WMP11 + combined community codec package on windows 2000 cannot play mp3 files

[cov3rt]

I have using windows media player 11 on windows 2000 and installed the combined community codec package latest stable release which requires installing "Windows2000-UURollup-v11-d20141130-x86-ENU" from beforehand. I have been able to play mp4 files and even a basic h.265 file ( albeit with some blur / lag, but that i guess is expected when using a radeon 3000 series gpu unofficially and a really old h.265 codec ), but for some reason, wmp11 complains on missing codecs when trying to play mp3 files. ccc is supposed to install these, i have checked full install ( minus home cinema player ), but for some reason, wmp11 isn't playing mp3. I have tried installing / applying separate mp3 codec packages or methods, ( mentioned by chatgpt ), which sent me on a wild goose chase of unsuccessful attempts.

The only method i found working for mp3 on wmp11 was to uninstall ccc and install klite 7.10 mega pack ( K-Lite_Codec_Pack_710_Mega ) instead, but now i cant get h.265 videos to work. i would think its easier to find a light mp3 decoder to install with ccc, than finding a h.265 one to use alongside klite, besides the later ccc being overall newer anyways and smaller in package than klite 7.1. BTW, "vlc player 2.2.5.1" also doesn't support the h.265 sample vid, even when i installed the newer ccc. i have yet to test newer vlc versions if there are any that work on unofficial update rollup systems, since that would likely be the most straightforward option, as i dont have a problem playing mp3 files on vlc 2.2.5.1 or regular non h.265 mp4. 

Also related, but is there a way to hide some of these errors from wmp11, such as "your device is using an outdated driver that is no longer supported by windows media player"?

Edited Wednesday at 01:21 AM by cov3rt

[cov3rt]

ok, so i was able to get mp3 files to play now in wmp11 using an unofficial codec package "L3C MP3 Codec" with filename of "L3C.exe" that i downloaded via wayback machine from MDGx site, while still keeping the unofficial latest release of combined community codec package, however, i still have the outdated driver related error. any way to fix this easily? im told disabling hardware acceleration in wmp settings may sometimes get rid of this error, but that of course will result in significantly reduced performance.