the operating system is not adequate for running sonos controller

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm uninitiated in all this. I spent two days preparing the Win XP computer to run the controller. I even purchased an USB WiFi dongle for it.;)

The Sonos product support site specifies Windows 7 or higher:-
Clicky

I am currently exploring the controllers use on a Win 7 machine. I got everything set up but the controller will not let me show it where the music library is located. Those options are grayed out.

Have you considered a basic Android tablet or phone. I got an amazon Fire tablet for less that £30 that I use as a controller? It can be a pain to have to upgrade PCs in order to use something you have just bought but I have encountered this with almost every PC attached product I have bought. Being more that two versions behind on MS products always causes pain.

Even if your music is stored on your XP PC Sonos should be able to access that on your LAN, it's just the controller that wont work.

Have you checked for updates within the Sonos app in your windows 7 controller? Some things are greyed out if there is an update pending. It's under the manage menu

What you just said confirms my fear. It does go through my computer AND my network logging everything. I don't want my computer open to being viewed all it has. I want my privacy. I suppose that will cause me to fail in setting up and using SONOS!

I've tried to update but it will not work.

That's true for most "Internet Of Things" devices :(

Where is your music library stored. Is the Windows 7 device attached to the network the Sonos is attached too?

The situation has changed this AM. I was able to get the update to run. I have linked it to my account at Sonos. It looks like I will be able to tell it where my library is located.

Cool, once your Sonos set up is up and running it does not need to be connected to the internet if all your music is local. This will mean no internet radio though.