How do I stop WMP sync-ing

[OfficeAnimal]

If I make the mistake of connecting my thumbdrive while Windows Media Player is running, WMP feels an urgent need to copy my music collection to the thumb drive.

Since my thumbdrive is for the serious purpose of carrying data I consider that behaviour on the part of WMP to be antisocial.

Shock Therapy seems a bit risky.

Is there some other way to cure WMP of this distasteful habit?

 

[kjv1611]

I'm guessing it's the Library Sharing options you need to look at.

Tools - Options
Library tab
Configure Sharing button.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[linney]

You can remove all information about a device, including the list of files that sync to the device, if you no longer want it to appear in the Player. If you remove a device from the library, you will need to set up sync if you want to sync to the device again in the future. The procedure for removing a device varies depending on which version of the Player you are running.

Windows Media Player 11

1.
Disconnect the device from your computer.

If the device is connected when you perform the next step, the device will switch to manual sync, and some information about the device will remain in the Player.

2.
In the Navigation pane, right-click the device you want to remove, and then click End Sync Partnership."

Sync to devices

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq/sync.mspx

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=...WMP+sync+xp+-vista&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=

 

[OfficeAnimal]

Thanks to kjv1611 and linney

kjv1611:
In Configure Sharing, "Share my media" is UNCHECKED.

linney:
I don't have a "Navigation Pane" where I can right-click to find any removable memory device except my DVD/CD drive.

Don't ask me what version of WMP I have, I haven't found a way to check. However, I assume it is the latest because everything updates automatically.

 

[vacunita]

Its easy to tell, if its all black its Medial Player 11

If its Light Blue, but still shiny, then its 10

Assuming its 11, you can press the alt key on your keyboard to bring up the regular menu.
Go to Tools->Options then Devices, and look for your device there.

Select it and Click on Properties.

Then Un-check the Start Sync when device connects check box.

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[OfficeAnimal]

Hi Phil

In that case, it's WMP11. I followed your directions and the device was not displayed. Following linney's advice I did not have my thumb drive connected. Immediately I connected it, I went back to 'Devices' and it was listed but 'Start sync when device connects' was unchecked. I then unchecked "Create folder heirarchy on device" as well.

Now, whenever the device is connected and WMP is up, nothing happens but, if WMP is up and THEN the device is connected, WMP installs a file on the device called "WMPInfo.xml" and waits for me to tell it what to load. I have to turn WMP off to break the cycle. Apparently MS insist that people who like music carry it on their thumb drives!

Can't I just tell WMP that I don't want it syncing?

 

[Glenn9999]

Now, whenever the device is connected and WMP is up, nothing happens but, if WMP is up and THEN the device is connected, WMP installs a file on the device called "WMPInfo.xml" and waits for me to tell it what to load.

From what it seems, this file is what indicates to WMP to not touch the drive anymore or to not touch it "right now"

Apparently MS insist that people who like music carry it on their thumb drives!

To be "helpful", Microsoft programmed WMP to scan anything that reads as "portable device". Of course, Microsoft's definition of "helpful" has plagued most of their software (Office is neigh unusable IMO without about 2 hrs of config time trying to find insanely hidden options to turn their "help" off), WMP is no exception. However, portable MP3 players are indistinguishable from regular thumb drives.

Can't I just tell WMP that I don't want it syncing?

No. See

http://forums.techarena.in/media-player/1075726-2.htm

As the last post indicates, if you wish to have WMP without this behavior, you will need to disable any portable device enumeration and detection, which will not be what you want.

Seems your best bet is to seek out other software which does not exhibit this same behavior.

I'm waiting for the white paper entitled "Finding Employment in the Era of Occupational Irrelevancy

 

[vacunita]

Now, whenever the device is connected and WMP is up, nothing happens but, if WMP is up and THEN the device is connected, WMP installs a file on the device called "WMPInfo.xml" and waits for me to tell it what to load. I have to turn WMP off to break the cycle. Apparently MS insist that people who like music carry it on their thumb drives!

WMP should not be waiting for anything.

It will just detect it, put it up on the top right hand corner, with its size, and free space, and do nothing more.

The fact its detected by WMP now means nothing, as long as you ignore it it won't put any more files on it, other than the xml file to know that its not supposed to put anything on it.

Not sure what the problem is now?





----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[OfficeAnimal]

Thanks Y'all

I guess that if WMP is not taking up valuable space on my thumb drive (unasked) that is the best I can hope for. I certainly agree with Glenn9999 that MS 'Help' is frequently not.

 

[oldbamaguy]

I have a similiar problem with WMP 11.0.6002.18111. I have 6 or 8 SanDisk "memory sticks" which I use for data storage and transfer only (no music). When I plug in one that is 3/4 full, the mouse pointer and the Vista "busy circle" jump around if WMP is in use. I have cleared auto start, unchecked the "start sync when device connects", been to the Sync Center where the sync partnerships "circle" does not exist (ie no sync partnerships, I guess), but there is a word "unknown (3)". No left or right clicks do anything to "unknown(3)" No conflicts exists, no errors or warnings show and nothing is to be setup.
I don't ever want to sync anything.
Anyone got an idea??
TYVM!!
ed

 

[linney]

Something like this would allow you to remove all records of previously attached USB Devices and start a fresh list as you then use them. I wonder if that might fix up the so called "unknown (3)"?

USBDeview

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

 

[oldbamaguy]

After wandering through about 10 forums, I came across the "apparent answer". The Portable Device Enumerator Service apparently is the "culprit.



Follow this step to disable the service.

1. Click start and type services.msc in the start search box and press enter.

2. Scroll down the list and select the service.

3. Right click on the service and choose the option properties.

4. You may change the startup type to disable or the service status to stop.



This worked for me!!
Best Wishes!!
ed

 

[oldbamaguy]

User Linney,
Since I have turned off the Portable Device Enumerator Service, everything works fine. The "unknown(3)" also disappeared. I'm guessing it was some sort of count of how many "memory sticks" I had tried in the current session.

http://www.speedyvista.com/services/Portable_Device_Enumerator_Service.php

Manages removable storage devices to interface with WMP...

Many Many thanks for all the help!!
ed mallett

 

[linney]

oldbamaguy,

Thanks for the feedback (and in the other forums too). Now that we have tempted you to Visit Tek-Tips I hope you become a regular visitor to this site. Have you looked around the site at all? What do you think of it? See you around.