QuickTime not working! Argh!

[Stephen]

When I had a Mac, QuickTime gave me the clearest video pictures
compared with everything else available. Now that I'm stuck with a PC
(with Windows XP), I can't get QuickTime to work.

When I try to use QT to open a file, I get an error message telling me
that some important software is missing, and to "click here". The link
took me to the Apple (!) website, but there were no clues or hints as
to what software was missing.

I downloaded the most recent version, QuickTime 7, and installed it
successfully. Then I tried to open the file with it and it gave me the
same message, some important software is missing. I wonder whether it's
QuickTime's fault or the fault of Windows XP.

Does anyone else have any ideas on what I could do? I don't have the
money for another Mac, unfortunately. It's so frustrating. Switching
from a Mac to a PC is like stepping back in time fifty years or so,
isn't it!

Stephen G. Wilson

 

[dev]

/Stephen/ said:

When I had a Mac, QuickTime gave me the clearest video pictures
compared with everything else available. Now that I'm stuck with a PC
(with Windows XP), I can't get QuickTime to work.

When I try to use QT to open a file, I get an error message telling me
that some important software is missing, and to "click here". The link
took me to the Apple (!) website, but there were no clues or hints as
to what software was missing.

I downloaded the most recent version, QuickTime 7, and installed it
successfully. Then I tried to open the file with it and it gave me the
same message, some important software is missing. I wonder whether it's
QuickTime's fault or the fault of Windows XP.

Does anyone else have any ideas on what I could do? I don't have the
money for another Mac, unfortunately. It's so frustrating. Switching
from a Mac to a PC is like stepping back in time fifty years or so,
isn't it!

That is a matter of perspective. I have seen some amazing video in QT
on this PC.

You might employ a new approach. In ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS delete QT for
now, and instead install Media Player Classic, with the QT Alternative
codecs. Here is one route to it. Google for others...

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/QuickTime_Alternative.htm

With the "Real Alternative" codecs, this player also handles Real Media
files, negating the need for many users of having to install both of
those programs. This is OPEN SOURCE stuff, not warez-ware.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

When I had a Mac, QuickTime gave me the clearest video pictures
compared with everything else available. Now that I'm stuck with a PC
(with Windows XP), I can't get QuickTime to work.

When I try to use QT to open a file, I get an error message telling me
that some important software is missing, and to "click here". The link
took me to the Apple (!) website, but there were no clues or hints as
to what software was missing.

I downloaded the most recent version, QuickTime 7, and installed it
successfully. Then I tried to open the file with it and it gave me the
same message, some important software is missing. I wonder whether it's
QuickTime's fault or the fault of Windows XP.

Does anyone else have any ideas on what I could do? I don't have the
money for another Mac, unfortunately. It's so frustrating. Switching
from a Mac to a PC is like stepping back in time fifty years or so,
isn't it!

Stephen G. Wilson

No, it's not like stepping back 50 years.

Your installation may not have been successful if you can't actually open
files. Uninstalling and carefully reinstalling may help or give you clues
to the problem.

Have you considered looking here?
http://www.apple.com/support/quicktime/

What type of user account are you using - limited, power user,
administrator? What is the actual and complete text of the error message?

HTH
-pk

 

[Stephen]

/Stephen/ said:

That is a matter of perspective. I have seen some amazing video in QT
on this PC.

You might employ a new approach. In ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS delete QT for
now, and instead install Media Player Classic, with the QT Alternative
codecs. Here is one route to it. Google for others...

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/QuickTime_Alternative.htm

With the "Real Alternative" codecs, this player also handles Real Media
files, negating the need for many users of having to install both of
those programs. This is OPEN SOURCE stuff, not warez-ware.

Excellent! Thanks so much, dev! I've downloaded it and it uninstalled
the old non-working QuickTime, and installed itself - and I'm now
getting clear quality videos and sound. Yay! You're one of those people
who make the internet such a great place to be!

Stephen