codec for windows media player 9

Who else wants a Codec for Windows Media Player 9 ?

 

Codec for Windows Media Player 9

 


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Introduction To Finding A Codec For Windows Media Player 9

 


Many of you who are reading this article will do so because YOU require a codec for windows media player 9. The reason I can make this guess is due to the high number of emails I get on this subject!

Others of you may read the title "codec for windows media player 9" and simply want to know more on what can often seem a confusing subject....



Finding Codec for Media Player Windows

This article should give most readers a basic understanding of what a codec is and exactly what codec's are available for windows media player 10.

(NB - What this article will not focus on is how to play DVD's using windows media player. For more information on this topic please visit www.updatexp.com/dvd-decoder-media-player-windows.html )

So What Is A Codec?

Before we delve into the specifics of what codecs for windows media player 10 are available - it would be good just to explain a FEW of the fundamentals.

So what exactly is a codec and why do we need them? Well simply put the term codec is short for:

Compressor / Decompressor

When you make an audio or video recording, the "raw" file that is created is often VERY large. This presents us with two major problems:

Storage and Transmission.

Lets look at an example of what I am referring to...

The other month my younger brother got married. I decided to use my MiniDV camcorder to record the event and create a DVD as a memento of the occasion. I filled up TWO 60 minute tapes, so how much room will I need on my computer to store this video?

Well the answer is 13 Gb's per 60 minute tape! That's 26 Gb's in total.

So not only am I going to make sure I have a large hard drive to store the video, there is also going to be huge problem if I try and transmit a file that size too. And that's the twin problem of storage and transmission.

So what can be done about this?

Well many years ago, circa 1980's, special "mathematical algorithms" were designed to make the files smaller but still play well on a computer.

And so codec's were born.

Now of course there are thousands of codec's available for audio and video compression. There are codec's that are suited to streaming video over the Internet, playing music on you're MP3 player, there are codec's for speech and even for codec's for screen capture.

Because there are so many codec's available, this often leads you to try and find a codec for windows media player 10. as it is impractical to have every codec installed on you're PC.

Windows media player 10 does have an inbuilt feature to try and get the codec for you if it not already installed on your PC.... but sometimes this does not work very well and does not cover EVERY codec available

The AVI Format

One of the oldest and still most commonly found video file formats available today, is the AVI format. This was Microsoft's early file format that allowed content producers to combine audio and video into a single file.

Microsoft has since given up development of the AVI format, instead preferring to develop its own video compression technology in the form of Windows Media Video (WMV).

AVI has a simple architecture which means it will run on many different systems like Windows, Mac's, Linux, Unix etc. In fact many media players such as WMP, Real and QuickTime can play .avi files. But the AVI format is not suited for Internet playback so .avi files are downloaded to a users PC and then played locally rather than trying to "stream" the content.

Since the AVI format is so simple MANY vendors and individuals have created an ENORMOUS number of AVI codec's over the years. Allot of these are either to old to be of any use or were just so poor at doing their job that you should hopefully not encounter them anymore!

Often folks ask why Microsoft do not put all these AVI codec's into the operating system... well that would make things unstable as there are so many AVI codec's....

(The reason I give prominence the AVI format here is that when looking for a codec for windows media player 9 - the AVI format is the single biggest codec issue...)

Getting That Codec for Windows Media Player 9

But there is allot of AVI video content still out there on the Internet, and indeed still being created, that you may want to play in windows media player 9 but you simply do not have the codec installed on your PC.... These include:

VP3, Indeo 3.2, Indeo 4.4, Indeo 5, DivX, Cinepak, Microsoft Video 1, ClearVideo and TrueMotion to name but a few.

Well, Windows Media Player 9 has the ability to look at the file and decide if it has the codec available on your PC. If this fails you should get an error that says:

"The XXXX codec is needed to play this file"

The XXXX sequence here is the "FourCC" (Four character code) Once you have this XXXX code go to this website The FourCC's and match the code against the list of AVI codec's you can download. (These codes are not just limited to AVI codec's...) Microsoft also has an archived page on the FourCC's

You also need to make sure you have admin privileges and that your Internet security settings are set to Medium.

Codec Information Appliance

Another great way of getting information about which codec you might need is to use Gspot. This excellent FREE utility allows you to establish what you need to play your AVI file from its database of over 350 AVI codec's. It can also help identify problems with your AVI file too.

If you just want to find the Audio and Video codec's installed on your Windows XP machine read this article to discover how:

http://www.updatexp.com/windows-xp-codecs.html

SHERLOCK - The Codec Detective!

Need to find what codec's are installed on your computer? Then YOU NEED this FREE utility:

http://www.updatexp.com/sherlock-codec-detective.html


Windows Media Player DVD Plugin's

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# For the Windows XP - Operating System

Corel dvd player for windows mediaDVD XPack gives you the same technology at a fraction of the price as WinDVD, the world's leading DVD player, used by over 125 million people! FULL integration with Windows Media Center or Windows Media Player 9, 10 or 11. NVIDIA PureVideo technology support for superb picture clarity, and precise, vivid colors on any display!

FLAWLESS DVD playback every time...

 

Get this DVD plug-in and start enjoying DVDs in WMP with the:

DVD XPack for Windows XP Users   - USA & Canada Website

DVD XPack for Windows XP Users  - United Kingdom Website

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# For the Windows Vista - Operating System

Cyberlink dvd player for windows mediaThis windows media player plug-in for Windows Vista delivers the kind of outstanding performance you would expect from CyberLink, one of the leaders in DVD playback software. Access all your favorite Windows Media Player features, now with built-in support for DVDs! PowerDVD SE for Windows Vista ensures the best possible quality for watching movies with Windows Media Player.

 

Get this DVD plug-in and start enjoying your DVDs in WMP with:

PowerDVD SE for Windows Vista (Click HERE!) - All Countries

Need a DVD Player with More Advanced features?

The windows media player DVD decoder not enough for you?

If you are looking for a dedicated DVD player with advanced features then look no further than WinDVD 2010 (Standard and Pro editions) - the worlds most popular DVD and Video software for the Windows XP / Windows Vista and Windows 7 computer!

October 2009 sees the very latest version packed with features in two versions to suit any demanding user: 

WinDVD 2010 

For more information visit: Corel US Website OR  Corel United Kingdom Website OR Corel Canada Website ..and click the "Standard" or "Pro" tabs!

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Trouble Free PC Security?


PowerSuite 2011 has Now arrived...

This is the most powerful boot utility disk. When your computer crashes, you cannot enter Windows, or you want to work under boot environment, this is the NO. 1 choice.

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Problems with windows media player?

FREE - Codec Utility

SHERLOCK - The Codec Detective. Your FREE utility for checking the codec's on your windows PC

Windows Media 10 Player Video Settings

Need to adjust the video contrast/hue etc. in Windows media Player 10? Find out how in this article.

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Need to understand your options with DRM in Windows Media Player 10?, find out more here....

C00d11cd Error

Learn to troubleshoot this "general" error message when trying to use Windows Media Player.

Looking for codec svcd

Windows Media Player 9 allows you to playback many different media types after installing the correct codec. SVCD playback is no exception! Find out what you need to download in this article...

WMP.DLL error messages

Simple advice on how to troubleshoot the WMP.DLL error messages in Windows Media Player.

WMPDXM.DLL error messages

Simple advice on how to troubleshoot the WMPDXM.DLL error messages in Windows Media Player.

Kind Regards

Marc Liron                    

Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP (2004-2010)
http://www.marcliron.com

 

Get testking 642-982 training to keep your registries protected and secure. Download testking EX0-101 tutorials and testking 640-816 study guides to get hand on experience in system troubleshooting.

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COMMON Errors:

 

0xC0000005


0x8024402c


0x800A138F


0x8007007E


0x80072EE2


0x80072EFD


800C0008


0x8DDD0018


0xc00d1199


8004022f


80040154


0x800B0004


0x80070005


c00d11cd