Disable and Remove URGE Online Store in Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11)
Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11) for Windows XP is the latest Windows Media Player (WMP) for Windows Vista, and available as free standalone program downloadable from Micrsoft for genuine Windows XP SP2 users. WMP 11 features Windows Vista-like feel and touch user interface, plus several other improvements and enhancements. One of the main new add-on is the integrated MTV Networks experience in the way of Urge music services online store, which allows users to enjoy unlimited music downloads exclusively from MTV, VH1 and CMT with free 14-day trial.
URGE is not necessary appeal to everybody, and want to get rid of URGE from Windows Media Player 11. To disable, remove and uninstall URGE in Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11), go to Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs. Locate the “URGE” entry and click on Remove in Windows XP) or Uninstall a program in Windows Vista.
If you think uninstall to remove the URGE from WMP 11 is too troublesome, simply and easily select another online music store service such as Napster as the default store instead of going into URGE online store. You can even select Media Guide as choice of store as in WMP10. User can view the currently available stores by clicking on a small arrow under the MSN Music button. The other way is to never close WMP11 while still in a music store. WMP11 will only start up in the store if the last state of it is in the store. So simply click on “Library” view in the WMP11 pane before shut down the Media Player, so that WMP will go directly to Library pane next time it’s started.
If you haven’t install Windows Media Player 11, you can choose not to install Urge online music store. Start the WMP11 setup installation process as per normal. After the setup finished installing and copying the files, the setup will go player configuration wizard. Choose Custom instead of Express (Recommended) setup. Click on Next and at the last option, users will be presented with options to set URGE as default store or do not setup an online store. Click on Do not setup an online store option and finish the installation player setup. This way, URGE will not be installed.
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Entries (RSS)
June 20th, 2009 03:47
Urge does not even show in the Control Panel / Add Remove Programs. Therefore, Microsoft lies on its web site when it says it can be removed. Moreover, when I remove Urge in the Windows Registry (I run XP), Microsoft puts it back next time I start WMP. As our government, Microsoft always knows better what we need.
October 11th, 2008 22:52
I want to add URGE to media player 11.
Its not there in my windows media player 11.
How to add it?
July 30th, 2007 22:16
Thanks to the original author and to Tripperdan99.URGE was listed in add/remove programs and it was able to be removed. Thanks to Trippers instructions the icon (which even though a program it does not make was very irritating)is now also gone. Thanks again very helpful.
April 12th, 2007 13:44
Never mind, It’s still there. You must need to mess with the registry. Just hide as per Tripperdan’s instructions. Sorry:P
April 12th, 2007 13:42
Tripperdan’s instructions work great for hiding Urge. I removed Urge completely by following the article author’s (poorly written) instructions…
1) In Add/Remove Programs, remove Windows Media Format 11 Runtime if present. Restart your system.
2) In Add/Remove Programs, remove Windows Media Player. Restart your system.
3) Download Media Player 11 from
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/default.aspx
4) Disable Media Player Mini Mode if activated by right-clicking your taskbar, choose Toolbars and uncheck Win Media Player
5) Run the installer
6) When prompted, choose custom installation
7) When asked to choose a media guide, check the bottom box “Not at this time”
March 24th, 2007 11:17
Thanx…. That worked
March 12th, 2007 10:23
Oh well…what a joke….no media guide on my view
“folder” just URGE and once again; urge…I didn’t installed so I cannot remove but this slow “something” connect to the Internet even i did disabled….two small Trojan and a few back door installer “cookie” was collected by “him”…what a great program…back to the 10….have a nice nightmare with Redmond….
March 9th, 2007 09:46
URGE was making the loading of WMP so ridiculously slow… The program was in my Add/Remove Programs list, so I uninstalled it. Started up WMP again, and it’s running awesomely. Icon’s still there, but hey… doesn’t bother too much.
Thank you!
February 21st, 2007 22:57
What the author wrote here isn’t so much a “removal” of the URGE crap, but he does offer a way to “hide” it.
It appears to Purge Urge totally from WMP11 will require a registry mod. But that’s not required for a quick fix…
ACTUALLY, if you read what the author wrote, it works to hide urge. I’ll try to break it down for you in a step by step fashion. Of course those whos vocabulary is rather limited to vulgar outburst may need to go back to using a regular CD player. Step away from the keyboard…
1. The crappy URGE is on the bar. Surpress your desire to fly to Redmond and punch out Bill.
2. Click on VIEW, you will see it up at the top of the window. You need to be in FULL MODE and also be able to see your command bar.
3. Scroll down the menu to “Online Stores”
4. A new menu will open to the right. Here you will see “Media Guide” NOW, regular click on this
5. You will hear some clicking sound, the URGE crap will vanish from the bar and “Media Guide” will magically appear.
6. Now return to your preferred view. Media Guide will remain. You have effectively purged urge from your view.
Someone might have to help poor Bret. Also make sure to change his bib and diaper too.
~td99
February 14th, 2007 23:57
this article is complete bullshit
February 14th, 2007 13:14
Denny, I think you are absolutely right. Everyone else, chill. My first question is this. Why are you all tied up in knots because there is an icon on your media player when you should all be sitting in corners with dunce caps on for using WMP in the first place. Hello??? There are far too many more capable and less intrusive media players out there and if it’s because for some reason you actually like WMP, then just don’t look at the stupid URGE icon. An icon does NOT an installed and running program make.
February 12th, 2007 03:58
The recommendations didn’t work for me. I tried to remove all possible references to Urge, Napster etc in th eregistry but to no avail. The icon still appears in WMP 11. Typical Microsoft. Eventually, Windows will turn into a billboard for ads and improve as a spyware magnet.
February 3rd, 2007 11:15
I dont believe the article to be accurate or correct in it’s representation of the capability to prevent the install and/or accomplish the removal of the “online stores feature” of Media Player 11. At least when installed on XP SP2.
February 1st, 2007 15:22
How come on my machine URGE is not listed in “Add or Remove Programs” of Windows XP but the media player does show it under online stores? Is there other way to remove it? I can’t find an URGE folder under “Program Files” directory either.
January 31st, 2007 11:09
btw i forgot to add I cant get rid of either.. napster or urge show up in my add remove programs list.
January 31st, 2007 11:06
Dan, couldn’t agree more. I don’t think I have urge installed.. I choose not to install it, however, every time I load wmp I see the urge icon there, which bugs me.
All their advertising has done is guarantee that I wont use their service – ever (u loose Urge and u loose bigger than u think cause im going to tell ppl how crap it really is).
I went and installed a plugin, sheesh, I wont do this again, because the icon has now changed from urge to napster and after the big napster deal im really concerned im going to get raped with spam (spyware adware whatever – stuff we’ve all grown too loathe)
It seems to me that MS aren’t making enough money with the monopoly they have.. why else do we get so many friggn ads and from an OS? It should be free of that shit. I mean didnt the Television commercials piss people off enough for us not to have this shit? You know that movie ur watching on free to air – the last 10mins takes an hour cause of the damn commercials.. frigg.
January 29th, 2007 00:19
It’d be nice if all that worked. But I did the custom installation and selected not to install URGE, it did anyway. I also selected not to have WMP 11 take over as the default media player, it did that anyway as well. Not surprising with a microsoft product, but annoying.