TMPGEnc cannot open AVI file or unsupported

[DRP]

I'm getting this message when trying to select an AVI file as input for the video source in TMPGEnc. The AVI is DivX.

It plays perfectly in WMP 6.4.
I have all the correct codecs installed as required by AVIcodec.
I am running the latest version of TMPGEnc Plus.
I have DivX Pro 5.0.5
DirectShow is at the top of the priority list with a value of 1 in the VFAPI plug-in list in TMPGEnc.
I can open the file in VirtualDub or GoldWave and successfully extract the audio.

Any ideas why this might be happening? I've tried everything I could find in the guides and have now run out of things to try.

[Tommyknocker]

Since you can open it in Virtual Dub, have you tried frameserving?

[DRP]

No I haven't. I admit to not knowing what that means - I've never needed to do it before. I have the AVI open in VirtualDub v1.5.4 right now. Is it that "Start frame server" option under File that you mean?

[Tommyknocker]

That is the option, but let me give you the link to how to configure your system for frameservice.

[DRP]

Thanks. I'm following these instructions now. I'll report back whether it was successful or not.

[DRP]

Thank you Tommyknocker, this works. I can now open the video in TMPGEnc as per normal.

I have a question though - why did I have to go through this procedure in the first place? I don't understand what is so unusual or special about this DivX file to make me have to open it in this round-about way?

Is it a failing of the AVI file itself or of TMPGEnc itself that causes this?

[Tommyknocker]

I only wish I knew. It has been attributed to programs that contain their own codecs, to certain programs that do not encode with the codec in question correctly. Hopefully, one of the gurus here can give you a more permanent solution, as I have only given you a work around. Ladies and gentlemen, can you help us?