Which format for WMP in XP

[monstermash]

I have a client who is looking for a video to play on a network of computers.
Each computer has XP Pro installed with Windows media player 9.
I have no option to install any other software/codecs on any of the systems.
It would be adventageous for the video to be stored on CD and played from a library (not from within the system) as public access is a part of his service.
No codec for mpeg2 is installed and after encoding with Windows media encoder to MPEG4 the video will still not play.
Autorun will be added to the disc for ease of use, as all the public will will be required to do is insert the disc an watch.
I have programs which will install players/codecs but admin controls will prevent this from happening.
The IT dept are slow and have little knowledge of audio visual products.
What other formats will WMP9 in XP Pro play, right out of the box.
Any help with this would be much appreciated as Im at a loss, I have little trouble with DVD/SVCD/VCD But this has me beat.

[tekkieman]

If Media Player 9 is installed, there's no reason for it not to play WMV from Media Encoder. What happens when you try to play WMV?

[BJ_M]

mpeg1 -- a universal format

[monstermash]

With The encoded file from Windows media encoder media player says format not supported codec missing.
As for MPEG1 I was hoping to achieve better quality.

[BJ_M]

try using wmv format version 8 instead of 9 ...

[tekkieman]

try using wmv format version 8 instead of 9 ...

[Soopafresh]

As long as you're only playing the media on those systems, you could encode at high rate, big size MPEG1

[monstermash]

Thats the best thing about this site.
You always get someone with the right answer.
Just tried it on one of my sytems with a clean install of XP Pro.
Works a treat.
How High Do you suggest I go?
4000-8000-?
It looks good at 4000 to me but the higher the better.

[BJ_M]

which ? wmv 8 or mpeg1 ?

wmv8 = 4400
mpeg1 = 6000

[BJ_M]

also - will you have enough space on the cd at those bit rates ?

[Poppa_Meth]

I'd recommend MPEG 1 as well. WMV "should" work fine, but I've seen too many computers now that have issues with WMV Playback. My own PC would not play WMV through WMP9 for a long time. Finally fixed in by installing WMP10, which wouldn't even open correctly and rolling back to WMP9 which then opened WMV files fine. Point is don't count on WMV working fine on every PC even though it should since MS made the damn format. I've never had an issue getting MPEG1 to play on any PC though. Its the safer of the two formats to go with if not the better quality.

[jimmalenko]

It would be adventageous for the video to be stored on CD and played from a library (not from within the system) as public access is a part of his service.
No codec for mpeg2 is installed and after encoding with Windows media encoder to MPEG4 the video will still not play.
Autorun will be added to the disc for ease of use, as all the public will will be required to do is insert the disc an watch.
I have programs which will install players/codecs but admin controls will prevent this from happening.
The IT dept are slow and have little knowledge of audio visual products.
What other formats will WMP9 in XP Pro play, right out of the box.
Any help with this would be much appreciated as Im at a loss, I have little trouble with DVD/SVCD/VCD But this has me beat.

Refer to this thread for a rundown of what I'm about to say:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=248279

I've got templates made up that will play any movie with Media Player Classic straight off a CD. Basically, anything Media Player Classic can play, will play. You can have it autorun with movie only, or autorun with main menu (if you want more than 1 clip on a CD). A simple HTML menu pops up on autorun if you choose the menu one. The files have been deleted off my server, but I'm pretty sure I've still got them at home somewhere (I'm at work ATM).

[monstermash]

Thanks very much for all the replies.
Ive encoded MPEG1 at 8000 and made it autorun.
Cant belive it looks so good (MPEG1).
It all fits on a CD as its only a short film about the demolition of three tower blocks (5min 34secs).
All help was much appreciated.