Set VLC Player as default in Group Policy

[Addy-Hussain]

Hello,

Am trying to set VLC Player as our default player for all our Windows 7 x64 workstations, currently every time a user tries to play a any type video/DVD it defaults to Windows Media Player, and then the media player asks for different codec packages.

 

It's an educational environment so everything is through group policy, but I cant find any articles on how to replace Windows Media Player with VLC player.

 

Is there anyone, who can help me with this please.

 

Many Thanks

[ZeroHour]

I think the best way may be to use Group Policy Preferences and export the association registry key and add it to that possibly.

Also take a look at MPC-HC as I found it much better than VLC nowadays for use.

[6Foot2]

I think the best way may be to use Group Policy Preferences and export the association registry key and add it to that possibly.

Also take a look at MPC-HC as I found it much better than VLC nowadays for use.

 

Link: MPC-HC, the free, open source media player for Windows

 

...v1.7.13 is released and farewell

 

July 16, 2017

 

v1.7.13, the latest, and probably the last release of our project…

 

[Arthur]

I can't find any articles on how to replace Windows Media Player with VLC player.

IIRC, setting the following registry value via Group Policy Preferences will make VLC the default DVD player on Windows 7...

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\DVD\Shell]
@="PlayWithVLC"

[ZeroHour]

 

 

I could have sworn I heard it was going to resume after that announcement but I can't find the link. MPC-BE is a branch though and still ongoing.

 

IIRC, setting the following registry value via Group Policy Preferences will make VLC the default DVD player on Windows 7...

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\DVD\Shell]
@="PlayWithVLC"

 

Just a note I think that will only work if it is installed fully on the machine and not on a UNC etc.

[Arthur]

Link: MPC-HC, the free, open source media player for Windows

MPC-BE is still being updated...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Player_Classic#Black_Edition

 

 

PotPlayer is also a really good alternative. Like MPC-HC/BE program settings can be configured through the registry...

 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Daum\PotPlayerMini64

 

 

^ Pictured above is the included touch screen skin. Some of our teachers would struggle with the tiny buttons in the MPC-BE UI.

[Arthur]

Just a note I think that will only work if it is installed fully on the machine and not on a UNC etc.

Good point, although wouldn't that mean if VLC was installed to a UNC path, users wouldn't be able to play DVDs on their laptops at home?

 

Personally I always install it locally.

 

I could have sworn I heard it was going to resume after that announcement but I can't find the link.

 

https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=174738

 

The last "nightly" build was from 28th August 2017...

 

https://www.videohelp.com/software/Media-Player-Classic-Home-Cinema

Edited January 20, 2018 by Arthur

[Addy-Hussain]

Thank you for replying. That has solved it.