MP42 decompressor not found

I sent a friend of mine an 'avi' movie. She said that she couldn't open it.

She said the movie took forever to load and then said "unable to read video; MP42 decompressor not found. But the audio of a baby crying/screaming came through.

Where can she get the information to put on her computer so she can open this file.

Thank you for your help.

Jean

 

Try the mpeg4 codec here (with directions):

http://hackdownload.free.fr/download/div-x/codec/mpeg4x.zip

http://video-codec.8m.com/codecs.htm

or, if that link isn't working, get the mpeg4 codec here:

http://www.freepctech.com/pc/002/files011.shtml

 

Hi Abraxas,
I did try to follow the links you sent. Two of them did not work and the one I did download didn't make a difference. Windows media player still won't open it. Do you have any other ideas?

Jean

 

A codec that has solved a lot of peoples' problems with avi's is ffDShow.

If this doesn't solve your immediate problem, maybe it will solve a future one.

http://osdn.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/ffdshow/ffdshow-20030424.exe

The Microsoft codec pack is here, and includes support for mp42:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/0/3/a0398036-25b9-410c-b371-c59957c1b0f4/WM9Codecs.exe

So this avi file plays OK on your machine but not on your friend's? Have you installed any additional codecs other than the ones that come with XP?

You could also compare your list of installed codecs with the ones on the other computer. I have 2 that mention mpeg4 specifically: MS mpeg4 and the XVid mpeg4 codec ( http://www.moviecodec.com/download/xvid112502.exe ).

Use GSpot to find out both what specific codec the movie uses and whether it is installed on a particular machine:

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/gspot22.zip

 

Hi Abraxas,

I was able to get the avi movie to play on my friend's machine. She was trying to get it playing while in AOL. Once we downloaded it to her desktop, we had no problem.

Her computer and my big computer both are running Windows XP so we were able to open the avi file. We have not added any other codecs to our machines. We don't even know what they are.

BUT, now I'm trying to get it to open on my older LAPTOP which runs Windows 98 SE. So far I have been unsuccessful. Maybe I should give up but I just want to know why it won't play.

I did try the sites you sent:
http://osdn.dl.sourceforge.net/sour...ow-20030424.exe
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...4/WM9Codecs.exe
but neither of them worked.

I didn't compare the list of installed codes from my XP computer to my laptop because I don't know where to go to do this as you suggested.

I did download GSpot to find out the specific codec the movie uses but I'm sorry, I'm new at this and it makes no sense to me.

Here's some information that the GSpot shows:
Video Format - Codec
(4cc)mp42 (Name) S-Mpeg 4 version 2
(Stat) Codec NOT installed

Audio Format
Codec Name: 0x0055(MP3) ID'd as MPEG-1 Layer 3
(Stat) Codec is installed

In my opinion it looks like (S-Mpeg 4 version 2) is not installed but where do I go to get it.

Thanks for all your patience and help.

Jean

 

Try www.divx.com

Its a avi player but when you install it it has the option to just install the codecs. I used to get the same no visual but sound problem but since installing the divx codecs i have never had a problem with avi movies.

 

Hi,

I did go to the www.divx.com site and it looks like I have to pay for it. Is there a free version somewhere? I don't want to pay for it to play this one AVI file.

Thanks,
Jean

 

Sorry, I found the free player. I will download it and see what happens.
Jean

 

The Mpeg4 codec is included in the download for WMP9 codecs I posted above. The links worked fine for me. What happened when you tried them? The download should start immediately.

 

Hi, Jean ~

(That makes me feel clean!)

You don't need to pay for anything. Here is the direct download for DivX® Video 5.0.5 for Windows. It has the all the codecs you need and will incorporate itself directly into your current Windows Media Player. Do NOT use the DivX player that comes with it. During installation, you may be presented w/ the option to install the player --> choose the option to not install it. The codecs will be properly used by your existing Windows Media Player.

 

BruceKrymow
I did download just the codecs and not the player. Now I have in my program files a folder saying DivX Pro Codec with the following options, Decoder Configuration, DivX Help, EKG, Read Me. How do I get these codecs to install on my computer?

Jean

 

They are installed.

 

Hi, Jean ~

What Choco said!

If you ran the set up from your desktop, they are installed automatically. Ferthehelluvit, reboot and then open the AVI w/ WMP and you should be in business.

 

Hi Everyone,
I give up. This movie will just not play on my laptop running Windows 98. I think something must be wrong with my laptop. Let's forgot the whole thing, it isn't worth the bother.

When I did try to open the movie, I again received an error message saying: Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The file is either corrupt or the Player does not support the format you are trying to play.

This is the same message I have received every time. And it can't be corrupt as the file is playing on all the other computers.

Thanks for all the excellent help. Forget the whole thing, it isn't worth the trouble.

Jean

 

Hi, Jean ~

I refuse to give up!

Media Player > Help > About

What version of WMP do you have??

 

OK, we'll try again. I have Windows Media Player Version 9.00.00.2980.

I also have WinAmp and Real Player installed on this laptop.

Jean

 

Hi, Jean ~

You or your friend

You can't play it with WMP9 & w/ the d/l DivX??

 

My friend's computer plays it fine now.

It is my laptop computer that the video won't play. I have tried everything that was suggested in the previous postings.

My laptop has only 64 mb RAM. Could this me the problem.

I think now I am having problems with the WMP. I tried to play another avi file and it won't play either. Maybe I should uninstall the Windows Media Player and start all over again. What do you think.

Jean

 

Hi, Jean ~

64MB?? 64MB is required just to install it, with a minimum of 128MB recommended. Here are the other system requirements for WMP9.

Also, the MS site on several of its WMP9 pages and at Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Windows Media 9 Series reviewed explain that in Win98, you will simply not get access to many of the WMP9 features - they were designed for XP and w/ plenty of RAM, HD, and processing power.

 

Thanks for sending the sites, Bruce. I looked them over and decided to forget about playing this video on my Win 98 machine. At least we now know why this couldn't be and we will let it rest there.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Jean