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SHERLOCK - The Codec Detective!Created By Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP
Having Trouble With Video and Audio?
We *ALL* have
problems with Video and Audio files from time to time...even Digital
Media professionals like myself! One of the biggest
causes of this type of problem is "CODECS". (NB - If you
are not familiar with the term codecs you might want to read
my article on
codecs and WMP for background information) Audio and Video playback problems can often be caused by NOT having the correct codec installed on your computer, or even the wrong version installed... I, and many other Microsoft Digital Media MVP's help other users online, by troubleshooting their media related problems via the newsgroups such as the Microsoft Windows Media newsgroup. Now when we ask the person what codec's they have on their computer 99% of home users do NOT know... For example: ...if you are using Windows Media Player 9, 10 or 11 to watch DVD's on your computer using the low cost and Microsoft approved plug-in:
The
InterVideo DVD XPack
... do YOU know what codec is being used to play back the movie on your computer screen??? For the average home user finding this information was very difficult - UNTIL now that is! I noticed that there was no reliable utility that could: # Determine the codecs installed on a Windows XP computer # Check to see if any of the codec's were "BROKEN" (will be highlighted in RED....) # Export the data to a text file for technical support! # Was FAST to run on a PC and did NOT require installing... # SMALL enough for download by modem! ...So I created one! I call it: SHERLOCK - The Codec Detective The important thing to remember here is that YOU do NOT need to understand what this software DOES! You just RUN it, click the SAVE button and it CREATES the TEXT file automatically... All YOU do then is email the file OR "copy and paste" the contents of the file to whoever is providing you with technical support! Couldn't be easier!
The software is extremely small in size at 80Kb AND does NOT install itself onto your computer! Just download it and place it in a folder. When you require it just double click the file sherlock.exe and it will run - SIMPLE AS THAT... NO SPYWARE! NO ADWARE! NO COOKIES!
It is designed for Windows XP Home Edition & Windows XP Professional ONLY (but does work on Windows Vista) This is a free utility and I offer NO SUPPORT for the product but welcome any feedback and product improvement suggestions for future updates! Please use the general site CONTACT FORM. By downloading you are deemed to have accepted the "Warranty and Copyright Information" listed below... ---------------------------------------------------------- The Download Link: http://www.updatexp.com/sherlock (Or Try: www.1updatexp.com/sherlock.exe ) NB - Please read the warranty and copyright information at the end of this page! Known Issues: - On rare occasions printing out the codec list produces a list of all the codecs, but none of the attributes are printed out. What seems to happen is that the default printer settings are for portrait, but SHERLOCK attempts to print as landscape. The attributes would have printed out, but they're way over to the right and so don't. If this happens to you, SAVE as a text file and then print this if required. I will look as resolving this in the next version. - On a few installations SHERLOCK sometimes returns that Windows XP Pro is installed whereas Windows XP Home is installed. I will look as resolving this in the next version. Version History: Version 3.0 - Sometime in 2007
Want to see a feature in the NEXT version? let
me know! Version 2.0 - November 2004 - Getting the real
driver behind ACM/VCM codecs rather than using the "wrappers"
quartz.dll and qcap.dll. - Provide a "Please Wait..." window whilst scanning system. Version 1.1 - October 2004 - Better Version detection routines. - By default the first codec of the left side list box gets selected so that the right side "codec properties" window is not left empty at start-up. ------------------------------
The How To Play Your DVD's In Windows Media Player! The DVD XPack instantly adds DVD playback to Why Use It? BECAUSE:
The
InterVideo DVD XPack
(The
above link not working?
Click Here NOW works with Windows Vista too!
Kind Regards
Marc Liron -
Bio Other Websites By Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP News and Articles on Windows Vista: My Techie Blog: My Windows Technology Newsletter
---------------------------------------------------------- Warranty and Copyright Information
Because "SHERLOCK - The Codec Detective" is available for use free
of charge, there is no warranty for the software, to the
extent permitted by applicable law. Except when otherwise stated in
writing the copyright holders and/or other parties provide the
software "as is" without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
and the accuracy of the information contained within it. The
entire risk as to the quality and performance of the package is
with you. Should the software fail to work on your system, you
assume the cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction. "SHERLOCK - The Codec Detective" is copyright 2004, 2005 by Marc Liron. You may use this software free of charge either privately, in a commercial environment or in an educational institution. You may redistribute the package as is, and may keep copies of it on unlimited computers, but you may not redistribute a version which is modified in any way. If you have any questions about the proper use of this software, please get in touch with Marc Liron by using the CONTACT FORM | |||||||
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