Displaying an AVI file

[Guest]

There are a number of utilities that can do this-
http://www.fourcc.org/fccwhich.php
links to a couple.

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--




I am having the same problem with Movie Maker. I have vista and when I try to publish an avi file in movie maker I can hear the audio but the video is black. The video plays fine in the movie maker preview screen and it plays fine in Windows Media Player. But when I try to publish, it doesn't work.

--dave.

 

[Guest]

After spending two days sifting through the repeated questions about not
getting AVI files to play properly (if at all) in Vista, all I'm seeing is
we're going around in circles here. The problem isn't being solved.

I have the same problem with my AVI files in Vista. It's not just a matter
of a missing codec because the codec isn't missing, not when I've already
downloaded the divX codec and I get full video as well as the audio when I
play my AVI files in Windows Media Player. I have yet to see a definitive
answer as to why the files will play in Media Player but not in Movie Maker
with the proper codec installed. I get the audio, but not the video. And
why they will play just fine on my two-year-old laptop that has XP, both in
Media Player and Movie Maker, with the divX codec installed. And they play
fine on my seven-year old desktop PC with XP, in both MP and MM.

It really sounds to me as if the problem is Movie Maker itself, but as
usual, the blame gets put on us, the lowly users, that it must be our fault
because we don't have the codec installed. And we go continue to go around
and around in circles.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

There are ... 4 different unique codec types and ... about fifty different
codec implementations meant by the term "DivX codec", so this really isn't
going to be possible to get anywhere on too easily without a link to the
troublesome AVI file.

Even then, many people have redundant and clicking Divx registrations, which
isn't going to do any good.

So:
Is there a link to the content?
Failing that, what fourCC does it use?
What exact specific codec version are you using?

FFDShow Tryouts may work better than whatever codec you're currently using.
=\

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Adam Albright]

There are ... 4 different unique codec types and ... about fifty different
codec implementations meant by the term "DivX codec", so this really isn't
going to be possible to get anywhere on too easily without a link to the
troublesome AVI file.

Even then, many people have redundant and clicking Divx registrations, which
isn't going to do any good.

So:
Is there a link to the content?
Failing that, what fourCC does it use?
What exact specific codec version are you using?

FFDShow Tryouts may work better than whatever codec you're currently using.
=\

Say Zach, why do you ALWAYS sidestep the actual issue?

The OP mentioned that one Microsoft application Media Player COULD
play the file and that another Microsoft application Movie Maker
couldn't play the file. Don't the boys in Redmond talk to one another
that the left hand often has no idea what the right hand is doing?

I find the codec excuse awfully boring after awhile. If third party
players and video editors can handle such a codec without any problem
why in the hell can't Microsoft applications do the same?

I don't really expect you to answer in anyway that justifies this, but
gee, it got to be pretty embarrassing to whoever wrote Movie Maker how
often it stumbles when even Media Player which surely is no prize
either can handle it.

ROTFLMAO!

 

[Guest]

There are ... 4 different unique codec types and ... about fifty different
codec implementations meant by the term "DivX codec", so this really isn't
going to be possible to get anywhere on too easily without a link to the
troublesome AVI file.

Stop right there. See, the circle is continuing. I think you're ignoring
the point that 99% of us are trying to make, that we can get our AVI files to
play in Windows Media Player, but not in Windows Movie Maker. Is it that
hard to understand the point that is being made?

I made a choice back in the early 1990's to go with Windows-based computers,
starting with Windows 3.0. I made a conscious choice not to go with Apple.
And through all these years, I've thought that I made the right choice. I am
a power user of Microsoft Office and pretty much with the whole suite of MS
products because they fit together and everything cooperates.

But now, I'm beginning to get more and more irritated with the codec excuses
that you keep throwing out. Just a little insight. I work on a daily basis
with digital audio files in my work. I have to be able to hear them no
matter what piece of software the client has decided to record them in. So
I'm no stranger to codec issues. I just recently bought a new computer with
Vista installed. I installed the software that I need to use for listening
to those files (the software I use really isn't important here) and all of
sudden, my files would not play. These are audio files that play just fine
under XP, whether it be through Media Player, Winamp, or the software program
I use. Turns out there's nothing wrong with my program that I used for
listening to and transcribing these files, although I'm sure you'd like to
say it is. No, it's due to the fact that Microsoft, in its infinite wisdom,
all of a sudden decided that it wasn't necessary to supply Windows with the
TrueSpeech codec, which has been in every single version of Windows prior to
Vista. Why? Who knows? I had to get the codec and install it myself, as
usual.

It's about the inconsistencies from Microsoft program to Microsoft program.
You're dodging the issue which is why does my AVI play fine in Media Player
with the codec installed, which obviously IS the correct one or it would not
play, and not in Movie Maker. One file should not require multiple video
codecs. Where is the logic in that? This is apparently a programming issue
with Movie Maker. Why can't you just admit it? The AVI file is NOT the
problem, it's Movie Maker.

Oh, and I can open the files fine using Quicktime on any computer in the
house (and there's seven on my home network), as well as opening them easily
on my daughter's Mac book.

This means that I won't be upgrading to Vista anytime soon on my other
computers, but will stick with XP on them just so I can get the full
functionality with Movie Maker that I need.

 

[Adam Albright]

Stop right there. See, the circle is continuing. I think you're ignoring
the point that 99% of us are trying to make, that we can get our AVI files to
play in Windows Media Player, but not in Windows Movie Maker. Is it that
hard to understand the point that is being made?

I made a choice back in the early 1990's to go with Windows-based computers,
starting with Windows 3.0. I made a conscious choice not to go with Apple.
And through all these years, I've thought that I made the right choice. I am
a power user of Microsoft Office and pretty much with the whole suite of MS
products because they fit together and everything cooperates.

But now, I'm beginning to get more and more irritated with the codec excuses
that you keep throwing out. Just a little insight. I work on a daily basis
with digital audio files in my work. I have to be able to hear them no
matter what piece of software the client has decided to record them in. So
I'm no stranger to codec issues. I just recently bought a new computer with
Vista installed. I installed the software that I need to use for listening
to those files (the software I use really isn't important here) and all of
sudden, my files would not play. These are audio files that play just fine
under XP, whether it be through Media Player, Winamp, or the software program
I use. Turns out there's nothing wrong with my program that I used for
listening to and transcribing these files, although I'm sure you'd like to
say it is. No, it's due to the fact that Microsoft, in its infinite wisdom,
all of a sudden decided that it wasn't necessary to supply Windows with the
TrueSpeech codec, which has been in every single version of Windows prior to
Vista. Why? Who knows? I had to get the codec and install it myself, as
usual.

It's about the inconsistencies from Microsoft program to Microsoft program.
You're dodging the issue which is why does my AVI play fine in Media Player
with the codec installed, which obviously IS the correct one or it would not
play, and not in Movie Maker. One file should not require multiple video
codecs. Where is the logic in that? This is apparently a programming issue
with Movie Maker. Why can't you just admit it? The AVI file is NOT the
problem, it's Movie Maker.

Oh, and I can open the files fine using Quicktime on any computer in the
house (and there's seven on my home network), as well as opening them easily
on my daughter's Mac book.

This means that I won't be upgrading to Vista anytime soon on my other
computers, but will stick with XP on them just so I can get the full
functionality with Movie Maker that I need.

Well said. I too have had "discussions" with Zach and sooner or later
he'll try to dismiss you saying he's bored with the topic or some
other dodge. I can't help conclude that Microsoft employees that post
to groups like this not only hide behind their disclaimer "posting for
myself only" while expecting us to accept them as some authority, but
get it drilled into them to play a odd version of the shell game. As
you no doubt noticed it is NEVER Microsoft's fault when any of their
applications don't perform. It is always some driver excuse, some
codec excuse, or the old stand-by just blame the user.

As you already pointed out in makes no sense for one Microsoft
application to accept a codec and be able to flawlessly play a file
and another Microsoft application on the same PC to stumble trying to
play the same file. It simply makes no sense and I'm getting fed up
with the same lame excuses.

 

[Guest]

Well said. I too have had "discussions" with Zach and sooner or later
he'll try to dismiss you saying he's bored with the topic or some
other dodge. I can't help conclude that Microsoft employees that post
to groups like this not only hide behind their disclaimer "posting for
myself only" while expecting us to accept them as some authority, but
get it drilled into them to play a odd version of the shell game. As
you no doubt noticed it is NEVER Microsoft's fault when any of their
applications don't perform. It is always some driver excuse, some
codec excuse, or the old stand-by just blame the user.

As you already pointed out in makes no sense for one Microsoft
application to accept a codec and be able to flawlessly play a file
and another Microsoft application on the same PC to stumble trying to
play the same file. It simply makes no sense and I'm getting fed up
with the same lame excuses.

The sad thing about this is I get the feeling that it's kind of a "well, the
average computer user is stupid and wouldn't know a codec if it bit them in
the rear, so why bother to deal with the problem?" Except I don't consider
myself an average user and I'm definitely not stupid. If I really was
stupid, I would have bought a Mac, because Apple makes it so the user pretty
much doesn't have to do anything, doesn't have to think of anything because
it's all done for them.

And then there's the "well, what do you want for free?" After all, Movie
Maker is included "free" in Windows. However, nothing is free and the price
of it is just rolled into the price of Windows.

Having worked tech support back in the 90's, and being married to a
programmer as well as having a son who just graduated with a degree in
computer science and engineering, I know all too well the tech support
routine of looking at your cheat sheet and if the answer to the question the
customer is asking isn't on your list of answers, then you simply try to
redirect them by giving the answer to a different question or turn it around
to make them feel as though they must be hallucinating and the problem does
not exist.

 

[Guest]

All right. At last I have a solution, but it adds an extra step to things
BEFORE you open the AVI file in Movie Maker in Vista (since it isn't a
problem for me to do it in XP). The only solution, since Microsoft refuses
to fix the problem with Movie Maker is to convert the file from the original
AVI to a format that MM will recognize (stupid anyway since WMP will
recognize it).

My original AVI needs the codec XVID, XviD ISO MPEG-4. This is installed on
my system. Movie Maker doesn't recognize the codec apparently.

I installed the free version of the Stoik Video Converter 2.2.1. You can
find it through http://www.stoik.com/products/svc/. Now, I had to figure out
how to work it as it didn't really come with instructions and the help file
won't work in Vista. But it's not hard to do. Put the AVI file I wanted
converted into the Input File box. Named the Output file and where it would
go in the Output File box. Selected DV AVI file (NTSC) as my output type.
Hit the Record button at the bottom and when it was done, I imported the file
into MM. Success!

I did try converting to WMV for ISDN first, but didn't like the quality. I
may try a higher quality WMV conversion and see what that brings. But DV AVI
(NTSC) does work in MM for me.

No thanks to Microsoft, though. But kudos to the people who post in this
forum. I found the link from another post in a different thread.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

Stop right there. See, the circle is continuing. I think you're ignoring
the point that 99% of us are trying to make, that we can get our AVI files
to
play in Windows Media Player, but not in Windows Movie Maker. Is it that
hard to understand the point that is being made?

No, I absolutely get that. I have worked in this field enough to know that
when it comes time to get technical, an "AVI file" cannot be assumed to the
same as another random "AVI file". It's much like comparing "car" to "car":
context can be extremely critical.

"DivX" is an extremely generic term encompassing a number of specific
implementations. Thus, unfortunately, "DivX" is useless as a technical term
as it has little precision.

But now, I'm beginning to get more and more irritated with the codec
excuses
that you keep throwing out.

I apologize if you took these questions:
===
Is there a link to the content?
Failing that, what fourCC does it use?
What exact specific codec version are you using?
===
as any sort of dodge. Working in this field, I can tell you in my
professional opinion that anyone who does not ask those questions is not
technically qualified to begin working on the issue. Either that, or
they're masters of utter guesswork. I'd really like to be precise here,
though, since if there is a problem existing here, I could not begin to
diagnose it without the above data.

You're dodging the issue which is why does my AVI play fine in Media
Player
with the codec installed, which obviously IS the correct one or it would
not
play, and not in Movie Maker.

I'm attempting not to be forced into answering the question while I still
have insufficient data. It would be irresponsible of me to attempt to guess
here. I actually was and am hoping that you will in the blank spots so I
can try this myself and see if I get the same results. =)

One file should not require multiple video
codecs.

That's a false simplification, given that some applications might not
support DirectShow filters. Thus while you might have an installed DIVX
DirectShow filter, your lack of a DIVX VfW codec would leave non-DShow aware
applications broken.

Does that make sense? It's a pretty high-level overview of the issue, but
should clarify this issue somewhat and posit a possible reason why you're
seeing what you're seeing.

If you can provide me with specific answers to the questions I asked above,
I will try to help on this issue. But without that data we're all stuck
guessing, which doesn't get anyone anywhere.

I would consider it a personal favor if you would provide me the information
needed here. I really would like to figure out what's going on here. If
it's a bug in Movie Maker, I know those guys. If it's a bug in your unnamed
DIVX decoder, I can probably get a hold of those guys. Regardless of all
else, it would seem of high value to be able to prove to someone else that
this is happening. I'd love to get the chance to look at this problem.

Thanks!
-Zach

 

[Adam Albright]

No, I absolutely get that. I have worked in this field enough to know that
when it comes time to get technical, an "AVI file" cannot be assumed to the
same as another random "AVI file". It's much like comparing "car" to "car":
context can be extremely critical.

"DivX" is an extremely generic term encompassing a number of specific
implementations. Thus, unfortunately, "DivX" is useless as a technical term
as it has little precision.

You're just throwing out the same lame excuses you always use. The
point is just about any player you can install EXCEPT for Media Player
can look inside any AVI wrapper, figure out the specific codec needed
and simply plays the damn file. Media player doesn't seem able to. We
keep asking why, you keep making excuses.

as any sort of dodge. Working in this field, I can tell you in my
professional opinion that anyone who does not ask those questions is not
technically qualified to begin working on the issue. Either that, or
they're masters of utter guesswork. I'd really like to be precise here,
though, since if there is a problem existing here, I could not begin to
diagnose it without the above data.

The whole point in Media Player is anything BUT precise. It is known
to go on a wild goose chase looking for codecs in never seems able to
find on the web and is too dumb to see the codec it was looking for
that's already installed and other players on the system are already
using.

I'm attempting not to be forced into answering the question while I still
have insufficient data.

What's stopping you from getting data? Visit some of the hundreds of
binary newsgroups, download some random divX files and you'll have all
the proof necessary to come to same conclusion many users have, which
is that Media Player sucks and other player simply work.

 

[Guest]

No, I absolutely get that. I have worked in this field enough to know that
when it comes time to get technical, an "AVI file" cannot be assumed to the
same as another random "AVI file". It's much like comparing "car" to "car":
context can be extremely critical.

"DivX" is an extremely generic term encompassing a number of specific
implementations. Thus, unfortunately, "DivX" is useless as a technical term
as it has little precision.

And to all this, we go back to the point of files playing in Windows Media
Player and every other third-party video player and not in Windows Movie
Maker. And let me re-emphasize that the files will also play in Movie Maker
under XP. Where they will not play is in Movie Maker under Vista. That's the
real question here. You're throwing in other things to try to make it sound
more complex than it is. The same codec that I installed which magically
made the file play in Media Player does not perform the same magic in Movie
Maker.

My video files are all files recorded on a Pure Digital Flip Video recorder.
I can't link you to my files because I don't have them uploaded anywhere
online, nor do I intend to do that.

The version of DivX I downloaded to make Media Player show my files is the
DivX Community Codec 6.6 from www.divx.com/divx/windows/. GSpot shows my
file as requiring XVID, XviD ISO MPEG-4, which is installed. And installing
that codec on my laptop with XP made the file play correctly in both Media
Player and Movie Maker on it.

I would say that makes it pretty obvious that the problem can be narrowed
down to Movie Maker in Vista and not to my file.

And from the number of threads I'm seeing with people having similar
problems, this is not an isolated incident with Movie Maker in Vista.

 

[Erik Jan]

Marilyn had de volgende lumineuze gedachte op 20-07-07 19:16:

And to all this, we go back to the point of files playing in Windows Media
Player and every other third-party video player and not in Windows Movie
Maker. And let me re-emphasize that the files will also play in Movie Maker
under XP. Where they will not play is in Movie Maker under Vista. That's the
real question here. You're throwing in other things to try to make it sound
more complex than it is. The same codec that I installed which magically
made the file play in Media Player does not perform the same magic in Movie
Maker.

My video files are all files recorded on a Pure Digital Flip Video recorder.
I can't link you to my files because I don't have them uploaded anywhere
online, nor do I intend to do that.

The version of DivX I downloaded to make Media Player show my files is the
DivX Community Codec 6.6 from www.divx.com/divx/windows/. GSpot shows my
file as requiring XVID, XviD ISO MPEG-4, which is installed. And installing
that codec on my laptop with XP made the file play correctly in both Media
Player and Movie Maker on it.

I would say that makes it pretty obvious that the problem can be narrowed
down to Movie Maker in Vista and not to my file.

And from the number of threads I'm seeing with people having similar
problems, this is not an isolated incident with Movie Maker in Vista.

Perhaps Windows Media Player cannot ascertain the digital rights and
believes you do not have the right to see this file......

Erik Jan

 

[Guest]

Perhaps Windows Media Player cannot ascertain the digital rights and
believes you do not have the right to see this file......

Erik Jan

Please go back and reread the post or even better, the entire thread. We
are not talking about Windows Media Player having any difficulties playing my
AVI files under Vista once I installed the DivX Community Codec 6.6. Once
that is installed, my AVI files will play in Windows Media Player (that's
PLAYER, not MOVIE MAKER). Installing that codec on any of my computers
running XP will make the AVI files play in both Windows Media Player AND
Windows Movie Maker. And the AVI files will play in Quicktime under XP and
Vista both.

Where they will not play is in Windows Movie Maker (and once again, that's
MOVIE MAKER, not MEDIA PLAYER) under Vista.

Digital rights? There are no digital rights involved. These are raw AVI
files. They can be uploaded to You Tube and shown as is with no editing or
conversion. (No, I didn't upload any files, but I know someone who did using
the same recording device.)

I feel like I'm pedaling a stationary bike here. I keep pedaling and never
getting anywhere.

In any case, as I mentioned in a previous post, I have added the additional
step of converting my AVI files to DV AVI (NTSC) and then they will import
and be visible in Windows Movie Maker.

But it still does not answer the original question of why the files won't
play correctly, i.e. only the audio plays, not the video, in Movie Maker.

 

[Adam Albright]

I feel like I'm pedaling a stationary bike here. I keep pedaling and never
getting anywhere.

Welcome to the "support" group. LOL!

In any case, as I mentioned in a previous post, I have added the additional
step of converting my AVI files to DV AVI (NTSC) and then they will import
and be visible in Windows Movie Maker.

But it still does not answer the original question of why the files won't
play correctly, i.e. only the audio plays, not the video, in Movie Maker.

I asked the same thing of the MS "Z" guy and once he sees he can't
double talk you, he just fades away.

I never played with Movie Maker in XP, have no need to use it in Vista
since I use Sony's Vegas. I only played with Movie Maker a slight bit
just to understand it. I could give you a long list of all the things
it messes up, not playing the video stream for 100% compliant DV files
is just one of Movie Maker's problems.

 

[Guest]

Welcome to the "support" group. LOL!

That's what I figured. Done tech support myself, but have since redeemed
myself from those dark days, so I am familiar with the runaround that's
routine when the techies really don't know the answer. Misery loves company,
though, and you never know when someone in the same situation as you just
might stumble upon the answer and share it.

I asked the same thing of the MS "Z" guy and once he sees he can't
double talk you, he just fades away.

Indeed. I think that it is always assumed that the user is not a techie or
they wouldn't be posting here. False assumption given that many of us have
been using and learning about computers since the dark days of the late
1970's. I'm not a programmer, never wanted to be one. I did, however, marry
one.

I never played with Movie Maker in XP, have no need to use it in Vista
since I use Sony's Vegas. I only played with Movie Maker a slight bit
just to understand it. I could give you a long list of all the things
it messes up, not playing the video stream for 100% compliant DV files
is just one of Movie Maker's problems.

I'm not even trying to do anything overly creative with Movie Maker. I just
need some vary basic functions, just so I can put the short home videos I
shoot of family related activities onto DVDs and give them to family members.
I don't need much more above the ability to add titles and commentary,
perhaps.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

Please go back and reread the post or even better, the entire thread. We
are not talking about Windows Media Player having any difficulties playing
my
AVI files under Vista once I installed the DivX Community Codec 6.6. Once
that is installed, my AVI files will play in Windows Media Player (that's
PLAYER, not MOVIE MAKER). Installing that codec on any of my computers
running XP will make the AVI files play in both Windows Media Player AND
Windows Movie Maker. And the AVI files will play in Quicktime under XP
and
Vista both.

Are they otherwise clean systems? I'd suspect you still have a second
DirectShow filter for DIVX playback that WMM is picking up here.

I feel like I'm pedaling a stationary bike here. I keep pedaling and
never
getting anywhere.

In any case, as I mentioned in a previous post, I have added the
additional
step of converting my AVI files to DV AVI (NTSC) and then they will import
and be visible in Windows Movie Maker.

But it still does not answer the original question of why the files won't
play correctly, i.e. only the audio plays, not the video, in Movie Maker.

This is going to be excruciating to help you on if there's no sample file to
test here. =\

I want to solve your issue. That'd make both of us happy: help me help you
via supplying some sort of test file that you believe should cause this
issue.

If it's a bug, I can talk to the right people.
If I or others don't see it, that's a pretty good indication that something
is uniquely awry on your system.

Either way, you can benefit through this process.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

And to all this, we go back to the point of files playing in Windows Media
Player and every other third-party video player and not in Windows Movie
Maker. And let me re-emphasize that the files will also play in Movie
Maker
under XP. Where they will not play is in Movie Maker under Vista. That's
the
real question here. You're throwing in other things to try to make it
sound
more complex than it is. The same codec that I installed which magically
made the file play in Media Player does not perform the same magic in
Movie
Maker.

The magic has and does work differently between Media Player and Movie
Maker. This is generally known. We should skip beyond that for now and get
to the heart of what it takes to understand the issue:
* what file can others access that demonstrates this issue
That's it. That's all. If you want to understand this issue, please
provide a sample. Failing that, you need to contact actual product support.

My video files are all files recorded on a Pure Digital Flip Video
recorder.
I can't link you to my files because I don't have them uploaded anywhere
online, nor do I intend to do that.

That's good information. That pretty completely blocks what we call
"reproducing the issue", which is a critical step to walking through and
debugging the code.

If you cannot supply a sample file, we're kind of stuck here. I'd really
appreciate if you could supply a sample file so we can move forward.

The version of DivX I downloaded to make Media Player show my files is the
DivX Community Codec 6.6 from www.divx.com/divx/windows/. GSpot shows my
file as requiring XVID, XviD ISO MPEG-4, which is installed. And
installing
that codec on my laptop with XP made the file play correctly in both Media
Player and Movie Maker on it.

That's good information, thanks. Is that the only DIVX decoder on the
system? There's a bunch of them out there.

A phenomenal test would be to try this exact scenario on a clean system with
the same content that fails for you and the same codec that fails for you.
If that fails, I can probably get in touch with the right people about this.
And that's what it seems like you would want. If that works on a new clean
random system, then we step back a little bit and probably see what other
DIVX filters or codecs are installed.

I would say that makes it pretty obvious that the problem can be narrowed
down to Movie Maker in Vista and not to my file.

And from the number of threads I'm seeing with people having similar
problems, this is not an isolated incident with Movie Maker in Vista.

That'd be great if you could help me show this bug by supplying some sort of
sample content that reproduces this issue. I'm not picky here, but "DIVX"
(or in your case, "XVID") is generic enough that getting the exact sample
content is actually much more of a nightmare than you would think.

So: please help me help you. Anyone suggesting that I can operate in a
vacuum without a sample file to work with doesn't really understand how
debugging works. =)

 

[Guest]

I am a late comer to this thread, but I am having Marilyn's experience. I
have .avi clips from my Puredigital Flip Video cam. They play just fine in
WMP but I get audio only in MM. I will gladly provide a sample clip if that
will help solve this annoying problem. Where? How?

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

Probably the best way would be to use one of those file uploading websites,
such as http://massmirror.com , so that others could check too.
Alternatively you could send it to my account - zachdms at hotmail dotty
com - but that precludes others from effectively trying the same test.

Thanks!

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--

I am a late comer to this thread, but I am having Marilyn's experience. I
have .avi clips from my Puredigital Flip Video cam. They play just fine in
WMP but I get audio only in MM. I will gladly provide a sample clip if
that
will help solve this annoying problem. Where? How?

"zachd [MSFT]" wrote:

No, I absolutely get that. I have worked in this field enough to know
that
when it comes time to get technical, an "AVI file" cannot be assumed
to
the
same as another random "AVI file". It's much like comparing "car" to
"car":
context can be extremely critical.

"DivX" is an extremely generic term encompassing a number of specific
implementations. Thus, unfortunately, "DivX" is useless as a
technical
term
as it has little precision.

And to all this, we go back to the point of files playing in Windows
Media
Player and every other third-party video player and not in Windows
Movie
Maker. And let me re-emphasize that the files will also play in Movie
Maker
under XP. Where they will not play is in Movie Maker under Vista.
That's
the
real question here. You're throwing in other things to try to make it
sound
more complex than it is. The same codec that I installed which
magically
made the file play in Media Player does not perform the same magic in
Movie
Maker.

The magic has and does work differently between Media Player and Movie
Maker. This is generally known. We should skip beyond that for now and
get
to the heart of what it takes to understand the issue:
* what file can others access that demonstrates this issue
That's it. That's all. If you want to understand this issue, please
provide a sample. Failing that, you need to contact actual product
support.

My video files are all files recorded on a Pure Digital Flip Video
recorder.
I can't link you to my files because I don't have them uploaded
anywhere
online, nor do I intend to do that.

That's good information. That pretty completely blocks what we call
"reproducing the issue", which is a critical step to walking through and
debugging the code.

If you cannot supply a sample file, we're kind of stuck here. I'd really
appreciate if you could supply a sample file so we can move forward.

The version of DivX I downloaded to make Media Player show my files is
the
DivX Community Codec 6.6 from www.divx.com/divx/windows/. GSpot shows
my
file as requiring XVID, XviD ISO MPEG-4, which is installed. And
installing
that codec on my laptop with XP made the file play correctly in both
Media
Player and Movie Maker on it.

That's good information, thanks. Is that the only DIVX decoder on the
system? There's a bunch of them out there.

A phenomenal test would be to try this exact scenario on a clean system
with
the same content that fails for you and the same codec that fails for
you.
If that fails, I can probably get in touch with the right people about
this.
And that's what it seems like you would want. If that works on a new
clean
random system, then we step back a little bit and probably see what other
DIVX filters or codecs are installed.

I would say that makes it pretty obvious that the problem can be
narrowed
down to Movie Maker in Vista and not to my file.

And from the number of threads I'm seeing with people having similar
problems, this is not an isolated incident with Movie Maker in Vista.

That'd be great if you could help me show this bug by supplying some sort
of
sample content that reproduces this issue. I'm not picky here, but
"DIVX"
(or in your case, "XVID") is generic enough that getting the exact sample
content is actually much more of a nightmare than you would think.

So: please help me help you. Anyone suggesting that I can operate in a
vacuum without a sample file to work with doesn't really understand how
debugging works. =)

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

 

[Gerald Ross]

Probably the best way would be to use one of those file uploading websites,
such as http://massmirror.com , so that others could check too.
Alternatively you could send it to my account - zachdms at hotmail dotty
com - but that precludes others from effectively trying the same test.

Thanks!

GOM Player works a treat. It's free, also.

--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

The most dangerous thing in a combat
zone is an officer with a map.