Why won't WMP tell me the CD track names?

March 23, 2006 1:38 PM

Windows Media Player: How do I get CD track names?

I just got a new work computer yesterday and have spent most of these past two days getting used to XP (we were using Windows 2000). Included in the upgrade is Windows Media Player 9.00.00.3344. For the life of me, I can not figure out how to get the CD track names from the internet. The older version I was using did it automatically.

The help section isn't very helpful. It says to set this option from the Media Library tab, but this seems only to work for music actually copied onto my computer. I don't want to copy the CD, which it won't let me do anyway. I don't know if this feature has been disabled by the IT staff or WMP won't allow it because this is a CD that I actually purchased (gasp!), and I need some sort of license to copy it.

My employer blocks any "entertainment" type websites, which includes the official Microsoft WMP help site. So, if you know how I can set this program to automatically get CD track names, please let me know. Be specific...e.g. "Tools...Options...Player...click this".

Thanks.

posted by luneray to computers & internet (4 comments total)

I'm using WMP 10. The command to get track names is under Tools · Options...:

Privacy tab

Enhanced Playback and Device Experience

Display media information From the Internet

But I'm guessing that if the WMP help site is blocked, it's likely that the site with track listings is also blocked.
posted by stopgap at 4:20 PM on March 23, 2006

Ok, here's my frustration with this darn program. From the WMP 9 series help function:

"To access the Privacy tab
On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Privacy tab.
The following options are listed on the Privacy tab: Retrieve media information for CDs and DVDs from the Internet"

Except that if you go to the Tools menu, and click option, "Privacy" is not one of the nine tabs that shows up.

Grrrrr.
posted by luneray at 5:02 PM on March 23, 2006

Roxio Easy CD Creator will also pull track names from the Web.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:02 PM on March 23, 2006

Are you on a domain? It might be disabled by your administrator.

In the group policy editor, there is a setting called "Prevent CD and DVD Media Information Retrieval". The description is :

This policy prevents the player from automatically obtaining media information from the Internet for CDs and DVDs played by users. In addition, the Retrieve media information for CDs and DVDs from the Internet check box and on the Privacy tab in the player are not selected and are not available.

There is also a setting called "Hide Privacy Tab" which states:

This policy hides the privacy tab in Windows Media Player...

If you go to start->run and type "gpedit.msc" and scroll to "user configuation, administration, windows components, windows media player", you might be able to see these settings, although you might even be prevented from looking at group policies in the first place.
posted by helios at 7:05 PM on March 23, 2006