AVI used to work, is now broken

[Guest]

I have messed up my system up somehow. I have XP SP2, so I have WMM 2.1. I
have successfully used WMM to capture video from a Sony DV CAM and save as
DV-AVI. Okay no problem. I could play the AVI files and even import them
without problem into CyberLink's Power Producer Gold to make DVDs.

While trying to learn about DVD authoring I experimented a bit which
included my downloading a codec pack (Gordian.Knot.Codec.Pack.1.6.Setup).
Bad decision. Somewhere in the removing of codecs installed that I did not
want, the AVI codec is screwed up. (I don't know if this is really the
cause or coincidental.) Here are errors I now get:

1. Trying to open AVI with Media Player 9: some kind of Error opening file
statement (I don't remember now the exact wording).

2. Upgrading to Media Player 10 and trying to open AVI: "Windows Media
Player cannot play the file. One or more codecs required to play the file
could not be found."

3. Trying to capture new video manually from Sony DV Camera with WMM 2.1:
"Class not Registered" error.

4. Trying to import AVI file in WMM: "could not be imported" error.

5. Trying to capture new video with Power Producer Gold: no error message
but no video either.

6 Trying to import AVI file into Power Producer Gold: "Failed to open video
file" error.

Some corrective actions attempted:

1. Install the Panasonic AVI codec mentioned on many posts here. No Go.

2. Reinstalling codec packs using The-Codecs.zip. That didn't work either.

3. Looked to reinstall WMM 2.1 Guess what, no separate download for this.
Grrr.

4. Looked to uninstall WMM so that Window Update would re-install it.
What? not listed for unistall? I guess I should've known better.

5. Downloaded AVIcodec program that analyzes my AVI files. Not very
helpful. It tells me that it is a Sony DV file and that it is supported on
my system. Oh reaaaally?

My guess is that the error "Class not Registered" gives the biggest clue to
fixing my system and that it is some sort of registry problem.

Sooo, what wonderful ideas does anyone have out there besides uninstalling
SP2 and reinstalling SP2 (that would be uggggggly!).

Thanks for your help and putting up with a little bit of sarcasm tonight. I
really should have gone to bed hours ago.

Kenneth

 

[Guest]

Good news (and bad). I downloaded GSpot recommended on many other posts,
much better than AVIcodec mentioned in my previous post. I found that it was
not uninstalling codex packs that got me, but uninstalling WinAVI converter
which I had downloaded to try but didn't want to keep (see www.winavi.com).
By re-installing it I am back working again. This is the good.

The Bad is that I do not want to keep this program. I want to uninstall it
and get my previous state back from before I installed it the first time.
Any ideas? I may end up contacting WinAVI on this one.

thanks,
Kenneth

 

[Rehan]

Your problem tinkered my interest.. so I went ahead and reproduced it. Yes
WinAVI's installer is a rogue installer it does not reinstate the system in
original state when uninstalled.

After much acrobat with System Restore's, GSpot's reports, registry change
logs.. I was able to trace the problem to one of the DLL installed by this
program "q3dv.dll". This is an old version of Microsoft's DV Codec renamed
from orginal name qdv.dll. WinAVI installer registers it for its own use but
does not reregisters the original DLL when uninstalled.

Two most safe solutions out of many...

After uninstalling the program:

1. Reinstall latest DirectX

or

2. Register the original DLL manually:
The file is "C:\Windows\System32\qdv.dll".
Locate it in windows explorer.
Open Start->Run dialog, type "regsvr32" without quotes
then drag the qdv.dll file into the run dialog.
the line in Run dialog should now read: regsvr32
C:\Windows\System32\qdv.dll
Press Enter


Hope this helps.

 

[Guest]

Thank you. I tried you r solutions with success. Your explanation was very
clear also. Now I must look at your website ;-). Have a nice day.

 

[Guest]

After a week of messing about - largely because a Microsoft adviser on the
phone blamed the camera - the firewire- the cable - the computer - anyone but
Microsoft!
I appear to have a connection with Windows Movie Maker again - except that
my fire wire card is at the other side of the country being 'repaired'!!!
Thank you Rehan - wish I'd found you last week - and thank you Mr Gates -
I'll be sending you my bill.

 

[Guest]

Your script fixed my "class not registered" bug in Windows Movie Maker.
Re: Error- Windows Movie Maker - Class Not Registered
I too had just uninstalled WinAVI. That was the "bad guy".

 

[Rehan]

I am glad it worked for you.
Thanks for the feedback.