For some reason I need to reinstall WMP9 in my Win98SE.
When I tried to remove it from Control Panel > Add/Remove Program I got error message that RUNDLL32 caused a stack fault in module KERNEL32.DLL, and the uninstallation process stopped.

Perhaps someone could help, e.g., informing on how to remove the WMP9 manually?
Thanks a lot.

Isn't this interesting?

That's the same error I got when I tried to uninstall it from add/remove a little while back.

I had tried out the WMP10 on 98SE MDGx batch install and didn't know at the time that the WMP10 interface doesn't appear. I thought the batch hadn't worked and wanted to get back to the original.

So I tried uninstalling WMP9 and got your error message.

From reading the wmp mini-faq, the best way to repair WMP is to simply install the full version over itself.

I don't know what your situation is. Sometimes things are too messed up to easily repair with a simple reinstall, but that's what I'd try if I were you.

I recall that the reinstall couldn't finish when I tried it after failing the uninstall. I considered it a fubarred OS and formatted.

Stack faults are things used to occur on Windows 3.1 systems. I was surprised to see that error myself. My reaction was that the thing was never going to be right again so I may as well install fresh and not mess around with the WMP10 stuff.

I actually feel glad that WMP 10 doesn't work on anything but XP. wmp 10 is the first integration of DRM support, and I want absolutely nothing to do with digital rights management (drm) on my computer. I still use wmp 7.1 primarily, because it works perfectly (except for variable bit rate mp3s). If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Although, in this case, I guess wmp is broken. I've become so quick at reformatting and reinstalling windows that I basically do it everytime I have a problem that I deem bad enough. My computer is up and running again within 2 hours. And when you have damaged windows applications that are practically integrated into the OS that start to show errors and don't work correctly, that can be a huge problem. (I know from experience that IE is one of "those" applications.) My best advice is reformat and reinstall windows if all else fails.

You may want to look here : http://erpman1.tripod.com/current/wmp9del.htm

1. WMP10 works just fine with 98SE + ME if you 1st install WMP9 + MS IE 6.0 SP1:
http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/READ1ST.TXT
WMP10 installer for 98SE [103 KB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/98SEMP10.EXE

2. DRM was 1st introduced in WMP 7.0, and gradually upgraded to a new generation. Most recent DRM comes with WMP10.
You can safely uninstall DRM from any version of WMP from any Windows 32-bit OS release [see the "HOW TO REMOVE DRM" chapter]:
http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/READ1ST.TXT
Additional to the steps in the text above, one needs to delete [or rename] also the respective files from %windir%\System32\Dllcache , %windir%\Downloaded Program Files\i386 and eventually C:\ServicePackFiles [example] if using 2000/XP/2003/Vista.

Hope this helps.

Sorry, I guess I didn't really know what I was talking about. By DRM in WMP 7.0 do you mean the ability to protect the .wma's produced by wmp 7.0? I forgot about that until now... Oh well, I use winamp for audio files anyway.

The difference between Mp7.1 and Mp9 is like the difference between a VW Beetle and a Caddy Coupe De Ville.
Many or even most of the old Windows 98 machines don't have the horsepower to drive MP9. I've seen music CD's skip badly and I've even seen 'puters lock up when trying to play CD's with MP9.

MP 7.1 is the largest Media Player that really runs good on Windows 98.
Sometimes when MPxx gets screwed up, the only quick fix is WinAmp. I've had to use that fix many times myself. Uninstalling MP9 is sometimes just not possible.

Cheers,
Andromeda43

As far as I know DRM protects WMA + WMV copyrights for files downloaded from/streamed over the internet [especially those u have to pay for], if DRM code was written into them at encoding time.

I don't have details on DRM differences for WMP7, WMP9, WMP10.
Your best bet is to search Microsoft site using Google [example]:
http://www.google.com/search?q=DRM+site%3Amicrosoft%2Ecom
Results can be further narrowed if needed.

I have a few links to MS DRM related downloads here:
http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#DRM

Hope this helps.

I use WMP10 [ http://www.mdgx.com/wmp.htm#98MP10 ] combined with WMP9 from XP SP2 [ http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#MP9 ] on my 98SE PC.
I've also installed QTM Alternative, Real Alternative, DivX codecs, FFDShow, AC-3 codecs, Codecs MegaPack, Media Player Classic [MPC], WinAmp etc.
This way I can play most multimedia formats out there, with no slowdowns [using the MPC interface].
The trick is to have fast enough hardware: CPU, video + audio.
What slows down WMP9 + WMP10 compatible media files is encoding requirements: hardware support [implemented thru DX9] for video/movies/DVDs, digital/AC-3 surround 5.1 audio etc.
Examples:
To play smoothly these video demos/movie trailers:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsme...ntShowcase.aspx
one needs at least a P4 3 GHz CPU or AMD Athlon 2200+, a GeForce 6600 or better, a SB Audigy or better etc.
Also take a look at the requirements for the new QTM 7.0.2 H.264 High Definition (HD-DVD, HD-TV) playback:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
See these HD trailers [QTM MOV format = "High Definition Trailers:"] for example:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/
See also these HD trailers requirements [some are WMP9/WMP10 WMV format]:
http://vforvendetta.warnerbros.com/
http://www.miramax.com/thebrothersgrimm/

WMP7 does not support most newer encoding formats/requirements [unless one installs the WMP9/WMP10 codecs for WMP7, which only adds limited support], but WMP9 + WMP10 do, even in 98SE.
WMP9/WMP10 codecs for older WMP 6.4/7.0/7.1 versions:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsme...ecdownload.aspx

Just an additional information on how I finally could remove WMP9.
To be frank I was also doing MDGx's "98SEMP10", and it seems to be the reason why I got the error message mentioned at the beginning of this Post.

However, in his "98SEMP10.EXE", MDGx has smartly created a backup folder called "C:\98MP9\SYSTEM" and copied all replaced files into that folder. I restored those files to the folder "WINDOWS\SYSTEM" and reregister them. Guess what.... after that I was able to remove WMP9 from "Add/Remove Programs" in the Control Panel!! This may be a challenge for the experts, such as MDGx, to perhaps modify WMP.INF or something else, enabling the removal of WMP9 after the WMP10 transplant.

Finally, it might be better to completely wipe out the WMP9 before reinstalling it as described in following website (mentioned by eidenk):

http://erpman1.tripod.com/current/wmp9del.htm

Thanks for the update.

I have added a new section in READ1ST.TXT:
http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/READ1ST.TXT
called "HOW TO REMOVE WMP":
Please note that READ1ST.TXT is also part of 98SEMP10 [104 KB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/98SEMP10.EXE

Hope this helps.