VB.NET Run WMP Process Hidden or Minimized not working

Hi All, I am using this code to play a very short mp3, close it and re-run it. What I cannot figure out is how to run windows media player either hidden or minimized. I have tried several things with no luck. No matter what I try, the player window always appears. Thanks for any help!

Code:

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    Sub Alert()

        Dim MyProcess As New Process
        Dim proc = Process.GetProcessesByName("WMPlayer")

        MyProcess.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = True
        MyProcess.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
        MyProcess.StartInfo.FileName = "C:\alerts\audio_alert.mp3"
        MyProcess.Start()

        System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(5000)

        For Each runproc As Process In Process.GetProcessesByName("WMPlayer")
            runproc.Kill()
        Next

    End Sub

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Why do you start the wmp externally? You can use wmp control directly. Other alternatives would be to play the mp3 via e.g. the api mciSendString, via Bass.net or via the Media Foundation -> IMFMediaEngine(Ex).

Use COM to create an WMP object and control it via that. I did the same in one of my .js desktop projects, I can't remember the VB6 syntax but the following extract from the .js won't be dissimilar.
This extract shows me controlling the WMP object and experimenting with the Winamp object, showing the commands available. It isn't code you can just run. You will have to research and adapt. I will be doing the same soon.

Code:

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WMPlayer = COM.createObject("{6BF52A52-394A-11d3-B153-00C04F79FAA6}"); // the correct class ID for Windows Media Player 7
COM.connectObject(WMPlayer, "WMP_");

            Winamp.setTrackRating(cTrackRating);
            Winamp.setVolume(cVolume);
            Winamp.setPlayerPosition(cSeekPos);
            Winamp.playerStatus;
            Winamp.running
            Winamp.volume;                          WMPlayer.settings.volume = volume;
            Winamp.shuffle==true) {
            Winamp.repeat==true) {
            Winamp.trackRating;
            Winamp.trackTitle;                      WMPlayer.currentMedia.name
            Winamp.trackArtist
            Winamp.trackAlbum
            Winamp.trackBitrate;
            Winamp.trackSamplerate;
            Winamp.playerPosition;                  WMPlayer.controls.currentPosition)
            Winamp.trackLength;                    WMPlayer.currentMedia.duration
            Winamp.doBackTrack();
            Winamp.doNextTrack();
            Winamp.doClose();
            Winamp.doOpen();
            Winamp.doStop();
            Winamp.doPlayPause();                  WMPlayer.controls.pause();  WMPlayer.controls.play(
            Winamp.shuffle
            Winamp.setShuffle(false);
            Winamp.repeat
            Winamp.setRepeat(false);   
           
                  WMPlayer.URL)) >= 0);
                  WMPlayer.fullScreen = true;
                  WMPlayer.settings.mute);
                  WMPlayer.controls.quit();          // stop the QTPlayer app

COM.disconnectObject(WMPlayer);    // release the WMPlayer

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Thanks for the replies. I will look into this and see if I can find something on it.