I have just downloaded RealPlayer. I have approximately 500 songs I had downloaded via iMesh, and the titles are all stored in my computer, on Windows Media…is it possible to transfer them to RealPlayer? (They typically have a file name ending in .wma).
.wma is a proprietary windows audio format. Real Player, along with any media player software that runs on windows I can think of, will play them. Just add them to the RealPlayer library so it knows where to find them.
People still use RealPlayer? I thought that went out along with MySpace and AltaVista.
This really got cut short. An “application error” box (“ffprobe.exe”) box started appearing on my screen, with the message “Click to close the application” and “0x000007b”); I clicked, but the box just kept reappearing; with the sound effect for “critical stop.” It persisted even after I had the computer shut off for three hours; I eventually had to uninstall RealPlayer. Even Task Manager wouldn’t remove it. It’s still on the screen, but fortunately I was able to tuck it off to the bottom where I can hardly see it.
I vaguely remember having issues with an earlier version of RealPlayer under Win98. 
I think that put me off it. I don’t know what to think about the newer edition, given your story.
Right click on your clock, which is usually found in the bottom right hand corner of your screen. Click “Task Manager.”
In Task Manager, click the “Startup” tab. This shows a list of processed that start when your computer starts.
One of those processes might be ffprobe.exe or RealPlayer or something. You can right-click and disable it.
You can also look for it under the “Services” tab and disable it there as well.
I have it, and use it frequently. It’s very handy for downloading videos from some websites.
Thanks anyway. When I started the computer up just a little while ago, at one point the screen was blank, and a box appeared briefly; I got a glimpse of a message “Deleting 1 item.” The nuisance box has not reappeared. I guess I may keep my fingers crossed, but since I had to uninstall RealPlayer it’s not likely it will come back.
I tried that program so I could maybe play the stuff I had downloaded via the now-defunct iMesh. 
If they’re standard, DRM-free .wma files, there should be plenty of players/apps that will play them. If they have DRM, it becomes trickier.
How do I find out whether or not they have DRM?
What have you used to try to play them? (And what operating system?)
In glancing at the header I was sure this was a reply to a 15 year old zombiepost. It’s stunning it’s still around.
iMesh was a music sharing service that was shut down about five years ago. It was like Napster, although towards the end of its life, it had a licensing deal with the RIAA.
ffprobe.exe is streaming media analyzer that is apparently part of the RealAudio software.
Here is a thread from RealAudio support, last April, also complaining about crashes with ffprobe.exe.
https://customer.real.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/210627147-ffprobe-exe-Runtime-Error-every-20-seconds-with-latest-Realtimes-Player
It’s a short thread - here’s the response from Real Customer Support:
My suggestion: Forget about RealAudio and use the built in Windows Media Player, if you have an older computer, or Groove, if you’ve got a Win10 pc.
I still have a problem. When I try to play some music on Media Player I get a message about needing a license. There the matter stands. :mad:
Googling iMesh DRM turns up some sites that may be helpful (or may not–I haven’t checked).
Myself as well. RealPlayer is a product that reminds me of long, defunct programs like Napster and Netscape. I’ll be damned.
Anything QuickTime can’t read, I’ll usually resort to VLC.
And I find it stunning that apparently so few people know that it’s still around, given that (as I said earlier) it’s so convenient for downloading videos.
QuickTime sounds every bit as archaic as RealPlayer to me. Forget MySpace and AltaVista, that’s some Ask Jeeves, Geocities shit there.
Quicktime’s only recommended for Mac OS, as Apple doesn’t patch or support it on Windows any longer, and there’s known exploits out there. VLC plays all the media files I come across and VideoDownloadHelper is a Firefox plugin that easily grabs stuff from pages.
Why would you want to download videos when everything’s on Youtube?