So you wish to install WMP 7.1 or 6.4 on Windows XP and higher, just out of pure curiosity? Well ok then! Just follow these steps(The installation on XP requires 2 additional steps seen below):
1. (Only for XP Users)
Before installing WMP7.1 On XP, you must know that XP (And 2000) comes with a "sub-system" called Windows File Protection. What does it do? Simply put: it restores files shortly after you deleted them/replaced them with and edited version. Installing WMP7 with this turned on quickly replaces the WMP7 Files with the ones from whatever version you had before (Be it 9 or 11). So we are going to disable it. All you have to do is make a .bat file with notepad using the following script described here. Then save it to the location of your choice and run it. Then reboot.
2.
Now, you need to uninstall the current built-in version via the programs and features control panel applet, and then select Turn Windows features on or off. Then find Windows Media Player and unclick it. Now it may say that some other features will be gone too(Windows Media Center for instance), but you can ignore that anyway (Unless you really need WMC). Reboot your computer if asked.
NOTE: Windows Vista does not have the option to uninstall WMP from the system. Use the method described in step 2.5 instead.
EDIT:
2.5 (Only for XP Users)
Now it seems you removed Windows Media Player, right? Wrong! There are still some files left, like the wmplayer.exe file in the Windows Media Player program files folder. Navigate to C:\Program Files and remove the entire Windows Media Player folder. Then navigate to C:\Windows\System32 and remove all .dll files that start with wmp. Now you can go forth to step 3.
3.
Download 7-zip and use it to extract the files within the WMP installer(The lone exe file) to the folder of your choice. Open the folder you've extracted the files to and find setup_wm.exe. Rename it to something like setup_wm1.exe and set the compatibility mode to Windows 98/Me. Now run it and install as normal. Then reboot again if asked.
4. (Only for XP Users)
Now for XP, after the reboot, it may seem that the WMP Icon in the start menu does not appear. We'd have to go back to the programs and features applet in the control panel. Then click on Turn Windows features on or off again, and check Windows Media Player. Hopefully it should be fixed in a way that WMP 9 (Or 10 or 11) is not "reinstalled".
And whola! WMP7 should now be installed:
Version 6.4 of the player should also be installed now too, in C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial
