I re-installed Windows Media Player 7.1 several days ago even tho I prefer the 6.4 version. I did this to perform some tasks.
I just ran Spybot and this turned up, I removed it but is this the result of installing WMP version 7.1? If it is the the 7.1 version, it is history unless this is the result of using any version of WMP. I never ever saw this before when running Spybot. Here is what is said about the tracking cookie varmint:

Company: Microsoft
Product: Media Player
Threat: Tracking

Company URL: http://www.microsoft.com
Company product URL: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...ia/default.asp
Company privacy URL: http://www.microsoft.com/info/privacy.htm

Functionality
Plays multimedia files.

Description
The MS Media Player assigns a unique ID to your machine that is transmitted each time the CD player queries the database for the name of a CD and its titles. It may also be transmitted when downloaded codecs.

Another question---is this possibly connected to or has something to do with the language dealing with licensing, or whatever, when MS thinks that copying of a commercial CD has taken place. I do not recall those exact words nor why I ever saw them on my machine some time ago. Sorry if I am only confusing this issue more by injecting this into my post.