Thanks for your reply - it makes things a lot easier!
You should still be able to transfer your photos by closing Windows Media Player and then navigating (via 'Computer') to the folder where your images are on the card, ensuring that the window only occupies part of the screen. Then open the folder where you want your photos to end up (again ensuring that you've got a smallish window, so that the two folders can sit alongside each other on your screen). Then drag and drop the files across from one folder to the other. (You can select an entire block of files by clicking on the first one to highlight it then holding Shift down while you click on the last one. You can then drag the lot across in one go).
The foregoing provides a 'workaround ' so that you can bypass the problem you're experiencing. To get rid of it altogether though you'll need to go into your computers 'Auto Play' settings, to stop Windows Media Player from opening. This might help:
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-disable-autoplay-and-autorun-in-windows-10/