My computer won't recognize my mp3s?

Right mouse click on an mp3.
Click “open with” and select Windows Media Player.
Check the box that says “always open with this program”.
Click OK

Is your music on an external drive or your C Drive? Have you tried opening them in other media players to see whether the issue is with the media player or the files (incidently, which media player are you using)?

@The_Compassionate_Heretic I’ve tried that. I don’t get the “open with” option

@StephK I have been using Windows Media Player…do you know of any known issues?

Some more questions really quick: What version are you using? And do you get any error messages at all?

Try shift+right mouse click

Plan b:
Go to www.winamp.com
Downloading and installing this alternative media player will associate your mp3s with the new player.
Windows media player is not a super program.

Or try VLC. That will play practically any media you throw at it.

vlc media= swiss army knife.

@StephK I get an error message reading that the file doesn’t have a program associated with it.

Okay, this should be pretty simple. I’m going to assume you’re using a PC Vista since you’re running WMP. :)

What you need to do is reassociate WMP with mp3’s – it looks like somehow that got lost.
Go to Control Panal -> Search for “File Types”.
Scroll down until you find mp3 and select it.
Click “Change Program”.
Choose WMP.

Windows XP is a little different; You’ll probably have to do: Control Panal – > Folder Options -> File Types -> Registered File Types -> Details

If this doesn’t work, you might try reinstalling WMP.

@StephK I HATE Vista!!! I can’t find the associations panel…damn I feel stupid

Control Panel -> Programs -> Default Programs -> Associate a file type or protocol with a program

@StephK I don’t get it..mp3 isn’t an option in the pull down. Any ideas?

Then I don’t really know. You might try a tech forum like www.geekstogo.com or the like.