Just a couple of (simple <g>) questions I hope someone can help me with:

1 What User (system) Resources does WinAmp (2.72) require:
(a) when it first loads; and
(b) when it is running as an audio CD player?

2. Is there a command line switch (similar to the "/play" switch used by Windows CD Player) to configure WinAmp (2.72) to immediately begin playing a CD as soon as it launches?

Thanks for any comments... I'm very new to this player.

You might receive other, more specific replies to your question about Winamp used resources. But, in general, you can feel comfortable that Winamp is just about the most conservative user of your PC resources of any player you can find.

Re the CD play, do you mean that you want to insert a CD, then start Winamp? Or the other way around. If you start Winamp, then insert the CD you can get the CD to start playing immediately by getting all the settings straight.

Under Winamp Preferences (ctrl+P), click on File Types, and make sure that cda is selected. Then check the Associate With Audio CDs box.

(BTW, if you're going to use Winamp as your main player, you might as well select all the file types - they can always be unselected if you change your mind).

You might also have to open whatever default CD player you now have, find its Preference settings and turn off the CD association. You shouldn't have two different players associated with the same file type.

Since you're new to Winamp you might want to peruse the Help screens you'll find in the main Winamp screen.

Thank you Qaxar... your helpful comments are very much appreciated. (You treated an old man very kindly<g>!)

A couple of points to clarify my problems:

1 I'm constantly running my system very close to the safe limit of User Resources (it even gets down to <10% at times) so I don't want to incur a heavy penalty with *any* new program I install. Presently I use the Plus98 deluxe Windows CD player - which is just a basic player - but it works, and only chews up 4% resources when it loads (and nothing extra when it's running).

2 Re the '/play' switch. What I'm looking for is a configuration setting that will enable Winamp to start playing an audio CD immediately it is inserted into the player (ie without having to maximize the program window and press the "play" button each time)... in the same way the Windows player operates with the '/play' switch applied. I realize that this will require Winamp to be loaded at boot-up (hopefully minimized to the system tray?) and I assume it can be readily configured to do this.

I hope all this makes sense... as I said I really am new to Winamp. I just want better (and more flexible) audio output than I'm presently getting <g>!

OK, I think I know what you want.

First, re CPU resource load. The best means I have to check that is to run a program that dynamically displays System, GDI and User resources available. When I play a CD with Winamp, the readings don't change at all. So, to me, the CPU drain is minimal. I'm running with a 350 mhz Pentium II, 128 MB RAM.

If you get the settings right:
1. If Winamp is not open, it will do so when you insert the first CD.
2. When Winamp is open, when a new CD is inserted, it will start to play.
3. It will run this way minimized if you want.

I presume you don't want to waste time getting the track names from GraceNote (CDDB), so you should disable that function id Winamp. More on this later.

If you want the best sounding results, and most flexibility, you should download the CD Reader plugin, and use it instead of the default CD plugin you get with the Winamp download. Get this at http://www.url*****~copah/ Be sure to read the readme file to install properly - you have to disable the existing CD plugin in Winamp.

Now to get the settings right:
In Winamp Preferences (Ctrl+P):
1. Click on Plugins/Input and highlight CD Reader. Click on Configure and remove the CDDB checkmarks.
2. Click on Setup/FileTypes and be sure that cda is selected. Also, make sure that Associate with audio CDs is checked.

As I said in an earlier post, you might also have to make sure that the player you're currently using doesn't hang on to the cda file association. If all this doesn't work for you, post again - there are some other things to possibly look at.

Winamp Configuration
 

Hi Qaxar

Y-E-E-E-E- H-A-A-A-R-R- !

It all worked like a charm!

Thank you *very* much for your generous and carefully worded help. I followed all your suggestions (and the installation instructions for the CD Reader plug-in) and right now, as I'm typing this, I am hearing one of my old CD's with new clarity and depth.

Everything seems to be just fine; hopefully it will stay that way. <g>

I greatly appreciate your patience and your encouragement. Thank you.

Ian