Information that is exchanged or stored during synchronization

During synchronization, Windows Media Player copies the content in the categories and playlists that you selected to your device. In addition, The Player and your device exchange some or all of the following information in order to complete the synchronization process:

• Device information. Because the Player can keep track of up to 16 devices on one computer, it stores information about all devices that it has synchronization partnerships with. It also stores information about the content in your library that has been synchronized to each device. If you create a partnership that requires the Player and a device to automatically synchronize content when you connect your device to your computer, the Player can quickly determine the connected device and the content in your library that must be synchronized, greatly improving performance.

  For some devices, the Player also places a file named WMPInfo.xml on the device to track the partnership. Deleting the file, if it exists, will cause the Player to lose its partnership information with the device. Some devices do not require this file to be created.

• Device capabilities. When you connect your device to your computer, the Player inspects the device to determine its playback and storage capabilities. For example, the Player determines if the device can play audio and/or video files and the associated file formats, codecs, and bit rates that the device supports. The Player turns off options for synchronizing certain file types in the selected categories and playlists if it determines that the device cannot play the files.

  The Player also determines the amount of space on the device that is available for storing synchronized files and whether the device can support storage of files in folders.

  For mass storage class devices, the Player can only determine the available disk space on the device and only synchronizes music files to the device by default. To synchronize other file types to mass storage class devices, you will need to update partnership settings.

• Media information. The Player can synchronize media information for music files, such as album information and album art, if the device can display the information. If album art contains a link to purchase the album online and your device allows you to click the link, the next time you connect your device to your computer, your Internet browser will open a Web page that allows you to complete the transaction.
• Licenses. A content provider may specify certain rights in the license for a protected file, such as the number of times you can play the file or an expiration date. To maintain these rights, the license associated with a protected file is synchronized along with the file.
• Play count. The Player and your device may exchange information about the number of times a synchronized file was played, both in the Player and on the device. The new total play count is updated in your library and on your device during synchronization. The auto playlists you created in your library that have criteria based upon play count can then be updated appropriately. Your auto-ratings, which change based upon the number of times an item is played, are updated appropriately.
• Time. The Player and your device may exchange information about whether a synchronized file was played on the device. The Player then creates a new time for when the files was last played, so that the auto playlists you created in your library that have criteria based upon the time when files are played are updated appropriately.
• Ratings. Ratings information for synchronized files can be updated in your library if you changed the rating for the file on the device. Your device must support the ability to change file ratings. The auto playlists you created in your library that have criteria based upon ratings that you assign to files are updated appropriately.

Notes

• You can tell a device is a mass storage class device if Windows XP assigns a drive letter to the device when you connect it to your computer.
• A content provider may set an expiration date for a licensed file. If your device does not have the hardware required to monitor expiration, The Player may not be able to synchronize these files to your device.
• A content provider may require that your device have a hardware serial number in order to play a licensed file. The Player may not be able to synchronize files from the content provider, or you may not be able to play synchronized files on the device, if it does not have a hardware serial number.
• If your device appears as a "Fixed Disk" in My Computer, the Player cannot synchronize content to the device. Contact the device manufacturer directly for support.

Related topics

• Synchronizing content to devices