Problems with xvid/avi on Vista

[ilovejedd]

Since you're just playing around with it...

You might try uninstalling all those codecs as it's possible there might be some conflicts.

If that doesn't work, reformat the PC and on a fresh installation of Vista, install the Xvid codec from the link above. There's also DivX. It should be able to decode Xvid encoded files.

[SLR_65]

Unfortunately the logs dont show too much. They do show that directshow is unable to find a suitable set of decoders for the file though, so I still think its just a case of getting the right decoders on there...

Thanks for looking - I appreciate it!

I think the problem is that for some reason even though they seem to be installing something in Vista is keeping them from being used as Vista Media Player, Vista Media Center, nor GBPVR seems to be able to find them.

I took a break tonight and I'm kinda tired so I may wait till tomorrow to mess with it further.

I'll post back if I discover something interesting.

Take Care,

Steve

[SLR_65]

Since you're just playing around with it...

You might try uninstalling all those codecs as it's possible there might be some conflicts.

If that doesn't work, reformat the PC and on a fresh installation of Vista, install the Xvid codec from the link above. There's also DivX. It should be able to decode Xvid encoded files.

I've tried to uninstall them after each failed attempt. I've also got a restore point set from right after I first installed Vista and I've rolled back to it several times. Still, could be something stupid that got loaded in that shouldn't have . . . I'll probably do a reload tomorrow and I'll see if I can get the avi files workingbefore I even load GBPVR back up again.

Thanks for all the help guys - it's MUCH appreciated!

Steve

[SLR_65]

OK, I grabbed a soda and reloaded Vista - I even reformatted the drive. I have nothing loaded up, just the xvid.1.1.3 suggested by Sub and I've got the same old problem . . . Vista Media Player is complaining it doesn't have the right stuff to play it.

I even installed it with Run as Administrator.

I'm at a loss . . . what's the secret to getting this to work??? Anyone???

I'm running Vista Ultimate x86 with Service Pack 1 and all current updates.

Any nudge in the right direction would be MUCH appreciated!

If all else fails I can dust off the XP Pro discs and be done with this frustrating nonsense!

Thanks In Advance!

Steve

[mvallevand]

Like sub, I have had no problem with xvid files in Vista. However since your file is an HDTV XVID you also have to be ensure you can play HD on your machine.

Martin

[stustunz]

have you been able to play these files on anything ?
maybe the files are corrupt
are you even sure they are divx files maybe someone has done some funky encoding
copy protection maybe ?

[SLR_65]

The files all play fine on two separate XP machines - one a Pro and one Home machine. They are using Windows Media Player with ffdshow installed. I can also play them fine on my Polaroid DRM-2001G stand alone DVR.

According to GSpot I have codecs installed but when I hit render in GSpot it fails and doesn't know why.

I did find ONE avi that would render and it would play in Media Player (nothing I hate worse than failure is when it teases ya by half way working!).

Something is funky in Vista or the Service Pack 1 or one of the updates Vista installed or Media Player 11 is my suspicion.

Whatever, time for bed . . . I'll hammer on it more tomorrow as this is a make or break deal for the HTPC - we view a LOT of avis and I'm not willing to give up on directly playing them (as I said, I still have a copy of XP Pro I could put on, but it appears to me that things work better in Vista - just playing with GBPVR the picture looked very good - before if I looked at CNN the ticker would stutter occasionally, with Vista it hardly ever does and things just look more fluid. May just be my imagination though).

G'night!

Steve

[sub]

You need to work out exactly what audio and video format is contained within these avi files, then make sure you have decoders for both. I'm sure its just a case of not having the decoders required.

[SLR_65]

You need to work out exactly what audio and video format is contained within these avi files, then make sure you have decoders for both. I'm sure its just a case of not having the decoders required.

That's why I used gspot to tell me what the file required and if I already had a codec for it - and the files were as expected and I did have compatible codecs already loaded, in fact I had a couple but none worked.

ffdshow is usually all anyone has to load apparently from what I read on the net and it's all I've loaded on my XP Pro machine and it plays them fine.

I've also loaded several other codec packs both by themselves and in combination with others with no joy, it seems on some files you just can't make it happy.

Something is amiss in Vista or Media Player 11 I think. We'll see, I'll piddle with it more after work, if it gives me too much trouble I'll just load XP Pro up and go from there (the older I get the less I'm up for a fight "just because I want it to work" and the more I lean towards "just do what you know works"!)

[ilovejedd]

Out of curiosity, what does Gspot show as FourCC code of videos that won't play (case sensitive)?

Again, try installing DivX and set it to decode all supported video.