Windows 2000 - Empty the Windows Media Player cache

Windows Media Player (version 7.0) or the current 9.0 version (codenamed Corona) use a cache for video clip data such as length, file format, size, resolution, etc. This data is stored in the cache to make the next access faster. This data is stored in this memory (cache) to make the next access faster. The disadvantage of this technology becomes clear in the following scenario: Imagine you open a video file that is being downloaded via a file-sharing platform or download manager to check whether you are satisfied with the content and continue the download or because you are perhaps a little impatient.

Die Videodatei ist nun zu ca. 50% (Gesamtlänge 2 Stunden 10 Minuten) und der WMP-Cache wird nun mit den Informationen eines Videoclips der Größe 1 Stunde und 5 Minuten geladen. Somit hört beim nächsten Abspielen des fertigen Filmes die Suchlauflaufleiste schon bei der Hälfte des Films auf, was die Navigation des Rests unmöglich macht. In einigen Fällen ist es möglich, dass der WMP die Datei nicht lädt oder direkt abstürzt. Natürlich können Sie die Datei umbenennen, was den WMP dazu veranlasst diese als neuen Film zu behandeln, oder Sie löschen den WMP-Cache, was die sauberere Methode ist:

1. Click on Start/Search and type in the search term wmplibrary and search for it on your Windows drive.

2. Delete the results (wmplibrary_v_0_12.db), which is located in the folder X:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Index. For many video enthusiasts, this file is several dozen megabytes in size, which is why you need to clear out the hard disk a little more.

After restarting the affected video file, it should be able to be played again in full length without any problems.

NOTE FOR NEW PUBLICATION: This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows Tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.