What can I do so I don't have to turn on Windows Media Player to make games on Pogo run faster?

I have to turn on Windows Media Player to make Turbo 21, Phlinx, and Sweet Tooth run very fast, because when it ISN'T on all three games and possible others are slower than a snail! Is there anything I can do elsewise? I have updated Sun Java before and that doesn't help. Is there a file I have to download to speed things up? Please help me out. Thanx!