Why won't AVI file play?

[Jeff H]

Guys,

I'm trying to play an AVI file and I get the following error message after Win98/Media Player 6.4 tries to download a codec: 80040200.

I've gone through the MS pages to find out what this means, changed the obvious things (security level, audio and video compression installed, etc.) but still I get the error message.

What am I missing here? What do I need to do to make avi's play?

 

[iamcanadian128]

You need Quicktime!
QuickTime is Apple's award-winning, industry-standard software architecture for creating, playing and streaming digital media for Mac OS and Windows. QuickTime 5 adds several exciting new capabilities to the QuickTime feature set.

Macintosh System Requirements:
QuickTime 5 requires a PowerPC, G3, or G4 CPU running Mac OS version 7.5.5 or higher, and Open Transport version 1.2 or higher. In addition, the computer must have at least 32 MB of RAM.

Windows System Requirements:
QuickTime 5 runs on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (aka Windows Me), Windows NT and Windows 2000. It requires an Intel Pentium or compatible processor, 32 MB of RAM, SoundBlaster or compatible sound card and speakers. DirectX version 3.0 or later is recommended.

You can find it at: http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10079-100-5712743.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-1.5712743

 

[pulpp]

not all avi files are made using the same codec, even if its the same extention, actually there are dozens of video codecs out there, if you dont have the codec installed in media player to play that particular file media player wont be able to decode it.

 

[Mapidus]

find out which codec it uses and download it.

 

[Jeff H]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Some thoughts:

1) In addition to WMP6.4, I also have Quicktime5 installed, and I essentially get the same response re a missing codec. It feebly tries to do a connect to the Apple website, and then mutters something about not being able to find it.

2) How do you find out what codec a avi file uses? I read in an MS KB article that you go to the files properties, but the tab that supposedly gets you to the type of avi file it is is not there, thus I can't get the info. Any suggestions?

3) I've done a lot of reading in other MS KB's and there reference to installing other codecs, I tried a few of them, but thus far nothing.

 

[celeritas]

Try this. After I installed the Divx codec the video in my .avi's worked.

 

[SiRu]

You can download a file here which can help identify which codec you require. Then try the search engines for possible sources.

 

[Jeff H]

celeritas and SiRu, thanks for the help. I've downloaded the files you mentioned and I'll give them a try either tonight or tomorrow. Thanks again!

 

[celeritas]

Too busy watchin' movies to let us know it worked?

 

[Jeff H]

celeritas, thanks for the prod! That divx d/l you recommended did the trick! I also noticed, as I rooted around in WMP that the setting for video was not checked. But, w/o the divx d/l that setting did nothing. So, thanks for the tip on the divx d/l, I appreciate it.

Yea, I guess I was too busy <g>. I golfed yesterday in 100F weather, and apparently picked something up on the golf course, as I got myself a dandy rash on the bottom half of each calf and ankle. We'll see if hydrocortisone will clear it up.