You could use something like this batch file, which you could save to your desktop, and drag an .mp3
file onto it to start it.
@echo off
mplayer2.exe /play /close %1
shutdown /s /t 0
:EOF
You could change the program and arguments to fit any media player which has the ability to play a file and then exit. I could not find any for WMP12, which I have on Windows 7, but I think this should work for WMP in XP.
update: I just re-read your question and realised you wanted to play a playlist. I think Winamp is your best option then. There are ways to get WMP
to play using .pls
playlist files (which would make this solution viable with WMP), but that is a another question. It would still work with other media players which play playlist files and have command line arguments for playing an exiting though, so I won't delete the answer.
I've installed this, but have no idea how to find it or use it – Click Upvote – 2011-09-09T01:14:38.200
2As shown on the first screenshot, after installing one additional menu entry will appear in the context menu when you right-click on the tray icon. Just check it, and PC will auto-shutdown after playlist will stop. Please take in mind that this may not happen if you have repeating playlist. – Andrejs Cainikovs – 2011-09-09T11:01:07.267
Thanks, that way of getting the menu is verry unintuitive – Click Upvote – 2011-09-10T13:11:50.860