How To Fix ‘ Server Execution Failed ‘ Error In Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is used to play audio and video files. But sometimes when you try to open the mp3 or mp4 files using a windows media player, it gives an error saying server execution failed. Due to this, you cannot proceed further. Isn’t it irritating? But do not worry this problem can be solved. In this article, we have a few solutions that you can try and get rid of the error. Let us start!

Steps to take backup of Windows Media Player files

Before applying any solutions, it is a good practice to take a backup of the related files or folders. Now let us see how to take the backup of the Windows Media Player files

Note: It is optional to take a backup, if you need all the playlists that you have and configuration files then follow the below steps else you can skip it and jump to the below solution methods.

Step 1 – Open File explorer (Windows explorer) using Windows + E keys together

Step 2 – Navigate to the following path

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player

 

 

Windows Mp

 

Step 3 – Select all the files from the media player folder (Ctrl + A) and then copy them using Ctrl + C keys. Now create a new folder on the desktop or your preferred location on the computer then paste them (Ctrl + V)

Steps to restore the Windows Media Player backup files

If you have backed up the playlists and other configuration files and want to restore them then follow the below steps

Step 1 – Open the newly created folder where you had saved all the files. Select all the files using Ctrl + A keys and then copy them using Ctrl + C keys



Step 2 – Now navigate to the following path and paste the copied files (Ctrl + V) here in the Media player folder (below path)

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player

Method 1 – Uninstall And Reinstall Windows Media Player

Uninstall the Windows Media Player

Step 1 – Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

Step 2 – Type optionalfeatures in the run prompt and hit enter. This will open the windows features

 

Optional Feature

 

Step 3 – Scroll down and find media features then uncheck it by clicking on the checkbox beside it (a tick mark should not be present)

 

Media

 

Step 4 – To save the changes click on ok. The uninstallation process will start and once done it will show the message ‘Windows completed the requested changes’

Step 5 – Close the window and restart the computer

 

Reinstall the Windows Media Player

Step 1 – Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

Step 2 – Type optionalfeatures in the run prompt and hit enter. This will open the windows features

 

Optional Feature

 

Step 3 – Scroll down and find media features then check it by clicking on the checkbox beside it (a tick mark should be present)

 

Media Features

 

Step 4 – To save the changes click on ok. The installation process will be started and when it is finished the message will be displayed saying ‘Windows completed the requested changes’

Step 5 – Close the window and restart the computer. Now check if the issue is resolved.

 



Method 2 – Run Windows Media Player Troubleshooter

Step 1 – Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

Step 2 – Type msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic in the run prompt and hit enter

 

Msconfig

 

Step 3 – Click on next button to run the troubleshooter

Step 4 – Click on Apply this fix option to reset Windows media player to its default settings. Once done check if the problem is solved.

 

Apply Fix

 

Method 3 – Delete The Windows Media Player Library Files

Step 1 – Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

Step 2 – Type services.msc in the run prompt and hit enter. This will open the Windows services

 

Services

 

Step 3 – Scroll down and find Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. Right click on it and click on stop

 

Wmp Service

 

Step 4 – Now open the file explorer (windows explorer) using Windows + E keys together

Step 5 – Navigate to the following path or copy and paste the following path in the file explorer address bar and hit enter

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player

Step 6 – Delete the files with extensions .wmdb. To delete them right click on those files and then from the appeared list click on delete

 

Delete

 

Step 7 – Now restart your computer and open the Windows media player and check if there is no issue.

 

Method 4 – Re-register Windows Media Player components

Step 1 – Open the command prompt as administrator. To do this, type cmd in the windows search bar then hold Ctrl + Shift keys and hit enter

Step 2 – A user account control window will open. Click on yes

Step 3 – Type regsvr32 jscript.dll in the command prompt and hit enter. Wait till the execution is complete

 

Register

 

Step 4 – Now again type regsvr32 vbscript.dll in the command prompt and hit enter

 

Vbscript

 

Step 5 – Also type regsvr32 wmp.dll in the command prompt and hit enter

 

Wmp

 

Step 6 – Close the command prompt and restart the computer then check if the issue is solved.

 

Method 5 – Run The SFC And DISM Commands

 

Step 1 – Open the command prompt as an administrator. To do this, type cmd in the windows search then hold Ctrl + Shift keys together then hit enter

Step 2 – A user account control window will appear. Click on yes

Step 3 – Copy and paste the following command in the command prompt and hit enter. It will take a few minutes to complete the execution process wait for it

sfc /scannow

 

Scannow

 

Step 4 – Once done copy and paste the following commands in the command prompt and hit enter. Execute them one by one

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

 

Scan Health

 

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

 

Restore Health

 

Step 5 – When the above command is executed and completed successfully then restart the system and check if the problem is resolved.

 

Method 6 – Perform A Clean Boot On Your System

 



Step 1 – Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

Step 2 – Type msconfig in the run prompt and hit enter. It will open the system configuration window

 

Msconfig

 

Step 3 – Go to the services tab

 

Msconfig

 

Step 4 – Check hide all Microsoft services ( a tick mark should be present) and then click on disable all button

 

Hide

 

Step 5 – To save the changes click on apply and ok

Step 6 – Go to the startup tab

Step 7 – Click on open task manager link

 

Task Manager

 

Step 8 – In the status column, check for the status that is enabled. Right click on it and click on disable (note the items that has been disabled you might need it later)

 

Disable

 

Step 9 – Close the task manager and restart the computer. Now your system is in clean boot environment. Now check if the issue is solved.

That’s it! I hope the above provided information is easy to follow and helpful. Let us know which method worked for you. Thank you and happy reading!!