How do I stop this, it's really annoying - every time I want to play a mpg/mp3 I get directed to a quicktime bar right in the centre of the page instead of it being handled by the external players.

thanks in advance.

assuming its windows XP - right click on the file, go properties, theres a setting 'open with' click change then select the stand alone player you want to use. that should then be the standard program to open that file type.