I'm getting connection issues with Windows Media Player 11 on Vista. It constantly thinks I'm not connected to the internet. It seldom works when I restart my LAN connection or change auto-tuning.

I've tried to turn off the firewall, but it still won't work. I've added WMP to the exception list, it still won't work. I'm wondering whether it could be the firewall on my router, but that doesn't explain why WMP works when I do certain things like reconnecting to the router.

I've also tried disabling IPv6 and adding Multicast protocol, I've ticked "automatically detect settings" in internet options for LAN. Windows itself knows I'm connected to the internet, it is JUST WMP that wouldn't work.

I've searched on the net and couldn't find any similar issues, but if you're experiencing what I've now and know what is wrong, please let me know. Otherwise watch this space as I continue to find a fix for this.

I've just found this article to troubleshoot WMP at MS' website. I've just set "Connect to the Internet" under Tools -> Options -> Player Settings and it's begining to work again. I have a feeling this might be what has caused this anomaly. According to the MS KB, this setting will allow WMP to connect to the internet regardless of other settings when needed.

-Update-
Yep, this seem to have done the trick. I'm suprised this setting isn't on by default though, wouldn't this make a lot of people's WMP unable to work?

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