Codecs hell

E

Eltee

Hi everybody,

I was trying to set some machine in order, uninstalled everything I could find
remotely resembling a codec in Control panel -> Add or Remove Programs, and then
reinstalled only the necessary ones, but the result is the same: some green
movement instead of a clear video. So, before I go down the format c: path (G,
thanks, M$!), I thought I'd ask some questions here:

1. How does one go about cleaning the machine of that codecs mess? I mean
completely cleaning: files as well as settings that remain after the uninstall
(this is an oxymoron, I know, but Windows seem to be this way).

2. How to manualy install codecs? What is a "raw" codec file? Where do you get
it (_not_ the installer!)? Where do you put it? What system (registry?) settings
must be set? Where?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
R

Raymond J. Johnson Jr.

| Hi everybody,
|
| I was trying to set some machine in order, uninstalled everything I could
find
| remotely resembling a codec in Control panel -> Add or Remove Programs,
and then
| reinstalled only the necessary ones, but the result is the same: some
green
| movement instead of a clear video. So, before I go down the format c: path
(G,
| thanks, M$!), I thought I'd ask some questions here:
|
| 1. How does one go about cleaning the machine of that codecs mess? I mean
| completely cleaning: files as well as settings that remain after the
uninstall
| (this is an oxymoron, I know, but Windows seem to be this way).
|
| 2. How to manualy install codecs? What is a "raw" codec file? Where do you
get
| it (_not_ the installer!)? Where do you put it? What system (registry?)
settings
| must be set? Where?
|
| Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You haven't described the original problem other than to say you're getting
"green movement." What caused you to believe that you had to uninstall or
delete codecs?
 
E

Eltee

Raymond said:
| Hi everybody,
|
| I was trying to set some machine in order, uninstalled everything I could
find
| remotely resembling a codec in Control panel -> Add or Remove Programs,
and then
| reinstalled only the necessary ones, but the result is the same: some
green
| movement instead of a clear video. So, before I go down the format c: path
(G,
| thanks, M$!), I thought I'd ask some questions here:
|
| 1. How does one go about cleaning the machine of that codecs mess? I mean
| completely cleaning: files as well as settings that remain after the
uninstall
| (this is an oxymoron, I know, but Windows seem to be this way).
|
| 2. How to manualy install codecs? What is a "raw" codec file? Where do you
get
| it (_not_ the installer!)? Where do you put it? What system (registry?)
settings
| must be set? Where?
|
| Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You haven't described the original problem other than to say you're getting
"green movement." What caused you to believe that you had to uninstall or
delete codecs?

Some time ago I could watch some particular video without problems. Then, after
a year or so, when I used the same machine again, the video was unwatchable: a
lot of green colour, something "moving" (as in: the opposite of static) but not
resembling anything, in one word: garbage. Sound was ok, though. So, after
trying out several different video files with several different players (with
same results) I wanted to re-set the machine so that I would be able to watch
them. I tried the conventionals (as described in my previous post), to no avail.
Rather than taking a Voyage to the centre of the W...indows, learning all the
gory details of innumerable - and I quote - hacks
(http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/2/15/71552/7795 ) - unquote, which would
take intolerable amounts of time and nerves, I decided to format c: and
reincarnate the whole machine. Then something struck me and I decided to ask in
this NG first and hope for a miracle. So far, nothing. I guess I'll have to
(plug and) pray some more. ;-)
 
R

Raymond J. Johnson Jr.

| Raymond J. Johnson Jr. wrote:
| > | > | Hi everybody,
| > |
| > | I was trying to set some machine in order, uninstalled everything I
could
| > find
| > | remotely resembling a codec in Control panel -> Add or Remove
Programs,
| > and then
| > | reinstalled only the necessary ones, but the result is the same: some
| > green
| > | movement instead of a clear video. So, before I go down the format c:
path
| > (G,
| > | thanks, M$!), I thought I'd ask some questions here:
| > |
| > | 1. How does one go about cleaning the machine of that codecs mess? I
mean
| > | completely cleaning: files as well as settings that remain after the
| > uninstall
| > | (this is an oxymoron, I know, but Windows seem to be this way).
| > |
| > | 2. How to manualy install codecs? What is a "raw" codec file? Where do
you
| > get
| > | it (_not_ the installer!)? Where do you put it? What system
(registry?)
| > settings
| > | must be set? Where?
| > |
| > | Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
| >
| > You haven't described the original problem other than to say you're
getting
| > "green movement." What caused you to believe that you had to uninstall
or
| > delete codecs?
|
| Some time ago I could watch some particular video without problems. Then,
after
| a year or so, when I used the same machine again, the video was
unwatchable: a
| lot of green colour, something "moving" (as in: the opposite of static)
but not
| resembling anything, in one word: garbage. Sound was ok, though. So, after
| trying out several different video files with several different players
(with
| same results) I wanted to re-set the machine so that I would be able to
watch
| them. I tried the conventionals (as described in my previous post), to no
avail.
| Rather than taking a Voyage to the centre of the W...indows, learning all
the
| gory details of innumerable - and I quote - hacks
| (http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/2/15/71552/7795 ) - unquote, which
would
| take intolerable amounts of time and nerves, I decided to format c: and
| reincarnate the whole machine. Then something struck me and I decided to
ask in
| this NG first and hope for a miracle. So far, nothing. I guess I'll have
to
| (plug and) pray some more. ;-)

This doesn't sound like a codec issue. You don't mention whether you've
tried updating the your video card driver, but I would start there. If you
have a player such as Power DVD that includes the necessary codecs, update
your video driver, reinstall the player, and see what happens.
 
E

Eltee

Raymond said:
| Raymond J. Johnson Jr. wrote:
| > | > | Hi everybody,
| > |
| > | I was trying to set some machine in order, uninstalled everything I
could
| > find
| > | remotely resembling a codec in Control panel -> Add or Remove
Programs,
| > and then
| > | reinstalled only the necessary ones, but the result is the same: some
| > green
| > | movement instead of a clear video. So, before I go down the format c:
path
| > (G,
| > | thanks, M$!), I thought I'd ask some questions here:
| > |
| > | 1. How does one go about cleaning the machine of that codecs mess? I
mean
| > | completely cleaning: files as well as settings that remain after the
| > uninstall
| > | (this is an oxymoron, I know, but Windows seem to be this way).
| > |
| > | 2. How to manualy install codecs? What is a "raw" codec file? Where do
you
| > get
| > | it (_not_ the installer!)? Where do you put it? What system
(registry?)
| > settings
| > | must be set? Where?
| > |
| > | Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
| >
| > You haven't described the original problem other than to say you're
getting
| > "green movement." What caused you to believe that you had to uninstall
or
| > delete codecs?
|
| Some time ago I could watch some particular video without problems. Then,
after
| a year or so, when I used the same machine again, the video was
unwatchable: a
| lot of green colour, something "moving" (as in: the opposite of static)
but not
| resembling anything, in one word: garbage. Sound was ok, though. So, after
| trying out several different video files with several different players
(with
| same results) I wanted to re-set the machine so that I would be able to
watch
| them. I tried the conventionals (as described in my previous post), to no
avail.
| Rather than taking a Voyage to the centre of the W...indows, learning all
the
| gory details of innumerable - and I quote - hacks
| (http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/2/15/71552/7795 ) - unquote, which
would
| take intolerable amounts of time and nerves, I decided to format c: and
| reincarnate the whole machine. Then something struck me and I decided to
ask in
| this NG first and hope for a miracle. So far, nothing. I guess I'll have
to
| (plug and) pray some more. ;-)

This doesn't sound like a codec issue. You don't mention whether you've
tried updating the your video card driver, but I would start there. If you
have a player such as Power DVD that includes the necessary codecs, update
your video driver, reinstall the player, and see what happens.

I could watch the video in quesion (and all others) without problems a year (or
so) ago on the same (HW-wise) machine. Why would I want to update the drivers?
they worked back then.
 
R

Raymond J. Johnson Jr.

| Raymond J. Johnson Jr. wrote:
| > | > | Raymond J. Johnson Jr. wrote:
| > | > | > | > | Hi everybody,
| > | > |
| > | > | I was trying to set some machine in order, uninstalled everything
I
| > could
| > | > find
| > | > | remotely resembling a codec in Control panel -> Add or Remove
| > Programs,
| > | > and then
| > | > | reinstalled only the necessary ones, but the result is the same:
some
| > | > green
| > | > | movement instead of a clear video. So, before I go down the format
c:
| > path
| > | > (G,
| > | > | thanks, M$!), I thought I'd ask some questions here:
| > | > |
| > | > | 1. How does one go about cleaning the machine of that codecs mess?
I
| > mean
| > | > | completely cleaning: files as well as settings that remain after
the
| > | > uninstall
| > | > | (this is an oxymoron, I know, but Windows seem to be this way).
| > | > |
| > | > | 2. How to manualy install codecs? What is a "raw" codec file?
Where do
| > you
| > | > get
| > | > | it (_not_ the installer!)? Where do you put it? What system
| > (registry?)
| > | > settings
| > | > | must be set? Where?
| > | > |
| > | > | Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
| > | >
| > | > You haven't described the original problem other than to say you're
| > getting
| > | > "green movement." What caused you to believe that you had to
uninstall
| > or
| > | > delete codecs?
| > |
| > | Some time ago I could watch some particular video without problems.
Then,
| > after
| > | a year or so, when I used the same machine again, the video was
| > unwatchable: a
| > | lot of green colour, something "moving" (as in: the opposite of
static)
| > but not
| > | resembling anything, in one word: garbage. Sound was ok, though. So,
after
| > | trying out several different video files with several different
players
| > (with
| > | same results) I wanted to re-set the machine so that I would be able
to
| > watch
| > | them. I tried the conventionals (as described in my previous post), to
no
| > avail.
| > | Rather than taking a Voyage to the centre of the W...indows, learning
all
| > the
| > | gory details of innumerable - and I quote - hacks
| > | (http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/2/15/71552/7795 ) - unquote, which
| > would
| > | take intolerable amounts of time and nerves, I decided to format c:
and
| > | reincarnate the whole machine. Then something struck me and I decided
to
| > ask in
| > | this NG first and hope for a miracle. So far, nothing. I guess I'll
have
| > to
| > | (plug and) pray some more. ;-)
| >
| > This doesn't sound like a codec issue. You don't mention whether you've
| > tried updating the your video card driver, but I would start there. If
you
| > have a player such as Power DVD that includes the necessary codecs,
update
| > your video driver, reinstall the player, and see what happens.
| >
| >
|
| I could watch the video in quesion (and all others) without problems a
year (or
| so) ago on the same (HW-wise) machine. Why would I want to update the
drivers?
| they worked back then.

You were able to watch video a year ago, so why would you want to update the
codecs now? They worked back then.
 
E

Eltee

Raymond said:
| Raymond J. Johnson Jr. wrote:
| > | > | Raymond J. Johnson Jr. wrote:
| > | > | > | > | Hi everybody,
| > | > |
| > | > | I was trying to set some machine in order, uninstalled everything
I
| > could
| > | > find
| > | > | remotely resembling a codec in Control panel -> Add or Remove
| > Programs,
| > | > and then
| > | > | reinstalled only the necessary ones, but the result is the same:
some
| > | > green
| > | > | movement instead of a clear video. So, before I go down the format
c:
| > path
| > | > (G,
| > | > | thanks, M$!), I thought I'd ask some questions here:
| > | > |
| > | > | 1. How does one go about cleaning the machine of that codecs mess?
I
| > mean
| > | > | completely cleaning: files as well as settings that remain after
the
| > | > uninstall
| > | > | (this is an oxymoron, I know, but Windows seem to be this way).
| > | > |
| > | > | 2. How to manualy install codecs? What is a "raw" codec file?
Where do
| > you
| > | > get
| > | > | it (_not_ the installer!)? Where do you put it? What system
| > (registry?)
| > | > settings
| > | > | must be set? Where?
| > | > |
| > | > | Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
| > | >
| > | > You haven't described the original problem other than to say you're
| > getting
| > | > "green movement." What caused you to believe that you had to
uninstall
| > or
| > | > delete codecs?
| > |
| > | Some time ago I could watch some particular video without problems.
Then,
| > after
| > | a year or so, when I used the same machine again, the video was
| > unwatchable: a
| > | lot of green colour, something "moving" (as in: the opposite of
static)
| > but not
| > | resembling anything, in one word: garbage. Sound was ok, though. So,
after
| > | trying out several different video files with several different
players
| > (with
| > | same results) I wanted to re-set the machine so that I would be able
to
| > watch
| > | them. I tried the conventionals (as described in my previous post), to
no
| > avail.
| > | Rather than taking a Voyage to the centre of the W...indows, learning
all
| > the
| > | gory details of innumerable - and I quote - hacks
| > | (http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/2/15/71552/7795 ) - unquote, which
| > would
| > | take intolerable amounts of time and nerves, I decided to format c:
and
| > | reincarnate the whole machine. Then something struck me and I decided
to
| > ask in
| > | this NG first and hope for a miracle. So far, nothing. I guess I'll
have
| > to
| > | (plug and) pray some more. ;-)
| >
| > This doesn't sound like a codec issue. You don't mention whether you've
| > tried updating the your video card driver, but I would start there. If
you
| > have a player such as Power DVD that includes the necessary codecs,
update
| > your video driver, reinstall the player, and see what happens.
| >
| >
|
| I could watch the video in quesion (and all others) without problems a
year (or
| so) ago on the same (HW-wise) machine. Why would I want to update the
drivers?
| they worked back then.

You were able to watch video a year ago, so why would you want to update the
codecs now? They worked back then.

Because unfortunately Windows is prone to deterioration. The same software that
works in the beginning (right after fresh install) develops serious glitches as
time passes. Format and reinstall solves that problem. For a while. ;-)

Ergo: with HW configuration unchanged the same drivers and codecs should work
after a fresh install. Or a proper clean up.

Now, aren't there any MS-certified-<something>s in the Whole Wide Whirl ;-) who
could tell me how to manualy (un)install codecs so that I'd know exactly what
goes where and be able to clean up without using the F command?
 
R

Raymond J. Johnson Jr.

Eltee said:
Because unfortunately Windows is prone to deterioration. The same
software that works in the beginning (right after fresh install)
develops serious glitches as time passes. Format and reinstall solves
that problem. For a while. ;-)

Ergo: with HW configuration unchanged the same drivers and codecs should
work after a fresh install. Or a proper clean up.

Now, aren't there any MS-certified-<something>s in the Whole Wide Whirl
;-) who could tell me how to manualy (un)install codecs so that I'd know
exactly what goes where and be able to clean up without using the F
command?

You've already been given good advice and you declined it. Suit
yourself. XP is *not* "prone to deterioration." I'll ask once again:
What makes you think a codec could go bad, but not a video driver?
Actually, it's a rhetorical question--no answer is required. If you're
not interested in solving the problem, why bother posting?
 
E

Eltee

Raymond said:
You've already been given good advice and you declined it. Suit
yourself. XP is *not* "prone to deterioration."

Call it what you like. The fact of the matter is that after some period of
using, installing and uninstalling programs, Windows is in dire need of cleaning
up (read: formatting and reinstalling everything from the ground up). Otherwise
it becomes unusable.
I'll ask once again:
What makes you think a codec could go bad, but not a video driver?

Because DVDs are watchable and some of the .avi's aren't. Do you think a video
driver differentiates between them?
 

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