Windows Media player not working within IE browser

Basically, at one point I had the cool search amoung other spyware / trojans. I have since cleaned it all completely using Hijack this! and other warez. I only have the very very basic processes running now with no intrusions at all. Running Windows XP Professional.

But, now I cannot play any media files during a browser session. If I go to a site that has a video file, I see the controls for Windows Media player, but the video window is not there and the control buttons are all grayed out.

I can (if the site allows it) to download, or save target as - and play the video just fine once on my hard disk.

I reset all IE 6 sp2 settings, uninstalled Windows Media Player 10 and reinstalled and associated it with all file types. Deleted internet files/cookies. And ran all MS updates. Same same. I checked my browser settings and I have play sounds / videos in web pages checked. Animations work fine, it is just videos like on espn, or consumption junction or even my local news. I used to get prompted with the "do you want to play video in browser" and I do not anymore, it has the controls display (as previously mentioned) but video does not.

I am at a loss. Any Ideas?

 

The way i fixed IE veiwing problems.

http://www.mozilla.org

 

Yes, I have firefox installed as well.

But it will not play the media files in the browser either.

It seems to be a media player problem - although I have reinstalled it.

 

I like Firefox too, but I have seen more sites that required
plug-ins with Firefox than I have with IE.
I have a personal hatred for flash player as a result of all the
bullcrap popups they inundated me with for 2 or 3 years there.
So I won't install it on my computer. I just won't.
Well IE will play most of those files. Firefox won't without the
plug-in which I won't download.

But to answer the guy's post here, I wonder if you need
some codecs? There are a bunch of codec packs out there that
might help that out.

 

No, I doubt it. As the videos work fine if I am able to do a "save as" on them and play from hard drive. As well, I have download codec automatically on.

The quicktime plug-in for IE is working as I can play quicktime movies within the browser. It is just Windows Media Player.

There is something in IE or MP that is broke that MP is not being launched from within IE.

 

Yeah, I did see you mention the save as function working....
One other thing. I myself don't like to run mp within the browser and
I checked no, the last time it asked me if I wanted it to open in the browser.
Well I recall there was a box to remember the selection, which of course
I checked and I don't get that prompt anymore. If you did that inadvertantly,
then you might not be able to open it that way now.