Uncle Google gives me this tip about turning off effects on my sound card from many many different sites, but it's not solving the problem.

I know that the real answer is "use something other than Windows Media Player", but let's just assume for a moment that I need to run WMP for some reason.

Here's my problem:

Let's say I've got MP3 files associated with WMP. I double click on the MP3, and WMP launches.

The WMP window appears and renders fully. This is instantaneous.

Then there is a pause. The MP3 doesn't play, and the center of the WMP screen, instead of showing a visual, is simply a white square.

Then, I have to *WAIT*, for about 10-15 seconds.

Only after that pause does the MP3 start playing and the visuals appear.

This only happens the *first time* I run Media Player after not having run it for a while. If I close Media Player and double-click on the MP3 again, it launches and begins playing the MP3 instantly.

Anyone have any ideas? I suspect it's looking for updates on the internet or something. But I have no proof of that. There doesn't appear to be a way to turn that sort of thing off.