How do I tell if req'd Codecs & .exe are on my computer?

4th Jul 2004 21:51 #1

Member

Hi - newbie here with my first post.

I'm obviously new to this and am overwhelmed by the amount of information I need to learn as well as the amount of information that is available at this site -- Glad I found this place! After nearly drowning in the plethora of opinions, favorites, and alternatives, I thought I would keep my first attempt at backing up a DVD fairly quick and simple:

I've downloaded AnyDVD trial and plan to download DVD Copy 2 for my first attempt. At Intervideo's site I noted that Copy 2 requires DirectX 9 and Windows Media Format be loaded. My question is this:

Is there a quick way for me to find out if my computer already has these two programs loaded perhaps as part of my ATI AIW package or perhaps my Waveterminal control panel? And more generally, how can I tell what Codecs are loaded? I've read throught the documentation for my system and can't tell. Could it cause conflicts if I were to download them and install them if they were already loaded?

When I had the computer built, I specifically asked them not to load all of the bundled software that came with the cards. So they loaded just the basics -- Catalyst disk for the ATI AIW 9800 Pro and the drivers/control panel for the Waveterminal soundcard. (The tech also loaded the game "Morrowind" that was bundled with the AIW because he wanted to play it while they waited for my sound card to come in)

System specs: P4 3.0 GHz 800 FSB, Two 200 GB Hard drives on separate IDE channels, ATI AIW 9800 Pro, Waveterminal Sound card with MIO/DIO, Sony DRU 530 burner, AOpen DVD ROM drive, running XP Pro.

Once I get confidence in the simpler procedures, then I'll start studying the more complex capture-edit-author guides. Thanks in advance and I look forward to participating in this forum a great deal as I learn.

Britt

Always looking to learn something new.

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4th Jul 2004 23:10 #2

redwudz

Mod Neophyte

For checking codecs, I find AVIcodec will tell you what's on your system. Avoid the codec packs, they usually load too many codecs that can cause problems. If you have a video file that doesn't work, drop it into AVIcodec and it will tell you one you need. Gspot is also good for this.

For checking your drives and your direct X version, I like Neroinfotool 207. It will give you a lot of information about your system, like whether PIO or DMA is on for your drives, etc. Very handy. You may need to do a Google search for it, but it's at the Nero/ahead website.

Windows media format is probably on the computer as part of Windows. If you have the Windows media player, you probably already have what you need. If not, they are at the Microsoft site.