KLCP detects broken codecs, should I remove them?

[lascetic]

Hello. I have a question over the installation of k-lite codec package. When installing or uninstalling it, it detects several codecs as broken. These are related to Sony Vegas and to TracaxPC (video editing software) and asks me if I want to remove them. I don't, as I don't see why these codecs should be broken, especially when both the aforementioned programs were installed only recently (this week). However, as I am one of those persons who like to remove all the rubbish from their computer, I would like to ask if anyone knows whether it is safe to do so or not.

[hech54]

Stop using K-Crap.
Problem solved.

[lascetic]

I use it because it makes wmp more functional. I can play many audio files like flac that otherwise I cannot and they appear in wmp's library which I prefer because of the folder view. Then I get thumbnails for all types of video which I find useful. Anyway that doesn't answer as to whether the codecs are actually broken or not. I know many people don't approve the codec packs but that is only matter of opinion. To me k-lite hasn't caused any trouble yet.

[davexnet]

There's a program called filmerit you can try; it checks the codecs if you'd like a second opinion.
http://paul.glagla.free.fr/filmerit_en.htm

[lascetic]

There's a program called filmerit you can try; it checks the codecs if you'd like a second opinion.
http://paul.glagla.free.fr/filmerit_en.htm

Hey davexnet. Thanks for filmerit. I ran it and found no errors, although I am not sure if the codecs from vegas are listed. Anyway I don't recognize them. K-lite codec tool shows all sony codecs as broken, all with a similar description as the example bellow:

Description: Sony ExpressFX Chorus
File name: <unknown>
CLSID: {00000000-0F56-11D2-9887-00A0C969725B}
Merit: unknown
Status: broken
Reason: Missing required registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00000000-0F56-11D2-9887-00A0C969725B}

Description: Sony ExpressFX Delay
File name: <unknown>
CLSID: {00000001-0F56-11D2-9887-00A0C969725B}
Merit: unknown
Status: broken
Reason: Missing required registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00000001-0F56-11D2-9887-00A0C969725B}

GSpot doesn't show any problematic codecs as well, but again I don't see vegas codecs listed (or not recognize them).

[davexnet]

I have some Sony products installed also. I found the entry, and see that it is associated with file
sfxpfx2.dll. On my system it's at location \program files\sony\shared plug-ins\audio\

Search your system for this file (your location may be different, mine is in XP, 32 bit OS)
If you find it, try re-registering. From the command prompt
issue these commands (substitute the path with the path where you found the file):

CD \program files\sony\shared plug-ins\audio\ (press enter)
regsvr32 sfxpfx2.dll (press enter)

If the file is not on your system, leaving the entry in the registry will not cause any problems.

[Island_Dweller]

The Sony codecs are probably meant to be used inside their application (in your case, Vegas). Try uninstalling Vegas and run your k-lite codec tool again. If the codecs no longer appear broken, re-install Vegas.

I will suggest however that you use use something less invasive and more modern, like LAVFilters.

[aedipuss]

why would anyone trust a crappy codec pack to determine if vegas has working codecs? doesn't make any sense, as codec packs in general are garbage.

[lascetic]

I have some Sony products installed also. I found the entry, and see that it is associated with file
sfxpfx2.dll. On my system it's at location \program files\sony\shared plug-ins\audio\

Search your system for this file (your location may be different, mine is in XP, 32 bit OS)
If you find it, try re-registering. From the command prompt
issue these commands (substitute the path with the path where you found the file):

CD \program files\sony\shared plug-ins\audio\ (press enter)
regsvr32 sfxpfx2.dll (press enter)

If the file is not on your system, leaving the entry in the registry will not cause any problems.

The file is not on the system and all vegas shared plugins are x64, so my guess is that those entries are leftovers from previous versions of vegas. Thanks davexnet. That was really helpful.

Thank you everyone for your advices. I will probably try Island_Dweller's suggestion at some point. At the moment I'm in the middle of a vegas project, so I will not mess about, since the entries don't seem to cause any trouble.

[Hoser Rob]

I use [klite] because it makes wmp more functional...

I cannot think of a better reason to stop using a wretched program (ie. wmp) than having to use an external codec pack known to cause instability ... just to be able to play file formats that are totally standard and common.

It's funny. The hacks who made k-lite are telling you that the codecs associated with sony vegas (which is one of the genuinely good programs) are bad? That's a big red flag.

Microsoft tech support specifically says that you should not install any 3rd party codec packs on a windows 7 system. What I did under win7 was yank all that crap, use codec tweak tool to repoint everything back to directshow, and only use programs that don't need that nonsense.

One thing I have to wonder is, if microsoft doesn't think you should use those crap codecs, why can any program installer change the windows registry like that with zero warning? This is a big reason I'm a linux user now. It's not that simple for some 3rd rate hack coder to remap the whole system.

[lascetic]

I use [klite] because it makes wmp more functional...

I cannot think of a better reason to stop using a wretched program (ie. wmp) than having to use an external codec pack known to cause instability ... just to be able to play file formats that are totally standard and common.

It's funny. The hacks who made k-lite are telling you that the codecs associated with sony vegas (which is one of the genuinely good programs) are bad? That's a big red flag.

Many times I thought of giving up on wmp, but the way I store my music makes the folder view structure that wmp uses the most convenient way to me for viewing and accessing it. I have tried foobar and musicbee which are both amazing players but none of them has the folder view as compact and with the artwork visible so similar to windows explorer as wmp. So I'm stuck with it.

Now, I was also surprised with k-lite detecting the vegas codecs as broken, but I'm coming to believe (with the help of the people posting on this thread) that the ones detected might be leftovers from previous vegas versions installations (probably a (x32) one). I can't claim I know a lot about codecs and it might be harmful to install codec packages, but I have being using k-lite some years now and they haven't caused me any apparent problems. However, I can understand that one might have had a bad experience and I appreciate the advice. Maybe I will reconsider installing a package in the future and go only for the individual needed codecs. Thanks