By default Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 opens in the Library mode. This may be perfect for hardcore music listeners but some people still prefer the “Now Playing” mode to open by default.
But Microsoft has not given any option in the WMP11 preferences to do that. However you can set Windows Media Player 11 to automatically open in the “Now Playing” mode by using a simple tweak.
Just right click on the shortcut you use to launch WMP11 and select “Properties”. There you will see a “Target” field in the Properties dialog box. Add this line to the shortcut /Task:NowPlaying so that the target would look something like :
“C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe” /Task:NowPlaying
This is assuming you have installed Windows XP in C: drive. Now open WMP11. It will open in “Now Playing” mode. 
Did this trick work for you ? 
mayank sharma
23 Apr 07 at 6:02 pm
Yeah…very well! Actually, i dont use WMP for everyday listening purposes! Only for watching music vids and clips if i get time from VLC!
hehe..
But thanks for the tip Manas! It helped!
Manas
23 Apr 07 at 9:45 pm
^^
Partha Chatterjee
23 Feb 08 at 8:56 pm
Ohhh….Thanx a zillion times man. This works.
Ap.Muthu
20 Feb 09 at 8:07 pm
Fantastic!
Thanks a lot man!
J Austin
13 May 10 at 2:36 am
Nope, doesn’t work for me. Actually, since a recent update, my installation of WMP11 ALWAYS opens to the Now Playing tab, and I PREFERRED that it open to the Library tab. I’ve tried using this tip, only changing the shortcut option to /Task:Library, but no joy.