Downloaded AVI file appears to have only one frame

[Lee Bordelon]

I recently learned how to download files - I use DAP ver 5.3.9.4. Until this week I had no problem downloading either AVI or MPG or any other format. But 4 of the last 5 AVI files I downloaded this week appear to have only one frame on them when I try to play them using Windows Media Player (ver 7.01.) I checked them with Virtual Dub (ver 1.4.7) and the file info appears normal. I checked them with GSpot (ver 2.1) and its messages indicate that I have all the proper video and audio codecs loaded, and that the file was rendered successfully - video check message said the video for these files should play fine.
This problem is probably so simple I'll feel stupid when someone tells me what it is, but nonetheless I would appreciate any suggestions or help.

[Batman]

Post the "file information" from virtualdub here.

Try playing the file in WMP 6.4 (mplayer2.exe) or BSPLAYER (www.bsplay.org)

[Lee Bordelon]

Downloaded AVI file appears to have only one frame

Video Stream
Frame size, fps 480x360, 23,976 fps (41709 us)
# of frames (time): 720 (0:30)
Decompressor DivX 5.0 Codec
Number of key frames : 3
Min/avg/max/total key frame size: 4584/8270/12698 (25K)
Min/avg/max/total delta frame size: 1181/2089/4892 (1463K)

Audio stream
Sampling rate 22050Hz
Channels: 2 (stereo)
Sample precision: 16-bit
Compression: DivX Audio Compressor
Preload skew: 10 samples (0.00s)
# of frames: 638
Min/avg/max/total frame size 117/118/1170 (74K)

[Enchanter]

Looks fine to me . . .

[setarip]

"I checked them with Virtual Dub (ver 1.4.7) and the file info appears normal."

Load the file into VirtualDub
Click the first play button on the bottom of the window
Does it play through?
If not, does it generate an error?
Can you move from keyframe to keyframe?

[Lee Bordelon]

Per Batman, I downloaded Bsplayer and used it to play the file - same result as with WMP 7.0.1 (I have not tried WMP 6.4 yet): only one frame or scene was displayed for the entire 30 seconds.

Per setarip, I loaded the file into Virtual Dub and clicked the first play button - only one frame or scene is displayed as it plays through (as the slider moves across). No error is generated. I can move manually from keyframe to keyframe, although that does not necessarily generate a different-appearing frame or scene. BUT, by playing with the various buttons, I was able to display two new frames or scenes, although they did not consistently appear at any particular frame number. I assume they are keyframes, since the file information indicated that there were 3 keyframes and I have now found a total of 3 different-appearing frames or scenes.

Incidentally, as I mentioned in my original post, I have a total of 4 AVI files that are behaving in this way. I also have a 5th AVI file that I downloaded at about the same time as I downloaded the other 4, that works fine.

[setarip]

Either bad downloads of good files

OR

Good downloads of bad files

I'd suggest that you write them off as "the price you pay" for downloading the efforts (or nasty jokes) of others, rather than doing your own conversions...

[Lee Bordelon]

Since I had repeated the downloads of the 4 bad files, I had just about reached the same conclusion as you. Thanks for your help.

[setarip]

"Thanks for your help."

My (Our) pleasure ;>}

[xvid]

Wait you never suggested DivFix ????
I had that same problem with a divx i had to make smaller and then it wouldn't play, just show me that one pic for seconds it was all there, so I rebuilt index, kept original, and the new divfix file work A OK.
Cheers.
I know, I know I'm a NewB

[Enchanter]

Re: xvid

The file information obtained via Virtualdub indicated that the file is percectly alright (albeit with too small a number of keyframes). hence using Divfix on it is unlikely to yield any improvements (since there is nothing to correct in the first place).

[Lee Bordelon]

Problem identified & fixed

Even though I had concluded that the problem was my attempting to download "bad" files, I kept working on this problem on my own. What I finally discovered is that GSpot lied when it said that I had all the correct codecs installed when, in fact, the "bad" files turned out to all be Codec 5.0 which I did NOT have installed. Once I installed it, the previously "bad" files all turned out to be OK.

Incidentally, I don't consider downloading public-domain video files to be in any way reprehensible ("downloading the efforts of others"), as one of the contributors seemed to be suggesting. I really don't see any other way to get some files (NASA video files, in this instance) other than by downloading them. And I don't know what "doing my own conversions" means, but it doesn't seem to have any applicability in my case.

[setarip]

I am the poster who referred to the perils of downloading the efforts of others, as opposed to doing your own conversions.

If you were to read the myriad postings to these forums, you'd become aware that vastly overwhelming majority refer to the conversion of commercial videos.

Those of us who have purchased the original media are of the opinion that under US Copyright and Fair Use laws we are entitled to make backups of such media for ourselves. On the other hand, you'll read MANY postings that refer to having downloaded (usually via peer-to-peer networking) conversions of commercial videos - including properties that haven't as yet been made available for sale! Many of the postings regarding these flagrantly illegal downloads contain questions regarding quality, inability to play, etc. - and it is to those posters that my frequent statements of "You get what you pay for" and "That's the peril of downloading the efforts of others, rather than performing your own conversions" are directed...