"The specified protocol is unknown" error message, or protocol settings are missing, in Windows Media Player

Problem 1

When you try to stream audio or video from Microsoft Windows Media Services, you may receive an error message that resembles the following in Windows Media Player:

Note This problem does not occur when you play content that is stored on a local hard disk drive.

Problem 2

When you click the Network tab of the Windows Media Player Options menu, nothing happens.

Problem 3

On the Network tab of the Windows Media Player Options menu, the Streaming proxy settings protocol list is empty.

Method 1

Register the Wmnetmgr.dll file by using an account that is in the Administrators group. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , and then type regsvr32 wmnetmgr.dll in the search box.
   
   
   
   

2. Right-click regsvr32 wmnetmgr.dll, and then click Run as administrator.
   
   

Method 2

Make sure that the user account that uses Windows Media Player has the necessary permissions for the Wmsdkns.xml file. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Locate the following folder.
   
   Note You must enable the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option on your computer to show the folder. For more information, see the Show hidden files section.
   

   • In Windows 7

     C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Media\12.0

   • In Windows Vista

     C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Media\11.0

   • In Windows XP

     C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Media\11.0

2. Right-click the Wmsdkns.xml file, and then click Properties.
   
   
   

3. Click the Security tab, and then select the user account that you use in the Group or user names list.
   
   
   
   The permissions of the user or group that you selected are shown at the bottom of the dialog box. Make sure that you have Modify permissions for the Wmsdkns.xml file.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   • If you logged on to the computer by using an account that does not have the necessary permissions, close the session, and then try again by using a system administrator account, or by using an account that has permissions to modify this file.

   • If you are not sure, contact your system administrator.
     

Method 3

Delete the Wmsdkns.xml file. After you delete it, Windows Media Player will re-create the Wmsdkns.xml file. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Locate the following folder.
   
   Note You must enable the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option on your computer to show the folder. For more information, see the Show hidden files section.
   
   
   

   • In Windows 7

     C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Media\12.0

   • In Windows Vista

     C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Media\11.0

   • In Windows XP

     C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Media\11.0

2. Right-click the Wmsdkns.xml file, and then click Delete.
   
   
   

3. In the confirmation window, click Yes.
   
   
   

4. Restart the computer.

Show hidden files

To display hidden files and folders, follow these steps:

1. In Windows Explorer, press the Alt key to show the menu bar, and then on the Tools menu, click Folder options.
   
   
   

2. On the View tab, click to select Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and then click OK.