop-up card":

Apparantly Quicktime is still set SOMEWHERE as the default player?

Rather than spending hours (days?) searching for where the causal default setting(s) reside(s), (if that's even the problem

) ....and in that process beating my forehead raw or throwing the computer off the balcony and terrorizing the family with explicatives I don't let the kids use; I figure that a Fo'Bro might know exactly where to go to change the culprit default setting to Real or Media ...or otherwise fix the problem.

Thank You,
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 04 January 2006 at 04:34 PM.]

Tom Diemer · Post by **Tom Diemer** » 4 Jan 2006 5:24 pm

If you installed Itunes it would be a default setting to make Quicktime the default player.

Go to Media player's Tools / Options / Formats menu. Choose which file types you want WMP to be the default player for, then click apply.

You have 3 very persistent programs there. Real player and quicktime will try to steal the default rights from time to time. Remember how to do this, you'll need to do it again.

Bill Bosler · Post by **Bill Bosler** » 4 Jan 2006 6:32 pm

Denny,
If you've uninstalled Quicktime, you might want to get a program like System Mechanic and clean the registry of all the crap it put in there.[This message was edited by Bill Bosler on 04 January 2006 at 06:33 PM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 5 Jan 2006 3:59 am

I've had problems with Quicktime, even when it didn't show it was the "default player" of interferring or "taking over". RealPlayer can be the same way.

Those two programs are in the "ill behaving" category. Unless you absolutely must have them, dump them. I don't have QT or Real Player on my PC and miss very little.

You have to be careful with Registry Mechanic (or any "registry fix" program). I've repaired several customer's PC's that were "fixed" by Registry Mechanic as it removed entries for legitimate programs. I have a copy of Registry Mechanic that I got from a customer (who didn't want it after it "broke" his PC) and installed it on my "test PC". I found several modules that it installed, even when I configured it not to install. I had to manually remove 3 items from the startup and even after doing that I still found one in the Task List that required another manual Registry edit to remove.

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 5 Jan 2006 5:20 am

THANK YOU, Gentlemen.

I was "sure" that there was some rather simple place(s) to change/fix the default; But my workload plate is currently so full that my brain and soul was heavy with wondering how long it would take me to find the fix (and possibly not be able to after long hours trying).

Voila, after fretting for weeks it occured to me (Duhhh) to ask the SGF! It's a big relief to get the fix from you; And I appreciate it greatly.

Cleaning the .dll's is a great idea I would have probably overlooked and not got done until the next periodic cleaning. Jack brings info new to me about cleaning .dll's; Any solutions for a reasonably accomplished button-pushing amateur to clean out .dll' trash? I think settings and firewall have Real Player in check, ...but your opinions similar to mine about RP, inspires me to uninstall the darn thing ...and plan to clean up it's .dll trash after watching here for more info about getting rid of the rats without burning the barn

I'll go now and get the defaults reset and try to catch up on some SGF sound-file listening.

THANKS again,
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 05 January 2006 at 05:30 AM.]

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 5 Jan 2006 6:16 am

Add me to the list of people who had problems with "Quicktime". After it was installed in conjuntion with another program, My music downloads were extremely slow. I uninstalled the other program and quicktime. I prefer to use Media Player. It has worked well with my XP operating system.

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www.phelpscountychoppers.com/steelguitar

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 5 Jan 2006 10:27 am

For the archive:

I followed Tom's instructions, then uninstalled Real Player (Quicktime was already uninstalled). Media Player is now working and playing media files just fine as the only default.

I will still watch this thread for any further info on cleaning up .dll trash.

THANK YOU,
Aloha,
DT~

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 5 Jan 2006 11:45 am

If the PC gets "cloged up" with extra files, orphan files, etc the "real" fix is a "clean" install - reformat the hard drive, reinstall the OS, reinstall whatever drivers (including motherboard chipset drivers on some brands - before you reinstall device drivers), resinstall applications and finally restore your backed up user data.

I know this is a hassle but you will be amazed at how fast the "slow" computer is.

I'm getting ready to do that on my primary PC (a Gateway P4). I've already backed up my user data, downloaded programs and program updates, Browser favorites, Outlook files, etc. I have my Windows XP (pro) CD slipstreamed with SP2 so that is a help, too.

Tom Diemer · Post by **Tom Diemer** » 6 Jan 2006 4:30 am

Denny,

Ccleaner is pretty good at cleaning up clutter on your hard drive and in your registry. I've never had a problem after using it, and it does allow making registry backups before changing anything. Nice free tool to have around.

Oh, by the way, the C stands for "crap". Crap cleaner.. Perfect, eh?

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 6 Jan 2006 9:39 am

Thank You again, Gentlemen.

I am a button pushing amateur. Although I've learned to push allot of buttons, I have no clue what's going on internally, neither technically ...nor in mental block form beyond a layman regular-user.

My .dll cleaning interest in this message chain is due to Jack / sysop mentioning same ...which made sense in trying to stay ahead of the game of computer house-cleaning when uninstalling problematic programs; And paying close attention to Jack's info about possibly doing some harm cleaning .dll files if not careful; And having learned from hard-knocks to be most careful about uninstalling and deleting stuff; Which puts me at a disadvantage because I don't know enough to proceed with suggestions in this SGF discussion ...other than digesting suggestions until I can better understand enough to be proceed with caution. I have used whatever system cleaner was available / convenient in the past. Having learned by hard-knocks to be gun-shy of going beyond my knowledge level, I'm now in a mental caution mode digesting the info you're graciously providing.

My low-end / budget / economy grade / Walmart computer is less than a year old. It is not running apparantly slow, other than some unknown java problem that retards the first page load at websites requiring java (applets?); ... Quite likely caused by some unknown erroneous brain-fart button-pushing I've done or unknown manual security setting interference; And I've not had time to stop / study / learn the java console & correction log card that "pops up" when visiting such websites ...to know how to correct that small "problem".

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BUT, ...while I'm here with the ears / eyes of experts ! :

Being compulsively but not overly vigilant / guarded (paranoid?) in ALLOT of internet and email use, ....having so far avoided any viruses / worms / trojans / etc. by refusing any unknown / unrequested .exe attachments and downloads, ....BUT also having to clean out spyware on a regular basis: ... From that vigilant mindset, I am a bit concerned about the LONG list of unknown Processes that Windows XP runs in the background, evidenced in the Task Manager readout. I am NOT into computer bells, whistles and "magic"; So if I knew which processes were not necessary to run a basic computer protocol, ...then I'd get rid of those unnecessary processes ....which it seems to me should be slowing down what the computer is otherwise capable of; And god-knows what Bill's boyz might have designed those processes to collect and report to god-knows who. One of these days I hope to have the time(s) to go search out what each one of them do. Maybe a Fo'Bro might shed some light: Here's what's running (I marked processes I know with red dot):

------------

System:

Hewlett-Packard Pavilion.
Intel(R).
Celeron(R) CPU 2.70ghz.
248MB RAM.

Windows XP (home edition).
Service Pack 1.
Auto updating blocked until recently; Now in auto-download / manual install mode.

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THANK YOU,
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 06 January 2006 at 09:43 AM.]

Tom Diemer · Post by **Tom Diemer** » 6 Jan 2006 10:12 am

psp.exe - paintshop pro
scsiaccess.exe - dvd burning software
omniserv - Softex OmniPass application, a password manager program
ntvdm.exe - Microsoft 16 bit subsystem driver

The Kodak software is a bit of a resource hog, but ok to have loaded.

You have a lot of service hosts, unknown what processes they are loading. Probably most are for the tasks you used to do the printscreen to clipboard.

If you want, download hijackthis.exe http://216.180.233.162/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe save the logfile and email to me - I'll help you figure out what all is running in there.

I'm a little more concerned about what I don't see, rather than what I do. You have ccevtmgr.exe running, but no other components of Norton. Otherwise no antivirus at all showing in that list, or antispy either.

Microsoft antispyware works great and is free, you can get it by going to www.microsoft.com and go to popular downloads.

If your antivirus isn't working, AVG is free for 1 computer home use and works really well. You can get it at free.grisoft.com .

Richard Bass · Post by **Richard Bass** » 6 Jan 2006 11:58 am

I don't have Quicktime or Real installed on my machine, instead I use "Real Alternative" and "Quicktime Alternative" These are not resource hogs and they don't try to take over your computer, but they will play the files when needed. I've been using these apps for well over a year with no problems. They just work.
Richard

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 7 Jan 2006 4:23 am

Jack,

I failed to expound upon my knowledge limitations, thus my disadvantage and cause for slow cautious learning and progress.

re your 05 January 2006 11:45 AM:
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>.......reinstall whatever drivers (including motherboard chipset drivers on some brands - before you reinstall device drivers), resinstall applications and finally restore your backed up user data.

.......I've already backed up my user data, downloaded programs and program updates, Browser favorites, Outlook files, etc. I have my Windows XP (pro) CD slipstreamed with SP2 so that is a help, too.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Here's how that translates to my limited computer ability (

):

.......reinstall #&*%#~ drivers (including motherboard #&*%#~ drivers on #&*%#~ - before you reinstall #&*%#~ drivers), #&*%#~ #&*%#~ and finally #&*%#~ your backed up user data.

.......I've already backed up my user data, #&*%#~ #&*%#~ and #&*%#~ , Browser favorites, Outlook files, etc. I have my Windows XP (pro) CD ( #&*%#~ installation CD ? #&*%#~ ) #&*%#~ with #&*%#~ so #&*%#~ is a help, too.

But I am MOST appreciative to All and paying attention.

THANK YOU,
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 07 January 2006 at 04:25 AM.]

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 7 Jan 2006 4:49 am

Thank You, Tom.

I will go and do the HijackThis.exe thang and email you the log ...just as soon as I can ...hopefully tonight (this morning ... already 3 AM now!).

Until just recently I had been running / re-running Zone Labs trial 'Zone Alarm's as firewall, anti spyware and as anti-virus backup to my eyes, brain and fingers; It expired again during the Christmas holidays. With versions of Windows prior to XP, it was rather easy to set up the Zone Alarm parameters in it's "teaching" mode; But XP's background activities makes Zone Alarm's "teaching" mode light up like a pin-ball machine with me not having a clue what some of the XP things are that Zone Alarm alerts/alarms about nor any clue what to tell it to do with them

. The full plate of catching up from Christmas / New Years workload has "prevented" me from downloading / reinstalling / resetting a new Z.A. trial and re-tackling that chore and learning curve.

------------

Thank You, Richard.

I have put your Alternative players mention in a conspicuous place so I can try them when/if I encounter a file MP won't play. Please let me know if either of those Alternatives have a distinct advantage over MP, and I'll darn sure check them out in the meantime.

------------

THANK YOU,
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 07 January 2006 at 05:19 AM.]

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 7 Jan 2006 5:17 am

Just in case it might be meaningful; Here's the task manager window with Task Manager as the only thing manually initiated ...from the Desktop. Processes I recognize are again marked with red dots:

Thank You,
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 07 January 2006 at 05:18 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Jan 2006 6:53 am

I don't see anything "unusual" there.
You can go to google, enter the file name (e.g. wowexec.exe) and it will tell you what the file is or what it's associated with.

e.g. wowexec.exe is a part the operating system, and supports the use of 16-bit procseses.This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 8 Jan 2006 12:33 am

Thank You, Jack.

I had been able to identify and remove a few of the processes in the past by "googling" their file names and finding enough definitive answers understandable enough for a layman to know they should or could be removed. But a problem for a button-pushing layman googling file names, is the number of search returns, ...the technical nature of most of the definitive returns, that are all too often above our knowledge level, ...and the different yea/nea opinions and conjecture in many of the forum type search-returns, without the knowledge to determine who is correct. A steep learning curve that laymen often don't have the luxury of time to tackle. So when time budget doesn't allow tackling such mountains of unpredictable size, ....we can only turn to our generous Friends and associates for help and hope we understand enough to be able to follow their help.

Thank You,
Aloha,
DT~

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 8 Jan 2006 12:37 am

Tom,

I just sent the HijackThis logfile to you via email.

Seems like that logfile and what you do with it will contribute greatly to my learning curve.

Thank You,
Aloha,
DT~

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 9 Jan 2006 3:30 am

For the archive:

Tom provided a run-down of the logfile of background processes running, ...and found a clean bill of health; And nothing sinister in the Task Manager shown in my earlier post here. Clean bill of health, ...Sorta; Self-diagnosis = paranoia!

(*eyes scanning behind sunglasses*)

Thank You All,
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 09 January 2006 at 03:31 AM.][This message was edited by Denny Turner on 09 January 2006 at 03:32 AM.]