Video file plays on only certain players

[dfourthhorseman]

I just got some video files from some friend, and when I tried to use Windows Media Player to play it, it seems to think that its a mp3 sound file instead, when I used Divx 5.01's player, Playa, to play it it wouldn't load. I tried repairing with DivxFix but there's no error. Then I tried playing with BSPlayer and it works. So why does this happen? I don't like having three players on my pc, is there a way to make the .avi files work on WMP and Playa? Do I need to install some extra codec or something?

Thnx in advance
DFourthhorseman

[Enchanter]

If you can post the details of the file that you can get via Virtualdub, we can have a look and say something.

[dfourthhorseman]

Video Stream:
-Frame size: 352x240, 14.985 fps
-# of frames (time): 20632 (22:56)
-Decompressor: MS MPEG-4 Video Codec V2
-Number of Key Frames: 95
-Min/avg/max/total key frame size: 0/7718/15661 (717k)
-Min/avg/max/total delta frame size: 44/2983/13591 (59847K)

Audio Stream:
-Sampling rate: 22050HZ
-Channels: 2 (Stereo)
-Sample precision: 0-bit
-Compression: Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec
-Preload skew: 3249 samples (o.15s)
-# of frames: 20624
-Min/avg/max/total frame size: 295/465/3249 (9368K)

I hope this covers it
DFourthHorseman

[setarip]

This video was compressed using the original Microsoft MPEG4 codec (which was hacked to create the DivX v.3.11alpha codec). You can find this codec included in one of the many codec "packs" available at the DivXDigest site...

[Thrawn]

but why it should work with bsplayer then?? he already seems to have that codec nope?

[dfourthhorseman]

K, so I'll try installing d 3.11 codec rite? Hope it doesn't mess up my 5.01 pro installation.

Thnx
DFourthHorseman

[Enchanter]

I have a few files encoded with this codec. The funny thing is that I can play this type of files regardless of whether I have or not have got the codec installed. The only difference is I cannot encode and create this kind of file without the codec installed.

Just a thought. Can you ensure that you have got WMP7 installed, dfourthhorseman?

[setarip]

"so I'll try installing d 3.11 codec rite?"

No (unless you want to / know how to change the FOURCC header of the file) - You need to download and install the original Microsoft codec...

[dfourthhorseman]

Well I have WinXP, and I have my WMP updated via Windows Update. I never had this problem, but I don't think its WMP's fault since Divx's Playa also can't use it. I'll try to install MS's codec, anyone have a link to maybe the one i need?

Thnx everyone in advance
Dfourthhorseman

[Enchanter]

Either the Nimo or Tsunami codec pack contains the codec you want.

[dfourthhorseman]

Don't those packs contain a lot that I don't need is there one or two individual that I really need instead? Cause I heard some codecs cause a lot of problems and installin an old codec while having a newer one is not a good idea.

Thnx
Dfourthhorseman