Q. Windows Media Player does NOT automatically play an audio CD-ROM?

When you insert an audio CD-ROM, you receive:

Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

You may be able to play audio CD-ROMs by double-clicking them in Windows Explorer or by manually selecting one in Windows Media Player.

NOTE: Data CD-ROMs start automatically, so Auto Insert Notification is enabled.

This behavior can happen if another program is the default for playing audio CD-ROMs, or the registry entries that control the program association are set incorrectly.

To fix this problem:

1. Open Windows Media Player and press Tools / Options.

2. Select the Formats tab.

3. Clear the CD Audio Track box and press Apply.

4. Check the CD Audio Track box and press Apply.

5. Press OK.

6. Insert an audio CD-ROM. If it plays correctly in Windows Media Player, your problem is resolved.

If the audio CD-ROM does not play correctly, you will have to manually associate audio CD-ROMs with Windows Media Player:

1. Right-click My Computer and press Explore.

2. Tools / Folder Options / File Types tab.

3. Select N/A in the Registered files types area under the Extensions column whose File Types is AudioCD.

4. Press Advanced under Details for 'AudioCD' file type.

5. Select Play in the Actions box and press Edit.

6. Browse to the location of Windows Media Player and select the executable. It should have a path similar to:

        "C:Program FilesWindows Media Playerwmplayer.exe". Include the quotation marks.

7. Add a space followed by /device:AudioCD "%L" to the end of the path, so the full Application used to perform action box looks similar to:

        "C:Program FilesWindows Media Playerwmplayer.exe" /device:AudioCD "%L"

8. Check the Use DDE box and press OK, OK, and Close.

9. Insert an audio CD-ROM. It should play automatically.