How can i find what codec is used on an AVI file?

[AznBoy119]

I've downloaded an AVI movie but I can't play it. It said decompressor isn't found. I'm thinking I don't have the codec, is there anyway i can find out what codec is used?

[marcusaxavier]

Since I'm also a newbie, I might be wrong in this, but I thought that .avi files don't have codecs since they are uncompressed. A technique you might try is to be connected to the internet at the time and open the file in Windows Media Player. Hopefully, the WMP should find the codec for you. Another idea is to track down the author of the avi, which might be difficult, if not impossible.

[Scorpion]

you can find nearly all codecs from microsoft.com just have a browse ... and there is a avi codec ... if u have any trouble post youre e-mail on here and ill send it u via the mail

[tinmancp]

no really. Most AVI nowdays are base on the divx codec. Go to divx.com to get the divx 5.0 codec.

to see what codec is being used, open up the avi in mplayer2, this is a stripped down version of wmplayer (windows media player) on win2k and winxp machine.

[AznBoy119]

thanks tinmancp. I tried playing the file with mplayer and it worked. It still told me the codec was unknown but at least i could play it, thanks

[pinoy2201]

Now AznBoy if but if u do encode those avi files u might have trouble becuase the version 5.0 has a Anti Piracy things on it so u kight have a black screen when encodeing so i suggest u get v4.12