server execution failed downloaded file How to fix "Server execution failed" error when playing audio file. Windows Media Player is the default software STUFF on a Windows computer for playing audio files, including MP3 and WAV. When you double-click an audio file, Windows Media Player automatically opens and starts to play it. Unfortunately, Windows updates or issues related to Windows Media Player or audio codecs can result in seeing the "Server execution failed" error when trying to play an audio file. The error is usually due to corruption with the Windows Media Player program files or the codecs for playing audio files. To fix the "Server execution failed " error for Windows Media Player, follow the steps in each section below. Back up Windows Media Player playlists and configuration settings. If you have playlists or other custom configuration settings in Windows Media Player, you first need to back up those playlists and settings. If you don't, your playlists and custom configuration settings are lost as part of the repair process. To back up your playlists and configuration settings, follow the steps below. If you do not have any playlists or custom configuration settings in Windows Media Player, skip to the next section. Navigate to the following folder path, where [username] is the name of the account you log in with and use in Windows. C:\Users\ [username] \AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player. If you do not see the "AppData" folder, you need to adjust the folder settings to show hidden files and folders, see: How do I view hidden files and folders in Windows? In the Media Player folder, press Ctrl + A , then press Ctrl + C to select and copy all the files and subfolders. Go to the Windows desktop and create a new folder named "WMP backup." Open the new WMP backup folder and press Ctrl + V to paste the files from step 3 into the folder. Uninstall and reinstall Windows Media Player. The next step is to uninstall and reinstall Windows Media Player. Uninstall Windows Media Player. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run window. In the Run window, type optionalfeatures and press Enter . In the Windows Features window, scroll down to the Media Features folder, and uncheck its box. Click OK in the Windows Features window to start the Windows Media Player uninstall process. A second Windows Features window opens, showing a progress bar. When the uninstall process is complete, the message "Windows completed the requested changes" is displayed. Click the Close button, which closes both Windows Features windows. Restart your computer for the uninstall to fully take effect. Reinstall Windows Media Player. After your computer has restarted, open the Windows Features utility again by pressing Windows key + R to open the Run window, typing optionalfeatures , and pressing Enter . In the Windows Features window, scroll down to the Media Features folder, and check its box. Click OK in the Windows Features window start the Windows Media Player install process. A second Windows Features window opens, showing a progress bar. When the install process is complete, the message "Windows completed the requested changes" is displayed. Click the Close button, which closes both Windows Features windows. Restore the playlists and configuration backup. Now that Windows Media Player is reinstalled, you need to restore the playlists and custom configuration settings backup. To restore the backed up files, follow the steps below. If you didn't back up any playlists or custom configuration settings before uninstalling and reinstalling Windows Media Player, you're done and these steps can be skipped. How to Fix Windows Media Player ‘Server Execution Failed’ Error with Ease. It may happen that you are trying to play your music, videos or movies on Windows Media Player only to receive the “Server Execution Failed” error. But what exactly is this error? In this guide, we will investigate it, then provide you with multiple solutions on how to fix server execution failed error. What does ‘Server Execution Failed’ mean Solution 1: Disable WMP Network Sharing Service Solution 2: End WMP in Task Manager Solution 3: Reinstall/Update WMP Solution 4: Register jscript.dll and vbscript.dll Extra: The Best Alternative to WMP in 2020. What does ‘Server Execution Failed’ mean. In simple terms, the ‘Server Execution Failed’ could mean that the Windows Media Player application is running or shutting down at that point, or it could simply be frozen and unable to close. According to Microsoft, this error may be caused by Windows System Files damage. This error might also occur if for reason the Windows Media Player network service is stopped or if there is a problem with your User account. As an initial recommendation, Microsoft recommends its users to run the troubleshooter, but that sometimes does not solve the problems. The following could solve the problem for you: Several Ways to Solve this Issue. Disabling the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service Force closing Windows Media Player with the Task Manager Disabling and re- enabling Windows Media Player, or installing updates Registering jscript.dll and vbscript.dll in Windows PowerShell Using an alternative media playback software. Solution 1: Disable WMP Network Sharing Service. Windows Media Player’s Network Sharing Service is there to help your computer share WMP libraries to other networked players and media devices which make use of Universal Plug and Play. If you are not using the network, then it is not necessary to run this service which could also be responsible for promoting the problem in the first place. Therefore, disable this service instead to play your music or videos without interruptions. Step 1: Open Control Panel. Click the start button and search for the Control Panel app. When you open Control Panel, find and click ‘Administrative Tools” which should open a new folder. Step 2: Open Services. When the Administrative Tools folder opens, find and click ‘Services’. If the app prompts you to run it as an administrator, allow it. Step 3: When the Services app opens, find “Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service”. Single-click it to highlight it. Step 4: Disable the WMP Network Sharing Service. Right click on “Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service” then select ‘Stop’ from the menu. The service will immediately stop. Note: To re-enable the WMP Network Sharing Service, follow the above steps. When you get to step 4 select ‘Start’ to enable it. Solution 2: End WMP in Task Manager. The Server Execution Failed Windows 10 error can also be caused if the application is frozen, that is when the application gets stuck upon attempts to shut down. Task Manager can easily fix this problem, by force closing the app for you. Therefore, follow the steps below: Step 1: Right-click on the task bar, then choose ‘Task Manager’ from the menu. Additionally you can press CTRL + Alt + Delete and click ‘Task Manager’ from the menu, or open the Run app then type type taskmgr.exe. Note: When Task Manager opens, expand it to show more details by clicking the arrow at the bottom of the Window. Step 2: Find and click ‘Windows Media Player’ under “Apps” or “Background processes”. Click the ‘End Task’ button at the bottom right to force close the app. Solution 3: Reinstall/Update WMP. The other solution available for you is to disable and re-enable the Windows Media Player application itself. As a primary Windows feature, WMP cannot be uninstalled completely. Some users have reported that this solution worked for them, and here is how you can do it: Step 1: Open the Run app. You can search for this app from the start menu. Step 2: When the Run app opens, Type appwiz.cpl in the Open text box and click OK to open the Programs and Features window. Click Turn Windows features on or off to open the window in the snapshot directly below. Step 3: Click the plus button on the Media features to expand it. Deselect the Windows Media Player check box, then click OK. Step 4: Restart your computer. When it restarts, repeat the above 4 steps to re-install WMP by selecting the Windows Media Player check box. To update Windows Media Player to the newest version, you simply need to install Windows updates, which should contain the fixes for all the system applications. Windows Update is found in the Control Panel or Settings apps. Solution 4: Register jscript.dll and vbscript.dll. Just like any Windows application, Windows Media Player is reliant on components so that it runs properly. These components are registered in the Windows Registry, and if they are absent you will run into all sorts of problems including the Server Execution Failed error. It is not exactly clear how the necessary components, which are jscript.dll and vbscript.dll respectively go missing but we attribute this to system bugs. The good thing is Windows keeps a backup of this components in its system, and all you need to do is to run a few command lines using Windows PowerShell to fix this problem. Here is how you can do it: Step 1: Open Windows PowerShell. Open the Start Menu, type powershell in the search field, and then press Enter or click the Windows PowerShell result. Additionally, you can use the Run app, which can be launched by pressing the Win + R keys on your keyboard, then typing “powershell” and clicking OK. Note: You need to run Windows PowerShell as an administrator. When you see the search results, right click on Windows PowerShell and select “Run as an administrator” from the menu. Step 2: Type regsvr32 jscript.dll, hit Enter and then click on the confirmation box.