*Calling any and all media codec experts:
I've searched through this and various other forums for the ultimate solution to this universal problem. While I realize there is currently no *perfect* way to configure a system to render ALL formats and codecs, I'm at least looking for a consensus amongst experts for the best methods to use.
I'm running winXP with SP2 and have done a system restore back to the factory settings, removing the preinstalled software/media programs as they are not the most current versions anyway, and I wanted to start out with a totally clean system.
Now, from this point, what are the optimum ways to set things up to render as many different media codecs and formats as possible? Should I use WMP-10 as a main default player for everything? Is there a "quintessential" plug-in program like ACEmegaCodecs Pack that will work with WMP-10 to play most formats? Do I still need separate versions of QuickTime, RealPlayer, Divx, etc...or, universal players like VLC or Irfanview? If so, how should the various MIME and file associations be configured to run affectively and not conflict with the WMP-10 and ACE?
Also, how do things like Flash Player 8, Shockwave, and ActiveX browser plug-ins factor into the equation? While I realize it's necessary to still use IE (because it's so integrated with the Windows OS) for just about every other reason I think it SUCKS. IMO Firefox is *much* better for everything else so an ideal solution is needed that will work with both browsers.
Like I said, it's understood that there's no perfect method, but some opinions on what you consider the best basic media codec configurations would be greatly appreciated.
blayz~~
I've searched through this and various other forums for the ultimate solution to this universal problem. While I realize there is currently no *perfect* way to configure a system to render ALL formats and codecs, I'm at least looking for a consensus amongst experts for the best methods to use.
I'm running winXP with SP2 and have done a system restore back to the factory settings, removing the preinstalled software/media programs as they are not the most current versions anyway, and I wanted to start out with a totally clean system.
Now, from this point, what are the optimum ways to set things up to render as many different media codecs and formats as possible? Should I use WMP-10 as a main default player for everything? Is there a "quintessential" plug-in program like ACEmegaCodecs Pack that will work with WMP-10 to play most formats? Do I still need separate versions of QuickTime, RealPlayer, Divx, etc...or, universal players like VLC or Irfanview? If so, how should the various MIME and file associations be configured to run affectively and not conflict with the WMP-10 and ACE?
Also, how do things like Flash Player 8, Shockwave, and ActiveX browser plug-ins factor into the equation? While I realize it's necessary to still use IE (because it's so integrated with the Windows OS) for just about every other reason I think it SUCKS. IMO Firefox is *much* better for everything else so an ideal solution is needed that will work with both browsers.
Like I said, it's understood that there's no perfect method, but some opinions on what you consider the best basic media codec configurations would be greatly appreciated.
blayz~~
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