.WMV video files don't work

[ScrewUpgrading]

I tried opening them using IrfanView 4.28, XnView 1.82.4, and Windows Media Player 9 but nothing worked. All I got was sound and no picture.

Are there some updates for Media Player 9 that allow it to play .WMV files?

I tried the "Gom Player" along time ago, but It didn't work either as far as I can recall. But I prefer Media Player 9 anyway.

I was just wondering if anybody else had this problem, and if there's a simple patch or something to fix it. Thanks.

Edited October 7, 2011 by ScrewUpgrading

[loblo]

Try reinstalling WMP9 and also the unofficial updates from mdgx's website which upgrade, between other things, the audio/video decoders required for wmv playback to more recent versions than the ones in the official download from MS.

http://www.mdgx.com/wmp.htm#WMP

Edited October 7, 2011 by loblo

[Giant2011]

well wmv files really work for me in Gom player

[tain]

Will VLC run on this OS? If so, that might work.

[ScrewUpgrading]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I might try Gom again, since it been a long time. The "upgrade" that I found on MDGX, wasn't really sure what it's for or what it does. But I tried installing it anyway. Sorry to say it didn't help.

I think the issure I have is that it's some weird codec that Media Player 9 doesn't support. Probably time for me to get a newer media player.

Edited October 9, 2011 by ScrewUpgrading

[loblo]

It's probably a vc-1 file and you need to install the appropriate decoder which is here: http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/2/f/e2fcec4b-6c8b-48b7-adab-ab9c403a978f/wvc1dmo.cab

If it still doesn't work after that either upload the file or post a MediaInfo report.

[technoid]

If you're connected online to the internet while starting up a .wmv or .asf file thru WMP, it will normally start looking on the internet for the codec that the wmv file requires if any are missing and then download them. You will need to checkmark this feature(s) in Options.

Another way is to see what codec the wmv file needs using a a codec checker. I've used G-Spot, although it's kinda dated now (last version 2007, I think). If successful, it will tell you what video and audio codecs are used in the file. Then you find that codec yourself online. Or you could find one of those codec packs, like at http://www.free-codecs.com/ or http://www.moviecodec.com . I have not really needed to check a/v codecs in the past couple of years, but G-Spot really helped when I used to put together video files. http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

Another app that I use and might help you is SUPER ©: http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

A good place to ask about A/V is at the Afterdawn.com forums. Or maybe at the Doom9 forum (though they're mostly about DVD's). I've been to both, though not a regular poster. Many billions of other places to ask at, of course.

[sanjai]

hi thanks for your information

[ScrewUpgrading]

problem solved, sort of...

I found a great freeware program that can convert .WMV files to Mpeg.

http://www.eusing.com/free_video_converter/video_converter.htm

It's from 2010 and it works under Windows 9x and ME without Kernel Ex. I highly recommend this program. It's capable of converting between an insane amount of video formats.

I'd say this is a must-have program for any Win9x user.

It can be quite confusing trying to sort through video codecs if you don't know exactly what the issue is, however this programs simplifies all that.

If it still doesn't work after that either upload the file or post a MediaInfo report.

I appreciate the input, but I can't upload any kinds of movies while on dial-up...

Edited November 14, 2011 by ScrewUpgrading

[loblo]

problem solved, sort of...

I found a great freeware program that can convert .WMV files to Mpeg.

http://www.eusing.com/free_video_converter/video_converter.htm

It's from 2010 and it works under Windows 9x and ME without Kernel Ex. I highly recommend this program. It's capable of converting between an insane amount of video formats.

I'd say this is a must-have program for any Win9x user.

It can be quite confusing trying to sort through video codecs if you don't know exactly what the issue is, however this programs simplifies all that.

This program is one of the many front-ends for ffmpeg.exe and since it can transcode this file you should also be able to play it (without the loss of quality that transcoding necessarily implies) in VLC, MPlayer or any DirectShow front end player making use of FFDShow as all those three are based on ffmpeg for decoding.

If it still doesn't work after that either upload the file or post a MediaInfo report.

I appreciate the input, but I can't upload any kinds of movies while on dial-up...

Well upload/paste a MediaInfo report then if you don't mind as this is just a few hundred bytes, a few kilobytes at worst.

http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en

[ScrewUpgrading]

how do I do that?

[loblo]

You download MediaInfo, you install it, you open your problematic wmv file with it and then post the basic results here. Perhaps this will help us finding why your Windows Media Player 9 can't play certain wmv files.

But as I've said above since ffmpeg is able to transcode it, any ffmpeg based player or decoding library should be able to play it.

Edited November 15, 2011 by loblo