Codecs

[JLM87110]

I have trying to download codecs so I can play a video(s) I got off the internet. Nothing seems to work. Is there a way of checking which codec I need to play the file? It worked when I was using Win98 and now I have WinXP using version 9 of Windows Media Player. Can some one please give me advice?

Thanks,
Jimmy

[yossarian]

Visit UncasMS's site and find the Tsunami Filter Pack, that contains all the codecs you will likely need for your video.

As for finding out exactly which codecs are needed, you could use VirtualDub and check the file's information. Not sure if Media Player can give you that info... i'd expect there to be an option somewhere that displays it but this is an MS product we're talking about

[Deus]

To Check the codeq you can load the file into the program called VirtualDub. You can get it from Divx-Digest.com. You load it in and go to file >> file information. It pops up a screen that tells you what it is encoded in as well as all the other stats of the video which will tell you if a file you downloaded is real or not. Also VirtualDub is just a great tool to have.

[JLM87110]

Codecs

I tried the Tsunami pack it made my vids work but messes up windows media player. Is there any other suggestions/

Thanks,
Jimmy

[UncasMS]

latest windows media player 7/8/9 are no good choice.

install tsunamis filterpack and use decent players like

Zoomplayer 3 / go to bottom of the page and download the STANDARD version!

BSPlayer

Media Player Classic

or use good old and reliable wmp 6.4, which should start when you type " mplayer2 " in your run command.

good luck.

[hoagtim]

I suggest the RealOne player from www.real.com

I suggest the RealOne player from www.real.com

It has teh best mechanism for adding codecs and keeping itself up to date. ANd it plays the widest list of formats of any player I've found...

[UncasMS]

i would NOT install realplayer if i were u!

never installed any tool/player/codec as bad and as reluctant as real player or maybe quicktime!

[hoagtim]

Player religion is like OS religion

The RealOne Player is something people either love or hate. I use it to manage an extensive CD and MP3 library, etc. I use the Premium (plus) version and I think it is excellent for my purposes. I also find it easier to explain to new users than other players such as MusicMatch etc. I also like the variety of formats it can play back - which is extensive. Just my humble opinion, and I recognize that this is an area where people's preferences carry a lot of emotion. Fortunately there is no absolute answers, only opinions.

[hoagtim]

Link to the RealOne player

Here is a link that skips all the marketing hype and directly starts the download/install process using the RDX download manager. http://www.realnetworks.com/R/PDfrtl....html?type=eva

[SKD_Tech]

I wouldn't want Real One or the New WMP's because they have the internet intagration. Screw that if I wanted to look at a website I would open up IE

[rsquirell]

Doesn't Real media install spyware on your machine so they can track your movement on the internet and tell what you are viewing everytime you use it?

[SKD_Tech]

More than likely..

WMP has the same thing. It asks you if you want to send info on how much you use WMP

[hoagtim]

RealOne doesn't act as SpyWare

RealOne doesn't install any type of Spyware. The "spy" attribute you are thinking of is called a GUID, which allows content owners to understand performance, etc when their content is viewed. Concerns about "spying" caused Real to set the install default to "off" - meaning that it doesn't enable the GUID. This defaults to "off" specifically to respect privacy concerns. (BTW - I believe that WMP9 defaults to it being "on", although that is based on installing it on several of my PCs, so I can't confirm that is a universal default - only my limited imperical data points.) On the RealOne player, you can also turn off the setting that tells it to keep control of MIME types, in case you like to assign them to other players. Most importantly, you can turn off the browser pane if you just want the player without the IE panel below. You can also have that page default to your music library - which is what I do, so I don't see the opening web page (media guide) either.

You can set the default for start up to not open the browser (make it way faster) in the combo-box that drops down from the little globe in the upper right corner (keystroke Ctrl+B). Gove those a try. I swear this is such a versatile client, it can accomodate most peoples complaints through it's many settings and options. Hope this helps.

[SKD_Tech]

Well for player wise I would suggest BSPlayer or ZoomPlayer