Trouble Opening WMV File

[Abradaxis]

Running Win XP SP3. Have Corel's (Intervideo) WIN DVD 8 installed, and
have this as my program of choice in the Folders entry in control panel as
the program to always open WMV programs. When I point to a WMV program and
pick play or open, I get a message "File xxx is not a valid Win32
Program." and an abort. However, if I launch WinDVD 8, and have the
program point to the file, it opens and plays it perfectly every time. Do
I have an error in my system somewhere? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Bernd]

-------- Original-Nachricht --------

Running Win XP SP3. Have Corel's (Intervideo) WIN DVD 8 installed, and
have this as my program of choice in the Folders entry in control panel
as the program to always open WMV programs. When I point to a WMV
program and pick play or open, I get a message "File xxx is not a valid
Win32 Program." and an abort. However, if I launch WinDVD 8, and have
the program point to the file, it opens and plays it perfectly every
time. Do I have an error in my system somewhere? Thanks in advance for
any help.

Right click any WMV file and use "Open with ..." to set standard file
association.

Bernd

 

[Abradaxis]

Tried it many times. It will try to open with WINDVD, but give the error
"...not a valid win32 program." As I mentioned earlier, it will open if I
launch WINDVD, have WINDVD point to it, and select play. The WMV file is
associated with Intervideo WINDVD in the file types under the folder
option in control panel. I have a problem somewhere.

 

[John Inzer]

Tried it many times. It will try to open with WINDVD, but give the
error "...not a valid win32 program." As I mentioned earlier, it will
open if I launch WINDVD, have WINDVD point to it, and select play.
The WMV file is associated with Intervideo WINDVD in the file types
under the folder option in control panel. I have a problem somewhere.

===========================
Have you tried to open the .wmv files
with Windows Media Player?

--

J. Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a hijackware
infection!

NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

Microsoft PCSafety provides home users (only) with no-charge support in
dealing with malware infections such as viruses, spyware (including unwanted
software), and adware.
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&prid=7552&st=1

Also available via the Consumer Security Support home page:
https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/

Otherwise...

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.

2a. WinXP => Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan (only!)
in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

2b. Vista or Win7=> Run this scan instead:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm

3. Now run a thorough check for hijackware, including posting requested logs
in an appropriate forum, not here. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!!

Checking for/Help with Hijackware:
.. http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
.. http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
.. http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
.. http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Chances are you will need to seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5,
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup,
http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 or other appropriate forums.**

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

 

[Abradaxis]

The file opens and plays with Windows Media Player.

 

[Abradaxis]

See replies interspersed with your comments. Thanks again for the help.

There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
hijackware infection!

NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription
had expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your
subscription has since expired and/or the machine's not been kept
fully-patched at Windows Update, don't waste your time with any of the
below: Format & reinstall Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

Have always maintained Norton at the latest level, without any lapse. I'm
on auto update for all patches from Microsoft to Windows. This is a very
localized problem I'm having, with one application only, and then in
certain instances. It comes nowhere near the level of reinstalling
Windows. I'm hoping for a more limited suggestion to fix the problem.

Microsoft PCSafety provides home users (only) with no-charge support in
dealing with malware infections such as viruses, spyware (including
unwanted software), and adware.
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&prid=7552&st=1

Also available via the Consumer Security Support home page:
https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/

Otherwise...

I've used them before, and am not so independent that I would not use them
again. But I think the problem is too limited for them to classify this as
a malware problem. Also, they would almost definitely ask me to run
Adaware first, and I've already done this with no errors reported, leading
me to believe this is a system problem, not a malware problem. I'll try
your next solution and let you know what I find out. Thanks for staying
with me to find a solution,

 

[Twayne]

In

Running Win XP SP3. Have Corel's (Intervideo) WIN DVD 8
installed, and have this as my program of choice in the
Folders entry in control panel as the program to always
open WMV programs. When I point to a WMV program and pick
play or open, I get a message "File xxx is not a valid
Win32 Program." and an abort. However, if I launch WinDVD
8, and have the program point to the file, it opens and
plays it perfectly every time. Do I have an error in my
system somewhere? Thanks in advance for any help.

Is this something new because you just installed that program?
Or was it working and then stopped working all of a sudden?

If it's a new install it could be anything from corruption
(try a reinstall) to a codec being corrupted or missing that
it needs. I wouldn't expect that error message in this case,
but error messages are famous for not describing things
properly.

What program gives you the error message and won't play the
WMVs? All you talked about is winDVD8.

Or are you saying that by using winDVD8 to open a program it
works but if you click on the wmv it won't work?
If that's the case, then I'd check the File Association
entries to see that the actions in it are correct. Make sure
it says to "play", etc. etc..

That's a strange error message but if it'll play in other
ways, it's obviously a misleading message; not unusual.

Please include versions and all program names if there is more
than winDVD8 here.

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[Abradaxis]

See responses after your questions. And thanks for the help.

In

Is this something new because you just installed that program?

Yes. I just installed the program and just started getting the error
message.

Or was it working and then stopped working all of a sudden?

If it's a new install it could be anything from corruption (try a
reinstall) to a codec being corrupted or missing that it needs. I
wouldn't expect that error message in this case, but error messages are
famous for not describing things properly.

I certainly will try a reinstall.

What program gives you the error message and won't play the WMVs? All
you talked about is winDVD8.

I am talking about an older program (older because the publisher keeps on
updating it with more and more mostly useless add-ons. It used to be
WINDVD by Intervideo. I had version 5 for playing videos, and it worked
fine, but not in high-def. So I upgraded to Version 8 (they're now on
version 10 or 11). It's now ownded by Corel. But the basic nature of the
program is just to play videos (commercial), or WMV files.

Or are you saying that by using winDVD8 to open a program it works but
if you click on the wmv it won't work?
If that's the case, then I'd check the File Association entries to see
that the actions in it are correct. Make sure it says to "play", etc.
etc..

The file associations are fine. WMV files are associated with and to be
opened by Intervideo WINDVD Version 8 files. If I have a AWMV file on my
desktop (let us say), and I point to it and say open with AWINDVD or Play,
it gives me the error message not a valid win32 file. But if I launch
WINDVD, use the program to point to my desktop and the WMV file I want to
play, it opens the file and plays it fine. Which is why I don't think I
have a malware issue. I hope I made myself clear.

That's a strange error message but if it'll play in other ways, it's
obviously a misleading message; not unusual.

It absolutely will play using the program to launch the file, not by
clicking on it, even though WMV files are meand to be opened by just this
program.

Please include versions and all program names if there is more than
winDVD8 here.

It is called Intervideo WINDVD 8, and distributed by Corel.
Again, thanks for the help. It is now just a bother, but it bugs me that
it does not work correctly. Your suggestions much appreciated.

 

[Abradaxis]

Okay, ran MSRT as instructed. No errors or any kind. Then ran Windows Live
Safety Center's Protection scan in Safe Mode with networking. Again,
absolutely no errors. I value your opinion (I've gotten a lot of good
advice from you!) , but do you really think that I should proceed with
checking for hijackware, as you suggested in step 3 is warranted, or are
there less drastic steps I could try first. I'm not intimidated by the
process, it just seems misplaced in this instance. Your help much
appreciated.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

There's a very good reason my instructions for #3 said "DO NOT SKIP THIS
STEP!!"