what codecs do I need?

[johnsees]

Hello, everyone.
My wife's laptop died (dead hd) and I had to rebuild from scratch. I'm having a problem getting DVDs to play. I downloaded some codec packs and get varying results with each one. Where I'm at right now is that online videos (youtube etc) play just fine. With DVDs, depending on which codec pack I try, I either get no video or a real weird audio situation: The beginning part of the video, where the production company names are, has great sound, but the actual soundtrack is so low it's not even usable.
It doesn't seem like it should be this hard. What codec packs do I need to watch DVDs?
Thanks

[filmboss80]

No, no, no, no codec packs!!!!!!! It's a great way to screw up you system from the onset. Download only the codec you need. For playing DVDs on Windows Media Player, you could just download Stinkys MPEG 2 Codec; but better yet, download ONE of these media players (as an alternative to Windows Media Player): https://www.videohelp.com/tools/VLC_media_player or https://www.videohelp.com/tools/Media_Player_Classic.

No codec packs. Period.

As for your audio problem, open your audio mixer controller from the Windows Control Panel to make sure you have enough volume.

[jagabo]

The beginning part of the video, where the production company names are, has great sound, but the actual soundtrack is so low it's not even usable.

Your AC3 decoder or system mixer is set up for a center channel speaker but you don't have one. Change the speaker setup to stereo.

[johnsees]

Okay, well, it's working now, but online videos (music videos and also home-made stuff) are much louder than DVDs (both home-made ones and store-bought ones). It doesn't seem to be the case on my other computer. (I checked and it's already set to stereo. System volume is plenty loud.) Do you guys have this problem?
Thanks

[jagabo]

Go to your AC3 decoder and turn the gain up +20 dB.

[lordsmurf]

You just need VLC and Adobe Flash. That's really it.

Installing a codec pack is about the same as throwing the new laptop in the bathtub.

[Calidore]

"Some codec packs"? Yikes.

Analogy: Remember at sumer camp soaking someone's clothes and tying them into a knot? That's what a codec pack can do to your system. Installing multiple codec packs is like tying everyone's clothes into one random ball, bringing all of camp to a halt.

If you need a universal decoder, use ffdshow; it's a single quiet, well-behaved program. Installing (ffdshow + Media Player Classic) and VLC will cover pretty much everything you can find, and painlessly.

Best,

Calidore

[johnsees]

Well, actually, what I meant was that I tried them one at a time and uninstalled each one before trying the next one.
Thanks for the help.

[neomaine]

Well, actually, what I meant was that I tried them one at a time and uninstalled each one before trying the next one.
Thanks for the help.

Sorry, but its unlikely that everything uninstalled correctly and there's even less of a chance that they uninstalled completely.

Since you're coming from a recent rebuild, I'd start from scratch. Its the only way to be sure.

Personally, its MPCHC for me.

[Vladrial]

Hello Johnsees,

Just install VLC and K-Lite Mega Codec Pack on your Laptop and you should be good to go ( Note that uninstall all other packs before this, if possible reinstall windows after backing up your data ). For VLC use full installation so for K-Lie Mega Codec Pack ( Note the word Mega ). Never install multiple codec packs, they will cause system wide conflicts. Note that VLC is not a codec pack, it uses its own library independent of Windows Directshow Codec Architecture so it can be safely installed alongside K-Lite Codec Pack. For K-Lite installation use can choose the decoders you want to use for a Codec. You can change them if you want but the defaults are best in 99.9% cases and change only if you know what you are doing. It will also install MPC-HC a great media player ( Select Lots of Stuff with player option ). Note that during installation you will get an option to enable a DXVA decoder for H.264 and VC-1 Codec. Enable for H.264 only. Hopefully all these steps will solve your problem. If not check your drivers and make sure they are up-to date, you will find these on the LAPTOP MANUFACTURER website.

Johnsees next time when you post also post details of your hardware so we can help you more.

Hopefully your problem gets solved, if not post again, get help from some geek friend nearby. Don't worry the above steps will likely solve your problem.

Good Luck,

Vladrial, Forum Memeber

[neomaine]

Hello Johnsees,

Just install VLC and K-Lite Mega Codec Pack on your Laptop and you should be good to go ( Note that uninstall all other packs before this, if possible reinstall windows after backing up your data ). For VLC use full installation so for K-Lie Mega Codec Pack ( Note the word Mega ). Never install multiple codec packs, they will cause system wide conflicts. Note that VLC is not a codec pack, it uses its own library independent of Windows Directshow Codec Architecture so it can be safely installed alongside K-Lite Codec Pack. For K-Lite installation use can choose the decoders you want to use for a Codec. You can change them if you want but the defaults are best in 99.9% cases and change only if you know what you are doing. It will also install MPC-HC a great media player ( Select Lots of Stuff with player option ). Note that during installation you will get an option to enable a DXVA decoder for H.264 and VC-1 Codec. Enable for H.264 only. Hopefully all these steps will solve your problem. If not check your drivers and make sure they are up-to date, you will find these on the LAPTOP MANUFACTURER website.

Johnsees next time when you post also post details of your hardware so we can help you more.

Hopefully your problem gets solved, if not post again, get help from some geek friend nearby. Don't worry the above steps will likely solve your problem.

Good Luck,

Vladrial, Forum Memeber

Horrible recommendation.

If you're using a media player such as MPCHC or VLC then you don't need ANY 'codec packs' as they will use their internal ones. All of your PLAYING needs are taken care of. Now if you want to encode something, get only what you need. You want a general purpose tool, use ffdshow.

To recommend a 'codec pack' is stupid.
To recommend a 'codec pack' just to install a media player is stupid.
To recommend 'uninstall other packs, then install mega pack but first reinstall Windows' is beyond stupid.

(I hope you haven't written any bomb diffusion guides lately. I can see it now, "Cut the red wire, then the white wire. Wait 30 seconds. But first, cut the blue wire.)

[lordsmurf]

Just install ... K-Lite Mega Codec Pack on your Laptop and you should be good to go

Or simply throw the new laptop under the car and drive over it.

If you're going to intentionally screw up your computer, at least have some fun with it.

[Kaizen 32]

How does Klite screw up a computer? Just curious.

[jagabo]

It installs dozens of DirectShow filters including file readers/splitters, codecs, colorspace converters, etc. gathered from many different individual codecs. Many of these contain components that are incompatible with each other and probably some of the dozens that are on your system already. When it uninstalls it doesn't uninstall cleanly. It's a recipe for disaster.

[filmboss80]

I'm curious where people get the idea that they need codec packs. Is there some website that recommends it? Word of mouth? Where does the idea come from in the first place? It would be nice to know how this keeps happening.

[guns1inger]

Yes, some web sites do actually recommend them, including WinAVI support (who also used to - and may still do - recommend users come here for video assistance), and most usenet/bt/similar source sites do as well.

[lordsmurf]

I'm curious where people get the idea that they need codec packs. Is there some website that recommends it? Word of mouth? Where does the idea come from in the first place? It would be nice to know how this keeps happening.

This place is full of dipshits that suggest codec packs: http://forums.techguy.org/72-multimedia/
Sad really, because the overall forum is decent.

If you want the big daddy of dumbass advice, visit http://answers.yahoo.com/
The information there makes Fox News look accurate and intelligent. Blind, ignorant and stupid sums up most people there, both the askers and answerers. Lots of kids and spammers, too.

And then pretty much anywhere that is full of warez and torrents. I don't really feel sorry for them. Screwing up their computers is karma, in my opinion.

[Vladrial]

K-Lite uses ffdshow the most. I think is simpler for a newbie to install a codec pack rather than install multiple codec in many steps. I myself don't use any codec packs. It MPC-HC for me.

[DarrellS]

AC-3 ACM Codec by fccHandler http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/AC3ACM/AC3ACM.zip

AC3Filter http://ac3filter.googlecode.com/files/ac3filter_1_63b.exe

Lame ACM MP3 Codec https://www.videohelp.com/download/lame3.98.4.zip

DivX http://www.divx.com/downloads/divx/1

DivX 3.11 Codec http://www.digital-digest.com/software/getdownload.php?sid=622&did=1&code=lHUa7ojF&dec...8f42ee261ba45f

ffdshow video encoder https://www.videohelp.com/download/ffdshow_rev3507_20100707_clsid.exe (only set up VFW)

LEAD MCMP/MJPEG Codec (VFW) http://dw.com.com/redir?edId=3&siteId=4&oId=3000-13631_4-10043871&ontId=13631_4&spi=23...31014cc665b010

Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 VCM http://download3.videohelp.com/wmv9VCMsetup.exe

x264vfw - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec http://mirror01.x264.nl/x264/revision1683/x264.exe

Xvid MPEG-4 Video Codec http://download.divxmovies.com/XviD-1.2.2-07062009.exe


MPC-HC https://www.videohelp.com/download/mplayerc_homecinema_x86_v1.3.1249.0.zip




ffdshow VFW cinfiguration...

[neomaine]

K-Lite uses ffdshow the most. I think is simpler for a newbie to install a codec pack rather than install multiple codec in many steps. I myself don't use any codec packs. It MPC-HC for me.

Uses ffdshow 'the most'? Simpler for a newbie? Don't use packs yourself? And yet you recommend them. You went beyond stupid and are running right past moronhood.