1-Click Install for Windows Media Taskbar Mini-Player for Windows 10 and April 2018 Update (64-bit)

This is an update to Windows Media Mini-Player on Windows (64-bit) 10 and Creators Update 64-bit script.

Getting back Windows Media Mini-Player on Windows (64-bit) 10 and April 2018 Update Update, with a one click installer. Confirmed working on April 2018 Update.

Windows Media Player 12+ version was missing the one of the best features of older Windows Media Players (WMP) and that was the mini-player that appeared when you minimized it. 

The WMP Mini-Player allows you to access the media player right from the Taskbar or system tray area.

Moreover, it displays the currently playing album, artist and provides next song pop-ups. This was a innovative feature to Windows that shortsightedly got removed?  Well, this installer will get it back for you.

Features:

• Windows Media Player Mini-Player 
• 1 click install and and proper uninstall - no registry files required
• Installer works for Windows 7, 8, 8.1,10+ (64 bit only)
• new - Removes Windows Media Player option from Toolbar/Taskbar immediately

What does it install? 

The WMPTaskbarInstallerWin10.inf file is old style (Win95) installer file that installs task-bar Windows Media Mini-Player dll (wmpband.dll) for your computer. The source of the wmpband.dll comes from Windows 7.  

unadulterated file

Install Instructions

Prerequisites:  

You must set-up Windows Media Player first and played at least 1 audio file.
Your user account must be part Administrators group or you know Administrator password to install for this install to work.

1. Tip! Back-up your registry as a precaution.
2. Download zip and unzip into a directory
   
   Windows 7,8,8.1,10+ (64-bit) and unzip WMPTaskbarInstallerWin10.zip, 
   
   
   For (32-bit) version see original post.
   
   To check what version 32-bit or 64-bit of Windows you are running, run this in Command line (CMD.exe) windows;
   

   1	wmic os get osarchitecture

    
3. Right-click onWMPTaskbarInstallerWin10.inf and click Install
4. Click Yes to User Account Control pop-up.
   
5. Run Windows Media Player and minimize it.
6. Right-click on TaskBar, hover Toolbars and select Windows Media Player. 
   
   
   
   Make sure to Uncheck "Lock the taskbar".
   
   You may not see it appear at first, since explorer process (that contains taskbar process) has to be refreshed. You may try to select another toolbar like Links and activate it and deactivate it, repeat, repeat, repeat until Windows Media Payer shows up.
   
   If that does not work, you'll have to refresh the explorer process, see my post here on doing that.
7. When you select Windows Media Player toolbar the mini-player appears then you have voila, you have it working! Have fun.
   
   This installs mini-player dll (wmpband.dll)  64-bit version to C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpband.dll - 267.0 KB. 
   
   
   
   
8. Potential install issues, if this install fails try this.
   
   Before installing again, check if the "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service" service is Stopped. Type services.msc and find "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service", right-click and chhoose Stop.
   
   
9. Update June 06, 2018 - You have to reinstall this now with every named release  of Windows, like Fall Creators Update, Spring Creators Update, etc

Uninstall

The great thing about this WMPTaskbarInstallerWin10.inf, is it creates a uninstall option.

Goto Programs and Features, and double-click "Windows Media Player Taskbar mini-Player..." to uninstall.

Similar Tools of Interest

Run Powershell.exe As Administrator for Windows 10+ Version 1803 (April 2018 Update) with Batch File Installer

How to Add an "Open With Notepad As Administrator" Shortcut to the File Context Menu in Windows 10

1-Click Installer for Presenters Desktop Shortcuts Tool for Windows 10 and Creators Update

Shutdown, Restart, Log-off, Hibernate, Lock Workstation, Switch User Start Tiles for Windows 10 /8.1 / Server 2012 R2 featuring new Metro Icons

Check it out Path Tool Long Auto Fixer that fixes paths and filenames that are "too long" for Windows.