Video Woes in Windows XP - Info found that I want to share

[D. Phillips]

First off, I'll apologize if this gets double posted. I tried to post
previously and I am uncertain if it worked....

I had been experiencing some video woes with mpgs in Power Point. The
presentation worked on every PC I put it on except a brand new HP
Laptop. Using the FAQ for media I checked the codecs and found that I
was missing indeo....

Curious about this, I found this on Ligos website:
http://www.ligos.com/indeo.htm

With the September 2002 update to Windows XP (known as Service Pack
1), Microsoft suspended distribution of the Indeo codecs as a base
part of its operating system. This only affects users with new PCs
that are shipping with Windows XP Service Pack 1, or clean installs of
Windows XP SP1 on an older system. Unfortunately, a number of game and
multimedia titles require Indeo to be installed on the OS in order to
function. Please review our Indeo Support page for more detailed
information about the Indeo codec, and Windows Service Packs 1 and 2.

It is a brand new laptop, installed with Windows XP (SP 1). Unlike
every OTHER PC that this has been tried on which is an original
install of XP w/ the SP 1 upgrade. I am hoping this saves some of you
with newer machines some grief. It's been frustrating!

So I went and downloaded Indeo 5.1 (Ligos charges for 5.2).
I have YET to test the theory that an indeo codec install will fix my
problem on the laptop, but I do know the mpg are Ligos encoded.

Hope this helps!

-Donna

 

[Tom Hodgers]

Donna,

It would seem that you are a bit late with your news. Ligos have now
stopped downloads of their (once) free codecs. Their indeo page (
http://www.ligos.com/indeo.htm ) now only has links to paid-for downlods.

However older indeo codecs (including 5.11) may be downloaded from:

http://www.moviecodec.com/download/codecs.shtml


Cheers,

Tom

 

[Adam Crowley]

That's information worth knowing...thanks.
I'd be interested to know if the Indeo install cures your problem, because
there's no reason why it should. MPEGs are decoded in Windows XP by the
MPEG driver mciqtz32.dll and we must be careful to draw a distinction
between AVIs that use codecs and MPEG which is a distinct file type and
works by different rules. For example you say that your MPEGs are Ligos
encoded - this does not mean that your system needs a Ligos codec to play
them, just that Ligos was used to create a standard MPEG1 format video.

 

[D. Phillips]

Thanks! I hadn't run across that information before.

But I am running out of ideas as to why these things just WONT play on
this laptop. They won't play in mplay32.exe. In fact that actually crash
this application without any error messages (it just quits out).

Using the media FAQ that is floating around out there I've go through
the registry entries and they are all good. So codecs is my last straw
(should have been my first, but....)

This is the only one missing off the list that was provided in the FAQ.

I will get a chance to test my theory tomorrow. At this point, if this
works I will be shocked (especially armed with the new info). If it
doesn't anyone have any ideas?


Tom, I did need to go searching for the codec elsewhere then Ligos'
website. I did notice that they only offer 5.2 for a fee now (sorry I
hadn't mentioned that but thanks for providing the link).

Thanks,
Donna

 

[Adam Crowley]

Think of it this way...

Quicktime (MOV) and AVI are file types. They contain frames of video and
audio synchronised together at a rate specified when you encode. The video
part can be uncompressed or compressed with a codec; if the latter then the
codec must be on the playback machine in order to decode the video
correctly. To be of any practical use most AVIs or Quicktime files will
need to be compressed because uncompressed video files are very large and
require enormous resources to play back at the correct frame rate.

MPEG is another file type which is only available in a compressed form,
because the video is handled differently (unnecessary to go into detail
here). There are many encoders available to create MPEG files and some are
better than others but, unlike AVI or Quicktime codecs, the files they
create are a standard format that can be decoded by any MPEG decoder (see 3
below).

Some limitations:
1) Unlike most AVI or Quicktime codecs there are limitations to frame size -
both dimensions must be multiples of 16 because the video is encoded in
square sections.
2) Some MPEG decoders are unstable when decoding files that are not encoded
at the industry standard frame sizes of 352x240 (NTSC) or 352x288 (PAL) or
when the bit rate is specified at an unusually high rate (normally
1150kbps).
3) There are several different MPEG types. Ignoring MPEG4, which just
confuses matters, there are MPEG1 (VCD format) and MPEG2 (as used in DVDs).
Most machines should play MPEG1 files with no problem (using the
aforementioned mciqtz32.dll) but in my experience many need a 3rd party
decoder to play MPEG2 files, particularly in PowerPoint.

I hope that clears up some of the confusion that sometimes surrounds MPEGs
and codecs.

So my thoughts on your problem would be either that your MPEG clips are
MPEG2 and your laptop does not have the required decoder to play MPEG2
files, or maybe Real Player or an older version of Quicktime (5 or earlier)
has hijacked your multimedia playback.

I'll shut up now.

 

[TAJ Simmons]

What Adam said. That just about explains it as it is.

TAJ

 

[Echo S]

I'll shut up now.

Please don't. I always learn a ton of your posts, Adam!

 

[D. Phillips]

Wow! Thanks...after messing with video for all these years I had never
gotten as clear as an explanation as this.... most helpful...

1) How can I determine what size the file has been encoded at?

2) RealPlayer isn't installed on the laptop. Quicktime 6.5.1 is.


Thanks,
Donna

 

[TAJ Simmons]

1) How can I determine what size the file has been encoded at?
For some video clips you can right click (using my computer/windows explorer) the video clip and choose "properties" >
Summary > Advanced

There it shows the pixel size,

Audio:
duration, bit rate (thats how much data is pumped through every second), sample size, audio codec

Video:
Frame rate: so many frames per second
Data Rate (thats how much data is pumped through every second),

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com

 

[D. Phillips]

Still perplexed. I installed the Indeo codecs. What I've run into is
mplayer32.exe actually gives me an "Application has quite
unexpectadely..". It lists mciqtz32.dll as where the error is occurring.
Previously the exe was just quitting out without any error at all.

I am thouroughly confused. The machine shipped with Windows XP SP 1
installed. I've been through the registry entries and they all appear
correct (matching the PPT Multimedia FAQ @ soniacoleman.com).

I am at a complete loss.

Is there a problem with the dlls???

HELP!



-Donna

 

[Sonia]

Can you include the details of the message here? It might give us a clue.
Also, do you get the message giving you the option to send a report? If so,
click on Send. There's a slight possibility that a message will come back
suggesting that you click a button to learn more about the problem and it might
lead to a solution or more information.

Do you have some web space where you could post the video file? If so, some of
us could take a more detailed look and do testing on a mix of system
configurations.

 

[Sonia]

I thought of another approach. If you could send me the video file, I could
make it available on my website. I could password protect it if you want and
you could control who has access.

 

[lost]

I think your problem is with the Muvee Auto?Producer Movie program
Its not actually the program itself but more the mainconcept mpeg codecs it
uses interferes with powerpoints/windows mci player

do a search for mc*.ax and rename
or
unregister them
or uninstall muvee from add remove programs

i think the mvps had a link

lost

 

[D. Phillips]

Sonia,
Thank you! I will be visiting the laptop again tomorrow and will be
able to get the info you asked for. I can dig out a small video later
this evening and post it to the web.

Also whoever posted this link:
http://www.echosvoice.com/tshoot_video2.htm

on video problems..... I've done everything up to step 6...and I will be
durned if this isn't an HP laptop and that -> (MuVee Audio Producer DVD
edition) is installed on it! ARRRRRRRGGGHH!!!

I will have to try uninstalling Muvee (I almost did today but decided to
leave it on the machine thinking "Ya know, what if someday my mostly
computer illiterate friend who happens to have this spiffy laptop who is
trying to run this power point presentations just MIGHT break down and
use this"). If the desire every arises to try his hand at movie
producing, I will just point him to something a little more power point
friendly!

Thank you all!
-Donna

 

[Echo S]

Ah, I didn't notice the HP in the original post. Thanks for pointing it out.

http://www.echosvoice.com/tshoot_video2.htm MuVee is covered in #6.

 

[D. Phillips]

THANK YOU ALL!!!!! (yes I know I am using caps but this deserves it)...

I visted the laptop today, uninstalled MuVee and not only doesn't Power
Point crash when opening the presentation in edit mode...

The presentation works beautifully! Flawlessly! Wonderfully! .... the
movies play...

Thank you all!
-Donna

Ah, I didn't notice the HP in the original post. Thanks for pointing it out.

http://www.echosvoice.com/tshoot_video2.htm MuVee is covered in #6.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com
presenter, PPT Live '04
Oct 10-13, San Diego http://www.powerpointlive.com

I think your problem is with the Muvee Auto?Producer Movie program
Its not actually the program itself but more the mainconcept mpeg codecs
it

uses interferes with powerpoints/windows mci player

do a search for mc*.ax and rename
or
unregister them
or uninstall muvee from add remove programs

i think the mvps had a link

lost

 

[M]

I've been struggling with this problem, too. I believe it started when I
got the updated MPEG encoder for Adobe Premiere. I renamed two files to
*.axold and my MPEGs will play once again!

Thank you 'lost@microsoft!'

THANK YOU ALL!!!!! (yes I know I am using caps but this deserves it)...

I visted the laptop today, uninstalled MuVee and not only doesn't Power
Point crash when opening the presentation in edit mode...

The presentation works beautifully! Flawlessly! Wonderfully! .... the
movies play...

Thank you all!
-Donna

Ah, I didn't notice the HP in the original post. Thanks for pointing it
out.

http://www.echosvoice.com/tshoot_video2.htm MuVee is covered in #6.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com
presenter, PPT Live '04
Oct 10-13, San Diego http://www.powerpointlive.com

I think your problem is with the Muvee Auto?Producer Movie program
Its not actually the program itself but more the mainconcept mpeg codecs
it

uses interferes with powerpoints/windows mci player

do a search for mc*.ax and rename
or
unregister them
or uninstall muvee from add remove programs

i think the mvps had a link

lost


First off, I'll apologize if this gets double posted. I tried to post
previously and I am uncertain if it worked....

I had been experiencing some video woes with mpgs in Power Point. The
presentation worked on every PC I put it on except a brand new HP
Laptop. Using the FAQ for media I checked the codecs and found that I
was missing indeo....

Curious about this, I found this on Ligos website:
http://www.ligos.com/indeo.htm

With the September 2002 update to Windows XP (known as Service Pack
1), Microsoft suspended distribution of the Indeo codecs as a base
part of its operating system. This only affects users with new PCs
that are shipping with Windows XP Service Pack 1, or clean installs of
Windows XP SP1 on an older system. Unfortunately, a number of game and
multimedia titles require Indeo to be installed on the OS in order to
function. Please review our Indeo Support page for more detailed
information about the Indeo codec, and Windows Service Packs 1 and 2.

It is a brand new laptop, installed with Windows XP (SP 1). Unlike
every OTHER PC that this has been tried on which is an original
install of XP w/ the SP 1 upgrade. I am hoping this saves some of you
with newer machines some grief. It's been frustrating!

So I went and downloaded Indeo 5.1 (Ligos charges for 5.2).
I have YET to test the theory that an indeo codec install will fix my
problem on the laptop, but I do know the mpg are Ligos encoded.

Hope this helps!

-Donna