AVI file not playing in powerpoint 2003/XP Home SP1

[muse]

Hi

My AVI files don't seem to play in powerpoint 2003 (Windows XP SP1)-Dell
8600 pm2,768MB,ATI 9600mobilty turbo

The first fram is diplayed then in turns to black until it finishes and the
first frame reappears

I have read the tutorials by Sonia/Austin and the
http://www.echosvoice.com/tshoot_video2.htm tutorial (and searched this
forum) but am still struggling

Here is what I have determined:

The AVI files do not play in mplay32.exe and I get the error-cannot find
"vids:dvsd" decompressor- ( a web search on this has not helped much)

An mpeg 2 file does play in mplay32.exe

I have checked the registry settings and the MCI (etc) settings are as per
the Austin et al web page(s)

I have installed the Nimo codec pack

I have started in safe mode and tried mplay32.exe and have the same problem
( e.g same error as above and it does not play-suggesting the video drivers
are not to blame)

I have a brand new install of XP SP1 on a different hard drive which when
used on the laptop does run the AVI files in mplay32 and
powerpoint-suggesting that it is not a hardware issue per se ( as suggested
by the safe mode results also)

The version that does not run the AVI files has SP1 ,upgraded to Media
Player 9 (as per the drive that does work) and has had no video programs
installed on it .There are no DVD burning programs installed ( e.g. not a
default Dell install) except perhaps Alcohol 120. I have tried to uninstall
this with no luck.

The AVI file plays fine in media player 9 in both installs

I have even tried to overwrite the mplay32.exe file and the mci driver files
with no luck ( I realise that this is risky)

I tried to repair windows XP using the windows XP disk on a previous
installl with the same problem and the drive would not boot..I am thus
unkeen to do it on this one

This seems to be a not uncommon problem...and I would hope there was an easy
solution to the problem/conflict given the importance of playing video files
in powerpoint.Surely microsoft should not let powerpoint depend on a system
that seems to be "broken" so easily and "repaired" with such difficulty...


Cheers for any help that anyone can offer

 

[Sonia]

Are these AVI files from a video camera?

 

[TAJ Simmons]

What Sonia said but also.....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/262588/en-us

From searching google... this dvsd is probably from a DV camera.

So you need a DV codec for playback.

www.mainconcept.com has one (not free)

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com

 

[Austin Myers]

muse,

The real problem is that just about anything is called an "avi" file today.
Cameras, Video Cameras, TV Tuner Cards, in fact all sorts of hardware
produce "avi" files. Unfortuantely they have little in common. If you
created this file from a camera I assume you have software that came with
it. Take a look at it and see if it allows you to save the file in a
standard format using common codes. (Or bettter yet, the WMV format if
available.)

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team