Codec management - is there a way

[RUPowers]

I seem be having a Codec problem that has caused my video capture (Gigapocket) to misbehave. However, I have no idea how or if I can fix the problem.

I have spoken to other 'experts' on the Sony line of desltops. They agree the problem is likely codec. So my question is this:

1. Where are codecs located?
2. How can I manipulate them (i.e. remove them)
3. Is there any codec management software (I know that one is a stretch)
4. Anything else useful you can tell me about codecs.

More on the problem: Sony is picky and Gigapocket more so. I have loaded on other software to help me record PERSONAL video tapes and 8mm tapes to a digitized format. I have loaded on programs like Nandub, Gordian Knot, AVI2DVD, TMPGEnc, etc. Also there was a 'codec package' I used called Nemo. I think one of those programs (Nemo most likely) loaded on a codec that has caused a conflict with Gigapocket. I am trying to figure out which one.

If I 'remove' Nemo (windows add/remove) what might happen? I would assume I could overcome and problems created by removing by just reinstalling it - but I wanted to check.

Any help would be appreciated. I understand what codecs do at the basic level, but I have never worked with them in detail before.

Thanks
RU

[RUPowers]

Does anyone have codec info?

[bunyip]

Modern Operating Systems treat codecs as 'devices' and provides the usual device control for these.

Depending on your OP SYS (I'll assume either WIN2000 or XP), go to 'Settings' -> 'Control Panel' -> 'System Properties' -> 'Hardware' -> 'Device Manager' -> 'Sound Video and Games Controllers' -> 'Video Codecs' -> 'Properties'.

Here you will see a list of all codecs installed on your system, you can remove them seperately for trouble-shooting.

[rixware]

bunyip -- How can I get to this info in Win98SE?

+

[rixware]

Nevermind, let me answer it myself (after much poking around):

Control Panel -> Multimedia -> Devices -> Video Compression Codecs

+

[rixware]

And going one step further, here's a little utility which gives a very detailed list of what's installed:

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

+

[Gazorgan]

Nimo breaks a LOT. I've done more system restores/re-installations because of Nimo. I use it only for Audio codecs,a dn only a few of those. There is a way to fix codec issues, but you have to be patient and pay attention. Installing a codec creates an ambigous INI file in you system folder. You can change codecs by changing the INI files. However, the names have no relation to anything, and are different on each computer. I've had to manually cut out my BTWin drivers this way.

The problems arise where 2 or more (like 5 for DivX's) codecs all have the same dll name. Un-installing one codec doesn't mean the DLL is gone, and re-installing a different codec may not save the new dll (newer files tend not to be overwritten).

Then there's the issue with 'where' the dll is, that is you can have 3 different DLL's in 3 different locations. If all the DLL's are in the search path, then which one get's used may depend on several things. Un-installing will remove a registry setting, but the other 2 dll's are still there, and may still be used. Hving the DLL in the same folder as the application you are using may override the system setting. It get's messy.

Needless to say, virgin installs are the only way to stay clean.