Posted by -HNN- on 02/27/07 23:28

Tim,

Set the "read only" attribute in the right-click, files "properties" dialog.
You can do this through the Windows, "Find" utility by searching for all
mp3s, wmas, or whatever else you have, highlight them all with control-a,
right-click "properties," and checkmark, "read-only." Windows will then not
allow the system to change the music file and put the mp3, v1/v2 tags "out
of synch." (For some mystery reason, WMP only ever updates the Mp3 v2 tags.
The v1 tags stay whatever they were. =A REAL PITA!!= ) Oddly, Mp3/Tag
Studio, and some others, will still update the tag information, as well as
file name, even with the file attribute set to "read-only!!"

The other problem you mentioned, auto WMP updating, can be dealt with by
blocking WMP from web access through your firewall, "programs" section, if
you use ZoneAlarm or other software firewall utility. Simply don't allow
WMP access! However, auto-bitstreaming and and web radio is also blocked
when you do this and will require you to reverse access everytime you need
to.

Another way to do this is go to the Microsoft Knowledge Base and search for
article Q278960 "How To Disable Automatic Updates with Windows Media
Player." This will prevent WMP from automatically installing any player
updates such as codecs or version updates, but it will still try to update
music file tags if those options are enabled in the WMP options.

You probably need to do both to accomplish your stated ends. One other way
I can think of is to use another media player, foobar 2000, or whatever,
when you are currently websurfing. WMP only autoupdates if it is loaded and
running while you are currently connected to the web.

Harry

p.s. The other main reason I learned to change mp3 files to "read-only" is
that I discovered that WMP, I think beginning with the 9 Series, writes
encrypted information (2 lines) to the v2 tags of ANY mp3 file that is added
to the player database list (you add the files to the media library.) I've
noticed that many mp3s that I've downloaded, which have been exchanged
numerous times, have a concatenation of this in the v2 property tag. I
suspect that Microsoft is spying on WMP users and can see who had the files
previously. It may be adding encrypted, Windows serial information to these
mystery lines. It does this with ANY mp3, whether I originally downloaded
them or ripped them myself from my own cds.

If you need to see this for yourself, download and install Mp3/Tag Studio.
(There is a freeware version of it available that displays an advertising
banner unless you register it.) The "private frames" show up in the
"Advance ID3 v2 info" box when that option is checked in the main window.
One good thing about Tag Studio is that you can delete all these mystery WMP
entries systematically without affecting anything else. Playback isn't
affected when you do this and the files stay "clean" if you keep the
read-only attribute set before and after you do this. If anyone is
interested, I may post how to mass delete these entries using Mp3/Tag Studio
later.
"TimB" <timbinchicago@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172593474.128802.238460@k78g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Yeah, does anybody know how to keep WMP from fucking with the tags? I
> tried every combination of on/off in options but nothing seems to
> work. It seems that the only way to keep WMP from messing with the
> tags, is to disconnect from the net, but this is just not an option.
>
> I like WMP, been using it since day 1, but this is really starting to
> piss me off. I put a lot of work into making sure my tags are
> correct, and I really don't need MS telling me I'm wronge.
>
> I even tried uninstalling WMP 11 and going back to 10, but everytime I
> turn around 11 is back on my f*ckin' machine.
>
> Tim
>

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