can't play avi file - CODEC SERVER issues

[gever]

Often - when trying to play avi files with windows media
player, I get messages at the bottom such as:

connecting to codec server
sending request for codec...
error downloading codec...

The file then plays just the sound, and dont get any
picture.

Does anyone know what causes this, and what player I
could use to play this type of file ?

Thanks,
Gever

 

[Lorne Smith]

Chances are the file has been encoded using one of several different mpeg4
codecs, such as DiVX or XViD. If you do a google search for a DirectShow
filter called FFDShow and install it, this is capable of decoding most mpeg4
encodec media.

To find out what actual codec you need, search for and download the GSPot
Codec Information Appliance program... DiVX can be download from
www.divx.com but XViD doesn't have an "official" site where you can download
the binary, just the source code. Many people have compiled it and created
installers, but you'll have to google for it... Personally I'd go with
FFDShow...

BTW: This question is asked many many times a week so you could have saved
yourself a lot of time by spending 5 minutes browsing the group...

Lorne