Until today I clicked on a folder in My Music and clicked "play selection" and I was listening to music. Now I have to right click on the folder and choose "play with WMP"
I liked it better the old way and i don't know what changed. I am not sure if this is a folder issue or a Windows Media Player issue. Guidance from the wise please

So, what happens when you click "play selection"?

What happens when I click "play selection?"
In a nutshell nothing, when I put the pointer over "play selection" it turns into a hand, when I click it turns into an hour glass for about 1 second then back to a hand, but nothing else happens, no music issues forth, zilch

Maybe you have file association problem...
Select any music file, right click on it, click Open with, select WMP, and make sure, there is a checkmark in "Always open...."

Hi broni,
Thanks for your replies. I think you are on the right track with file association however the right click does not give me "Open with" I get Open, Add to Windows Media Player List, and Play with Windows Media Player.
I tried pasting a screenshot but that appears to be not possible/allowed.
If file assoiciation is the problem it is puzzling that all folders have lost the file association.

I'm not sure what do you mean by folders, because you can't set file association with folders.
If you mean files, and you don't have Open with option under right click....
In Windows Explorer, go Tools>Folder Options>File types tab, and check what program is each type of audio file, associate with.

Hi brioni,
I followed that and from there I went to File Types (Audio CD) under Advanced action:&Play and under Application used is the file path and Windows Media Player.
It is all as it should be, but it is not working. This is really weird
Right click works so I can still listen to music (which matters my amp has dropped a channel so computer is my only means of listening atm)

This thing just got weirder.
After right click> customise>choose music artist on about 30 folders (the ones that were not already so designated) the left hand pane in My Music is now headed by PICTURE TASKS
where play selection once was it now says "View as Slide Show"
WHAT is going on here?

Its beginning to sound like one of your music files, especially if its a downloaded file from a music site on the internet, brought more than music into your computer. I'd run a virus scan and malware scan to be sure.

Very sensible suggestion. Some music has been downloaded however EVERY download is scanned for viruses and spyware. I have just rescanned the folder with AV and antispyware and received zero problems from both scans.
I am VERY confused