4 ways to find the codec of a AVI clip | Codec Instalation problems in Win9x, Nt, Win2000 |
Fix for Divx 4 and 5 encoding |
|
Tools - Resources | Window Xp Problems |
A. GSpot
(brought to our attention by O'Man) is a free a powerful tool for
Avi's.
It features:
1. Determines which video
codec an AVI file uses.
2. Determines what audio
encoding method the file uses.
3. Determines what codecs
you have installed, and whether you have the one needed.
4. And has an up-to-date
database of over 200 codecs, including the latest DivX 5 and XVID
systems.
and a REAL BIGGIE:
5. Identifies MPG, MPEG,
MOV, WMA, WMV, or ASF if an unknown non-AVI file is examined.
which allows you to:
6. View and optionally
edit or create RIFF INFO tags for your AVI file.
7. Plus gives you an aspect
ratio display, VBR recognition and other enhancements.
We're using this tool daily to clear out
misidentified
files from our hard drives.
B. A nice little freeware program brought
up
by mlippert that you might find very useful called "qavinfo.exe".
It's Windoze Dos based, so if this frightens you, go back to "A" above
or skip on down.
1. Download the program
from the CodecCorner or the Author's
site.
2. Unzip to a new dir,
or to the dir where you store your movie clips (mine is C:\oh-damn).
There
will only be two files there - qaviinfo.exe and .ccp.
3. Move any movie that
won't play to this new directory.
4. Click on Start /
Programs
/ MS Dos Prompt. This will open up a dos window on your desktop.
5. Change to the dir
holding
qavi and your clip ( for the example above type cd c:\oh-damn ).
6. Then type qaviinfo
movie.avi
- where movie.avi is the name of the clip you want to find the codec
for.
This will produce a nice little info sheet with the codec and data
rates
displayed.
Method #2
1. Open the AVI file using WORDPADMethod #3:
2. Near the end of the first or second line you will see the codec's ID. Look for the characters "vids" followed by the FourCC code. It looks like "vidsmp43" for MPEG4v3clips or I263 = "vidsI263".
3. Look in the Links section or try "Codec Central"
1. In Windows Explorer Right Click on the file and choose Properties from the drop down menu.ASF, WMV and MPG's display only a single tab with little useful information.
2. Choose the Details tab.
3. If Details shows an unknown codec -- and it should if it won't play --
4. Click the Preview tab. The preview pane will have diagonal lines thru it, but at the top it will display the codec used. It's sometimes hard to read as the diagonal lines overwrite the text.
Method #4
use HexEdit 1.0 - ( Freeware found at most download sites).
1. check hex location "6C" for the value "vids" followed with the FourCC code at hex location "70".
Editing registerNow you can start VirtualDub and under Compression you'll see Divx 4.12 and when you click on it will show "Divx4.dll" . Now you can install Divx5 without it removing Divx4.
Under [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32]
06. create new value vidc.dvx4=DivX4.dll
Under
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\icm\]
07. create new keywith name vidc.DVX4
Under that key enter new strings
08. "Description"="DivX Codec 4.12"
09. "Driver"="DivX4.dll"
10. "FriendlyName"="DivX Codec 4.12"
For Windows XP
01. Install Divx4.12 ,rename divx.dll under
windows\system32 in to divx4.dll
02. Open regedit:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32]With this you should be able to encode in Div4 & 5 !
"vidc.DVX4"="DivX4.dll"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\MediaResources\icm\]
create new Key vidc.DVX4
and under that key new strings
Description=Divx 4.12
Driver=DivX4.dll[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\MediaResources\icm]
create new Key vidc.DVX4
and under that key new strings
Description=Divx 4.12
Driver=DivX4.dll[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet\Control\MediaResources\icm]
create new Key
vidc.DVX4
and under that key new strings
Description=Divx 4.12
Driver=DivX4.dll
1. A WMP6.4 for Windows Xp: Sick
and tired of us old guys going on about the value of Windows Media
Player 6.4 - it's lack of spyware / reportware / function? Well, it
would appear that those smarter than us took pity on us all and built a
new player - Windows Media Classic - that works better than 6.4,
without any of the rest of the junk that comes with wmp7, 8, and most
directly, wmp9. Run, do not walk, to get it here.
And our thanks to Tazman for the tip off.
2. When there is no listed Xp version of the program / codec, consider using the Win Nt / 2000 version rather than the Win9x version. This is due to the fact that Xp is at root a Nt type OS.
3. Use the Program Compatibility
Wizard and
set it so that the program is in win98 compatibility mode. For
some
of the programs this will fix it. BUT, since the release of XP service
Pack 1 and CD's with this service pack built in (which you really need
to plug major holes), fewer and fewer will work.
A. Right click on the start
menu under the program name.
B. Click Properties
C. Change the compatability
mode to Win98/Me.
D. Works like a charm
under XP with that setting.
MAJOR UPDATE: After installing SP1 to XP -
a much needed sercurity and update patch - all have reported that
Camel's
MPG joiner and Peck's Power Post will no longer work. If you too have
this problem, look
here to find a new tool to use - there's quite a selection.
4. Issues involving Direct Show filters. An increasing number of codecs are using or requiring the use of direct show drivers, including mpg, to play correctly in Win systems. This is particularly true for Xp. Without any proof, I am beginning to believe that M$ has been doing some major changes to this set of devices, yet not advancing the version number. Keep your direct show (DirectX) updated.
5. Along with an increased ability to
repair
damaged files, Xp contains a much reinforced ability to remove dlls and
drivers it (meaning M$) does not recognize or approve of. If you're
having
these kinds of problems,
a) confirm the driver/dll
version that has been installed by the installer program prior to
reboot
or shutting down.
b) after restart, confirm
that all driver / dll's BY VERSION are still in place.
c) If not, you'll need
to manually force Xp to retain those drivers.
6. As of the introduction of Xp, M$ carries it's fight with Sun to new heights by removing Sun java from the installation pack. If you're having problems (like the buttons on this site not working very well) you'll need to go to this M$ site. Please read the faq there, and decide for yourself if you want to install M$'s VM. For myself, I strongly recommend loading the Sun Java for your system, found at the Sun Java Page.