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MP3 Corruption Bug "Bytes" Users of Leaked Win7 Beta

Posted 01/05/09 at 03:46:52 PM  by Mark Edward Soper

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Windows 7's Build 7000's WMP 12 can corrupt some MP3 files

When Build 7000 of Windows 7 leaked onto the Internet recently, some bloggers speculated that Microsoft had deliberately leaked Build 7000. If that's the case, Redmond has some 'splainin' to do: numerous users have reported that Windows Media Player 12 (the media player included in Windows 7) corrupts some MP3 files. 

According to posters at a Neowin.net forum, WMP 12 removes the first 2 to 3 seconds of MP3s that have large headers (over 16KB) when the "automatically fill in missing metadata using the online service" option is selected. This option is part of the Express setup defaults. According to ZDNet's Hardware 2.0 blog, the problem seems to be confined to variable bit-rate (VBR) MP3 files.

Microsoft is aware of the bug and is working on a patch, but if you've decided not to wait for an official Beta 1 of Windows 7, what should you do in the meantime to protect your MP3 collection?

  • Don't use the Express option to set up WMP 12
  • Make sure you disable the automatic metadata update option when you set up WMP 12 manually
  • Don't edit metadata in either WMP 12 or Windows Explorer
  • Use third-party players to play MP3 files instead of WMP 12
  • Don't use Build 7000 or earlier builds on a production machine; build yourself a "FrankenPC" for testing purposes
  • Don't use Build 7000's WMP 12 to access MP3s on a network share (network share files can also be corrupted); instead, copy files to a local folder

Remember, not only is Build 7000 a beta, but it's not even an official beta. Bugs happen, and you don't want them breaking your data.

COMMENTS:12
TAGS: microsoft, operating system, mp3, beta, digital media, windows 7, bug, pre-release, leaked, Windows Media Player 12, WMP 12
COMMENTS
avatarHere is the url for

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 8:24pm

Here is the url for Microsofts official Windows 7 page  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/

Enjoy...... 

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avatarRock on Microsoft!

Submitted by knexkid on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 7:39pm

I hope Microsoft doesn't get any flak from this.  It was a leaked verison of the OS.  I assume that means it is not supposed to be in the hands of people.  If this happened to someone, what can they do?  They weren't even supposed to be trying the OS in the first place!!  Microsoft probably purposely coded that so pirates effed up their mp3s.

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avatarI wouldn't risk my data

Submitted by ahenkel on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 7:26pm

On a beta OS. I made sure to unplug both my current primary drive and my mp3 drive. If I so choose to listen to music while playing with a beta OS i'll turn on pandora, or put in a CD. I have 40gb of music not worth loosing.

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avatarTorrent

Submitted by PDeath on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 5:54pm

If one has no qualms about torrenting Windows 7, why would one not simply replace one's music collection with torrents?

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avatarNo issues for me, there is

Submitted by kleinkinstein on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 3:10pm

No issues for me, there is not an mp3 file on any of my machines.  Only flac and ogg!

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avatarWill R/O work?

Submitted by DRAGONWEEZEL on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 2:22pm

I am scared to death of losing my precious data.  I've been ripping MP3's since I was about 20 or so (10 years)  I've got everything on lock down, 192 or better, vbr.  I've lost my collection twice.  (once after I just got done ripping, and after my cd's were stolen) EAC and 5 cd-rom drives are your friend.

 Tough luck?  no, I need to learn a lesson.  The lesson I learned?  Set your shizz to READ ONLY!  and share them as Read Only.  I've needed to learn lots of lessons in life.   Now all my pics and Muzak is backed up & R/O.

 So, my question to all you beta users is if the dir is set as r/o, does WMP unflag it before doing the fill?

 

Curiousity Killed the cat, but it allso got him to the freeway.

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avatarUhhh Read Only

Submitted by Tekzel on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 4:33pm

The read only flag is a polite suggestion, not a rule.  Any program that wants to can happily ignore that flag.

I do 100% agree with option 2 though, backing up anything even a little bit important is vital.  

Oh, and regarding the people with corrupted MP3s?  I don't feel any sympathy.  Most of them are probably using the leaked instead of official beta builds.  If you run production code, back up your stuff.  If you run beta or earlier code and you don't back up your stuff, you are just an idiot.

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avatarThere's an official beta

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 7:50pm

There's an official beta build available to download?

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avatarHell, I don't know

Submitted by Tekzel on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 8:00pm

Hell, I don't know.  I personally have no interest in helping Microsoft beta test their products for free.  My point being though, unless they GET it through official channels, they aren't deserving of any sympathy.  If its not available yet, then they can just wait.  I'm not sure if your comment was a snarky one or a legitimate question.

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avatarI all out refuse to pick on

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 8:14pm

I all out refuse to pick on people I leave that to others so unless it's a funny comment then usually I'm asking legit questions. And make legit statements. 

But there are a bunch of great media player programs out there that are better than MS Media Player.

MS should have a legit Beta build ready for download sometime this week or next week. Hopefully this week as I hear that Win7 is super stable and fast even in alpha. 

 

Note I do my share of illegitimate downloading so I'm not all innocent and perfect.

BTW anyone know if a protestant can goto a Catholic confession? I have many Esins and impure thoughts brought about by internet porn. But that is beside the point.

 

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avatarMy recommendation is

Submitted by jcollins on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 2:01pm

My recommendation is essentially #5.  Don't use an alpha OS with any real data that you don't want/can't afford to lose or corrupt. 

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avatarMp3 gone

Submitted by monkeyboyx on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 2:10pm

Haha what a bunch of idiots. First you steal some beta software then you work with real data, serves you right. That's why its called beta..its not finished and has bugs....and if microsoft put that into the software then serves your right...ohh man thats funny. ...amatures. Yeah I did dl also but install it on your main PC and use you actual files....f***** retards.

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