[PC] See, this is why you can't have nice things.

Not because I break them, but because the newer versions of software more often than not completely fuck up something on the system.

You'd think that Gateway would have reformatted everything, but no...I think what they did was take out the original cd/dvd drive, test it elsewhere, and put it back in and reuploaded a driver for it, and called it done. As soon as I turned on the PC, I noticed everything on the PC was still there, so it looked like they did the absolute bare minimum. Which meant that when I put in a cd to test it, it still didn't read.

Yeah. Paid money to send it out, I EXPECT that they fix it. Irate, I called Gateway asking them what the hell they did. He suggested to do another factory restore. So I do that, and Lo! CD works, if I put it in. It plays on Windows Media Player. It isn't my favorite media player, but it does the job.

As soon as I download the newest version of Media Monkey, which I prefer for many reasons?

Nothing. The drive refuses to read any cds. Even when I uninstall MM, it still refuses to read it.

So...at this point:

I'm thinking that Media Monkey must be screwing with the registry, because the cd/dvd drive is reading cds, but as soon as I upload MM it decides not to read them at all. It really irritates me, because this is the third media player I've used that I like, that has decided not to work anymore. This is mostly due to an upgrade that messes with the registry, or decides not to read cds anymore, or something stupid. I love MM because the library function is one of the best I've seen around...similar to much older versions of MusicMatch, the player worked great and the rip function worked quickly and without errors. Also like MusicMatch you could sort a collection in very intricate ways, unlike iTunes or WMP. MediaMonkey could also play all types of formats, not just mp3s--you could play iTunes' mp4s, and WMAs that don't always read elsewhere. And the biggest thing, you can format the release date of each track with mmddyyyy, not just by year--something that I haven't seen elsewhere, and something that was actually going to help me on my Walk In Silence project.

This pisses me off, because I did not have any problems in the past. And after all this pointless and irritating (and costly) stupidity, I hate the fact that I may have to give up an awesome media player due to a newer, non-functioning version. It would piss me off even more if this was ultimately the reason for my PC's recent issues.

SO.

I'm going to try WMP, since it comes with the PC setup. And if that doesn't let me rip cds or do anything, and if I also can't use some other programs either (this means both other media players like iTunes as well as non-media software like Google Earth), then I'm going to call back Gateway and DEMAND a complete replacement or refund. Hell, I still have my old craptacular PC in my closet...if it comes to that, I'll use that in the interim.

But if WMP does, work, I'm going to give the gang at MediaMonkey a good chewing out. I shouldn't have to buy a Lifetime key only to have it crap out a few years after the fact. Luckily I didn't pay too much for it, but it still chafes my butt that it happened with both MediaMonkey and MusicMatch.

In the meantime, guess I'll have to do some research to find another media player that has what I'm looking for.

*sigh*

[PC] Palm, Meet Forehead.

So.

Went to the Media Monkey forums, and I'm thinking I probably should have done this in the first place instead of getting all cheesed off and wondering why nothing was working correctly. In the forums I found that the current version of MM has something that doesn't jive with Windows 7 64-bit at all and causes all sorts of spectacular failures...including what I've been living through over the last few weeks. Seems it's partly MM's fault, partly Windows'.

After doing *ANOTHER* factory restore, all is well. Music is working completely fine on Windows Media Player. Adding tracks there now.

Yes, I am feeling like a complete idiot for not thinking of this earlier.

*sigh*

At least I got a new cd/dvd drive out of the deal.

Y'all can commence with the "you should get an Apple instead" tripe. I suppose after all this I'll let you run with it. ;)

SO.

Using WMP until further notice. If MM gets their act together, I may redownload. But for now I guess I'll have to wait.

As for my Walk In Silence research...well, more on that later.


Now to start reinstalling stuff.