MPEG-2 and Windows Media Player

[tenznet]

I have a movie in svcd, and have also installed an MPEG-2 codec. So now the mpg plays in Window Media Player 9-latest build, but I can't adjust the brightness/contrast or color or any video setting in WMP9. Is this suppose to be like this? I ended up taking the codec out and installed Power DVD. Now Power DVD plays the movie fine, and can adjust the video controls fine there, but the picture in WMP9 looked better (sharper, richer- just needs to be brighter), now only if I can adjust the video controls to brighten it. From what I have read in this forum Power DVD should actually play the video better, yes/no? Just annoys me now that WMP9 video controls won't work with SVCD. Divx movies play fine with video controls. Any suggestions? TIA.

[Prospero424]

I don't know of any way of doing this with WMP9. You have to remember that this is not the final version of WMP9 as well as the fact that MS iis concentrating on Windows Media formats (Because they like the digital rights management) as well as AVI, which has been the standard for PCs for years. Also remember that MS doesn't always make the best software. Looking at all of this, it doesn't surprise me that MPEGs don't work properly with WMP9. I personally find myself using the ATi FIle Player for the vast majority of movies I watch, it always works and looks great , is fast, and free with an ATI card. If you don't have an ATi card, I would suggest Zoom Player, this is a very customizable, fast, stable player that also happens to be freeware. Try it out and see if you can adjust the brightness with this or one of the other free players out there. PowerDVD is a great program but it is focused on DVD playback more than anything else.

Anyway, just my 2 cents, let me know how it turns out.

Prospero

[keg]

Hey, I had the same problem with the Video Settings in Windows Media Player 8. Also, a friend of mine had the same problem too, ...the video settings just do not work anymore. He just reformatted his HD, but I do not think that's the solution. I don't think it's a problem with WMP 9, but am starting to wonder if the latest codecs have something to do with it. I loaded the latest "Nimo 5.0 Build 8" codec and the "divx 5.02 bundle". It's very frustrating that my Media Player 8 worked fine before. At least I think it might be from loading the new codecs and such, but don't know for sure. I also loaded some software since it worked correctly before. The two software programs were "VirtualDub" and "TMPGenc" used for AVI video conversion to VCD. I did get the software to work and converted the AVI's to VCD just fine. They worked on my DVD player, but now I seem to have problems with WMP 8 in general. Does anyone anywhere have any solutions to these Video Setting Problems/Issues? The Video Settings will not do anything! I can't seem to find any solution around forums or the internet, but have been finding people with similar problems like this. I tried to load WMP 9 but it just screwed my computer up more. I finally had to restore my system with XP's restore function. Any solutions anyone anywhere? Should we de-install WMP and install it again, or take out the codecs install again, or what? Maybe load Windows XP again? I'm lost for ideas!?

[keg]

One more thing...before WMP's Video Settings worked fine for ALL of my files, but now they only, and I stress ONLY work for the "file types" of "Window Media Audio/Video file"? Isn't that strange...

Any Suggestions/Solutions?

[tenznet]

keg, I think the problem is with the latest build of the Nimo pack - build 8. As soon as I uninstalled it and installed the previous build I had video control again for my mpeg and avi -divx coded movies. Although I still can't adjust the brightness of svcd movies. I'll just continue to use the powerDVD to play those, or atleast until I get a chance to try Zoom Player as prosper suggested.