This sounds like something isn't letting WMP shut down properly - you would
definitely want to check for driver updates for your audio and video card.
Any time it refuses to shut down, as Rob mentioned, wmplayer.exe should
likely be listed in the Processes tab of Task Manager.

In theory you may be getting crash or hang information about this in your
Problem Reports and Solutions center- that data may have additional useful
information.

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--

"Steve Paddock" <steve.paddock@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:FE50134C-4317-4522-B1FE-AACC6E6F2926@microsoft.com...
>I have recently upgraded to Vista Home Premium. For some reason, it now
>seems to be pot luck whether whether Windows Media Player will start or
>not. When it refuses to start I have tried everything down to
>double-clicking the wmplayer .exe file. Not a flicker and no error messages
>are displayed. When it does start I have full functionality until again, it
>refuses. I have tried after cold and hot restarts but there are no set of
>circumstances that guarantee a working application.
>
> Anyone any ideas please??
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve