Media Player Classic questions

[Slickone]

When trying to install Media Player Classic on my PC at work (WinNT w/ SP6), I get the following error:

The procedure entry point DirectDrawCreateEx could not be located in the dynamic link library DDRAW.dll.

Do I need to install a newer DirectX? WinNT's SP4+ includes DirectX 3 with DirectPlay 6. Typing 'dxdiag' in the Run box doesn't work for me though.
Also I dont have Admin rights (some apps install, some don't).

MPC plays Quicktime files and Real Media files, doesn't it? Does it play all types of Real Media files? Does it play WMP files? I've been using Unrealone but it doesn't work quite as well as I'd like. Are Quicktime Alternative & Real Alternative both just hacked MPC? Does MPC not play QT and RM 'out of the box'? A little confused what i need to get.

Is MPC the best free/small player?
BS Player seems to do quite a bit as well and seems like it could take the place of WMP and windvd/powerdvd, etc. But does it support QT & RM, etc?
What about Zoom player? It supports RM, QT, and WMP.
VLC player?
There aren't plugins for Winamp that'll do all this are there?

What is the K-lite codec pack?


Also, I dont want to start a new thread just to ask, while looking on soundforge for MPC, I was wondering, is there a way to get more information on a program there before you download it? It either has none, or a brief description.

 

[BlueWeasel]

I was a long time MPC user, but I've recenly switched to BS Player and ZoomPlayer, for no other reason than both BSP and Zoom had less CPU usage on both my main system and laptop.

As far as features, you really can't go wrong with either MPC, BS, or Zoom. I really like the minimal interface to the BS Player, and it's got a feature that lets you enlarge the video to full screen where it appears to be the desktop wallpaper. I basically just use the players for files that have been downloaded or for my Divx files.

I'm not sure, though, if either BS or Zoom support RM and QT files.

The K-lite codec pack includes alot codecs including Divx, Xvid and others I can't remember. It also includes MPC.

As far as installing MPC, it definately sounds like a Direct problem. Upgrading to a newer version should take care of the Ddraw error.

 

[Slickone]

What version of DirectX does MPC require?

Anyone know more?

 

[ZimZum]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I was a long time MPC user, but I've recenly switched to BS Player and ZoomPlayer, for no other reason than both BSP and Zoom had less CPU usage on both my main system and laptop.

As far as features, you really can't go wrong with either MPC, BS, or Zoom. I really like the minimal interface to the BS Player, and it's got a feature that lets you enlarge the video to full screen where it appears to be the desktop wallpaper. I basically just use the players for files that have been downloaded or for my Divx files.

I'm not sure, though, if either BS or Zoom support RM and QT files.

The K-lite codec pack includes alot codecs including Divx, Xvid and others I can't remember. It also includes MPC.

As far as installing MPC, it definately sounds like a Direct problem. Upgrading to a newer version should take care of the Ddraw error.

I have tried them all and VideoLan is my favorite. Mainly because it can playback any file without the need for you to install specific codecs. It has its own codecs already embedded.

 

[dfi]

Can videolan playback quicktime and ram? I installed it but it doesn't seem to play those 2 file formats.

dfi

 

[duragezic]

You can download additional files/hacks for MPC so you can play both quicktime and realaudio files in it (in addition to everything else!).

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: duragezic
You can download additional files/hacks for MPC so you can play both quicktime and realaudio files in it (in addition to everything else!).

Where?
What version of Dx does MPC require? Can you see if the docs that came with MPC (if you have it) tell? I can't seem to find any. I think the official page is down.

 

[duragezic]

Yeah you just need the Quicktime alternative and RealAudio alternative files. The RA one can be found here. It comes with MPC but you only need the codec part of it, same for quicktime. I also got the Defiller codec pack (otherwise I say avoid codec packs). With those three things installed I can play every type of video file I've encountered thus far!

I have no idea about which version of DirectX it needs. I will look in the docs though when I get home from work.

 

[biostud]

Well in MPC you can choose between DX9 and DX7 rendering, so my guess would be DX7 atleast, but DX9 to get full usability.

 

[Slickone]

I just hate installing anything on a PC at work. I wonder if the later Dx's are a little more intrusive than the whatever came with the OS. Not even sure it'll let me install.

duragezic, I want to run files besides QT and RA, like WMV.
First I've heard anyone mention the Defiller codec pack. How is it better than the K-Lite pack?

 

[duragezic]

I thought WMV support was built in. I never installed anything besides the 3 I mentioned and I just checked and was able to play the .wmv videos I have just fine.

I'm not sure what is good about Defiller. The main part of it is that it includes ffdshow. That enables you to play a lot of different formats. Like I said, I don't really like codec packs and the Defiller one is designed to be a minimalist pack. Again, with these things I'm able to play everything I've encountered, including some odd things like a 3ivx .mov...

Yeah I don't see anywhere listing a DirectX requirement of MPC cept the v7/9 selection. Just try installing DirectX and if it won't let you without admin rights (seems like admin would be required) then you might just have to find a different media player.

 

[Confused]

If I remember correctly, NT4 doesn't have/use DirectX, so you're out of luck


Confused

 

[Slickone]

NT comes with DX2, SP3 installs DX3. Link.

What does this mean?
This says no DX higher than 3 will work.

I can't find any good information on whether DX7 will work on NT, but This implies DX7 can work on NT.

But DX7 says it won't work on my Windows version. So are there any other players that don't require DX that will play WMV, Quicktime, and Real Media?

 

[Slickone]

^

 

[Slickone]

Bump. Any of the other players require DirectX? Do RA and QT require it? If so, wouldn't any player that can play them require DX?


I did install WMP 6.4, but it won't play the WMV file I tried but it said:
"Cannot play back the file. The format is not supported. (Error=80040265)"

I guess WMV files created with a newer version won't play on older players?

 

[RudeBoie]

I use both. But I've noticed that to me, BS Player has inferior image (video) quality.

 

[Slickone]

Anyone know?

Originally posted by: RudeBoie
I use both. But I've noticed that to me, BS Player has inferior image (video) quality.

Ah, both what?

 

[Slickone]

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[Slickone]

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[Slickone]

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[Slickone]

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[Slickone]

Bump.

Summary:
I am running NT4 (work PC, no choice) with SP3. SP3 comes with DX3.
I tried WMP 6.4, but it won't play any WMV files I try (error msg posted above). Do I need to install codecs?
I can't install DX7, so can't install MPC, or a newer WMP version.

Are there any other players that don't require DX that will play WMV? What about Quicktime and Real Media?

 

[Slickone]

^

 

[Slickone]

^

 

[WildDreamer]

This might make it work:

Codec Installation Package for Windows Media Player 6.4