Hi jtblake
If this happened just recently, why not try System Restore, using a restore point from before the settings in WMP went wild.
Scan for malware as thoroughly as you can, too, just to rule that out. Anytime you have unexpected system behaviour, malware scans are a good precaution. Some exploits in the past year have targeted WMP.
Unfortunately, I haven't come across any techniques for reinstalling/repairing WMP in Vista, other than System Restore and Repair installs of the entire Vista operating system. I find it hard to believe Microsoft has WMP so 'embedded', especially after it's whole antitrust history with the European Union and the U.S.
Particular errors generated by WMP can sometimes be fixed, some through finding appropriate codecs, other by resolving conflicts. There is an unofficial WMP Troubleshooting page with lots of information ---
http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html --- plus the official Microsoft WMP Vista Troubleshooting site ---
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...eshooting.aspx
We'll have to see if some of this is addressed in Service Pack 1 ... also, when a new version of WMP becomes available, that will help some, as it will likely provide the uninstall/reinstall capability that the Vista-native WMP 11 lacks.
Best of luck
. . . Gary