Cannot play .wmv files from Microsoft

[Mike99]

I’m having problems playing .wmv video files from Microsoft’s website. I’m running Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit and have done all the updates.

For example, in this link
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/windows-media-center
I click on “Watch the video” and try to use Windows Media Player. I get a message that it cannot play the file & the player might not support the file type or codec that was used.

It also will not play using Media Player Classic Home Cinema. It will play using VLC but it takes a long time to start. VLC indicates the video codec is Windows Media Video VC1 (WVC1). Mediainfo only lists the file as 264 bytes, no other data.

Here’s another link, click on “Watch the demo”.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Demo-Burning-TV-shows-to-DVD-using-Wi...s-Media-Center

Again WMP and MPC-HC will not play. VLC will but it takes a while to start & it states the video codec is Windows Media Player 9 (WMV3). Mediainfo only lists the file as 150 bytes.

I can play .wmv files from other sources. Is there any reason Microsoft’s files will not play?

[yoda313]

First impression is you've got a corrupt file. I would download it again and try that way.

Edit - ok I tried your second link and I only got a 150 byte file by right clicking and saving it. So that didn't play obviously.

For right now I would use a screen recorder program to record it in realtime and then use that file for whatever you need it for.

Programs like streamtransport and getflv should be able to get you the original file. HOwever at the moment both of my versions of those programs aren't working properly. Perhaps somebody else can get them going.


Also I would try searching youtube for that demos title and see if its been put on youtube and then you can use any youtube downloader to download that program.

Good luck.

[johns0]

The links are bad due to microsoft.I tried to view them and got the same results.

[yoda313]

The links are bad due to microsoft.I tried to view them and got the same results.

Actually the darndest thing is I can watch the stream of the file itself with no problem.

Its just the download is faulty. Thats why I suggest using a screen recorder program for now if you can't get anything else working.

You can try streamtransport or getflv. For some reason getflv won't load www.microsoft.com. And it seems like I don't have an updated version of streamtransport to get it working.

[bat999]

...

[edDV]

Are you trying to play wmv-hd or something else?

Bing "wmv-hd demo" and pages of demos show up. do these play? No problem here.

Silverlight (a later standard) requires a decoder download.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=silverlight+&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=silverlight+&sc=8-12&sp=-1&sk=

[Mike99]

Once the second video starts playing in VLC I can go to Tools > Media Informatio and the last line which states the location is :
mms://wm.microsoft.com/ms/woh/033_wmc_burntv.wmv?MSWMExt=.asf

Does this mean that VLC is going out to Microsoft's website in order to find & play the video? That's pretty amazing, & would explain why the other players cannot play the downloaded file on my PC.

But I still don't understand why Windows Media Player cannot play the file when I am on Microsoft's website. If the links are bad then how does VLC find the file?

I am not trying to play wmv-hd, at least as far as I know.

[mgh]

I have XP SP2 with WMP 9 which does not play the first file, but plays the second.
If I download the first file, it plays in vlc.

This from MS addresses the issue for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942423

[jman98]

But I still don't understand why Windows Media Player cannot play the file when I am on Microsoft's website.

Stuff like this is why I tell people to avoid WMP. It's a piece of crap.

[Mike99]

I just tried & amazingly both videos play from the Microsoft website if I go there using IE8. I guess their website does not like Firefox.

[mgh]

I have IE 8, the first video does not play in it.

[Mike99]

I have IE 8, the first video does not play in it.

It works for me in both the 32 bit & 64 bit versions of IE8.

Hopefully somebody can jump in with an explanation.