Wait a minute music-aficionados! If you are planning to download beta version of Windows 7 awaiting a grand release - look before you leap. Do you know the beta of Windows 7 may remove the first few seconds of any mp3 file added to your Windows Media Player? Now, if you are willing to learn a solution, here's the key to it.

Now when you are adding mp3 files to the Windows Media Center library or the Windows Media Player manually or automatically, or in case the meta data is edited with Windows Explorer, several seconds of audio data in the beginning of the file may be permanently lost. Generally this occurs in cases where the files contains thumbnails or metadata of significant size before importing or editing.

Not to worry, there are ways to get out of this. Just follow the steps below

  1. Before installing the beta Windows 7 (to be released) keep a backup of all the mp3 files that your computer can access. This includes the files in your removable media or shared network.
  2. Before starting the Windows Media Player or Windows Media  Center or the metadata, set all the mp3 files that is accessible to the computer in read-only mode. In order to do this find the files, right click on them and go to the general tab, and select the Read-only check box. After installation you can reset the file read-only status according to your preference.

There's an alternative to this idea.  Install the Beta Windows 7 and then install this update (KB961367).

Having said so much, I need to tell you that there's a hotfix to this problem. In case it is included in the beta version you can go ahead, listen to your favorite tracks without a hitch.