.avi not playing right, something wrong with codec?

[Skaterpro]

For all of my movies that are .avi on my computer, they don't play right. They play, but something weird happens. I think it has to do with a codec I have installed or it's not the right codec, or 2 codecs fighting with eachother??

Heres what happens:
The video plays, then it gets digital, kinda like pixel boxes in the video, then it plays good again, then it gets pixelized again in certain spots on the screen...

If you don't understand, I could get a screen capture program and show you a little .avi clip of it happening? :X

I have no idea what's wrong. Can someone help please?

[gitreel]

The files are corrupted.

[junkmalle]

You didn't specify but I'm guessing you're talking about DIVX and XVID AVI files. That sort of thing happens because of incompatabilities with MPEG4 codecs -- especially old XVID (pre 1.0 release) files. Try removing all your MPEG4 codecs (XVID, DIVX,3IVX, etc) and install only XVID 1.0.

[redwudz]

Another possibility is that you might be running out of system resources. Is your profle correct, with a 600 Celeron, 64MB memory and a 15G Hard drive? Of course then, you would have similar problems with MPEGs and other video files. Or it may be as gitreel says, corrupted files.

[Skaterpro]

Yes, my profile is correct, that's my specs.

They might be corrupted, but what makes them corrupted? See, I have this happen only to a few of my videos, 80% work fine, the other 20% are like that. I don't think it has anything to do with my resources :X maybe it might....

So I guess upgrade my machine eh?

[junkmalle]

Yes, my profile is correct, that's my specs.

I didn't think it was possible to run Windows XP with only 64MB of RAM. The first thing you should do is upgrade to at least 256 MB. That will cost you about $40 but will make a huge difference in overall performance.

[gitreel]

It is possible. You just disable some services and the fluff. I have intalled xp on many systems under 256 MB, and one using 64MB.

[junkmalle]

Skaterpro, the fairly new "Quarter Pixel" feature of DIVX and XVID can require more CPU power. Maybe the files you have trouble with use that feature.

[Skaterpro]

SOLUTION: I deleted all codecs and downloaded the newest WMP, then downloaded the xvid codec, and everything is wonderful! It turns out it wasn't my performance or resources after all...

Yes, It is possible to run XP on 64MB because I'm doing it right now? and...I didn't disable anything, everything is the way it was when I installed.

Im thinking about downgrading to Windows 98 because XP is too much, but I might be getting a 100+ ram upgrade, I don't know what it is yet because a friend is giving it to me for free...

My neighbour works for IBM and he came in and fixed my computer and installed another 15GB hard drive for free...Should I ask him if I could buy computer parts off him for cheaper? I don't know him that well, does anyone have any advice on how I should come to ask him about buying computer parts from him? Thanks.

[redwudz]

Skaterpro: I would add ram, it can only help. XP is a resource hog, but it also has the newest drivers and is easy to configure.

Microsoft is really not supporting W98 very well when it comes to drivers and newer apps.

I'm glad you solved your problems. You're lucky to have such a neighbor. I would work with him for advice and where to best buy what you might need in the future, but don't ask him to get parts for you, unless he offers first. (Just my opinion )

[junkmalle]

Skaterpro, Glad to hear you fixed your problem.

I think you'll be very happy if you add more memory to your computer. It must be swapping an awful lot with only 64 MB. If you add another 128 or 256 MB you'll get much smoother performance.

[Skaterpro]

Yes, redwudz, I thought the same about asking him for parts, even if I were paying that would be rude. I'll just ask him for advice on where to buy, that seems just.

As for yall, do any of you know where I can buy some RAM for my compaq? or a bigger HD? I want the best, for the lowest prices. Theres got to be a website with low costing hardware, other than ebay

[junkmalle]

Do you have a Fry's near you? If so, you can usually get a name brand hard drive from them for about 50 cents a Gigabyte. For example in yesterdays paper the Fry's ad shows 250 GB Western Digital drive for $129 after a $30 mail in rebate. A word of warning: many old motherboards can't handle drives over 128 GB.

If you don't have a Fry's try NewEgg.com. They have decent prices and are quite reliable.

You'll need to know exactly what type of memory to buy. Your friend can probably help you out there. I'm guessing you have PC100 SDRAM (168 pin DIMM), in your 600 MHz Celeron system. PC100 SDRAM is hard to come by these days but PC133 is easily available and should work.

[Skaterpro]

Do you have a Fry's near you? If so, you can usually get a name brand hard drive from them for about 50 cents a Gigabyte. For example in yesterdays paper the Fry's ad shows 250 GB Western Digital drive for $129 after a $30 mail in rebate. A word of warning: many old motherboards can't handle drives over 128 GB.

If you don't have a Fry's try NewEgg.com. They have decent prices and are quite reliable.

You'll need to know exactly what type of memory to buy. Your friend can probably help you out there. I'm guessing you have PC100 SDRAM (168 pin DIMM), in your 600 MHz Celeron system. PC100 SDRAM is hard to come by these days but PC133 is easily available and should work.

thanks for the help I went to newegg.com and searched for it: http://www.newegg.com/app/SearchProductResult.asp?Submit=Go&DEPA=0 which one should I get? Im looking $50-90, and something that would handle my computer specs. Also, what about a good hard drive bigger than 15.0GB?

[junkmalle]

Do you have a Fry's near you? If so, you can usually get a name brand hard drive from them for about 50 cents a Gigabyte. For example in yesterdays paper the Fry's ad shows 250 GB Western Digital drive for $129 after a $30 mail in rebate. A word of warning: many old motherboards can't handle drives over 128 GB.

If you don't have a Fry's try NewEgg.com. They have decent prices and are quite reliable.

You'll need to know exactly what type of memory to buy. Your friend can probably help you out there. I'm guessing you have PC100 SDRAM (168 pin DIMM), in your 600 MHz Celeron system. PC100 SDRAM is hard to come by these days but PC133 is easily available and should work.

thanks for the help I went to newegg.com and searched for it: http://www.newegg.com/app/SearchProductResult.asp?Submit=Go&DEPA=0 which one should I get? Im looking $50-90, and something that would handle my computer specs. Also, what about a good hard drive bigger than 15.0GB?

Be sure to verify the memory type. PC100/PC133 is based on my memory of that generation of processors and motherboards. I could be wrong!

I don't think there's really much difference between the hard drive manufacturers. You can find people with horror stories about all of them! There's not a huge difference in price between the brands. Size depends on your budget. You will want an EIDE (also called ATA, Parallel ATA, PATA, or just IDE) drive, not SATA (Serial ATA) or SCSI. Just about any 80 to 250 GB EIDE drive will be suitable.

Fry's often has the retail version of this Western Digital drive:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-118

for $60 after after a mail in rebate ($90 before). Something like that is probably a good choice for you. As you can see, NewEgg sells that drive for $88. GoGoCity.com usually has decent prices on drives too.

If you're going to install the drive yourself and you're not familiar with installing drives consider spending a little extra and get a retail drive (as opposed to a bare OEM drive). It will come with screws, software, and instructions to make your life easier! Also consider buying a drive from a local shop and have them install it. If you can get someone with experiece (and 4 screws!) to help you, you can get away with an OEM drive.

[Skaterpro]

Do you have a Fry's near you? If so, you can usually get a name brand hard drive from them for about 50 cents a Gigabyte. For example in yesterdays paper the Fry's ad shows 250 GB Western Digital drive for $129 after a $30 mail in rebate. A word of warning: many old motherboards can't handle drives over 128 GB.

If you don't have a Fry's try NewEgg.com. They have decent prices and are quite reliable.

You'll need to know exactly what type of memory to buy. Your friend can probably help you out there. I'm guessing you have PC100 SDRAM (168 pin DIMM), in your 600 MHz Celeron system. PC100 SDRAM is hard to come by these days but PC133 is easily available and should work.

thanks for the help I went to newegg.com and searched for it: http://www.newegg.com/app/SearchProductResult.asp?Submit=Go&DEPA=0 which one should I get? Im looking $50-90, and something that would handle my computer specs. Also, what about a good hard drive bigger than 15.0GB?

Be sure to verify the memory type. PC100/PC133 is based on my memory of that generation of processors and motherboards. I could be wrong!

I don't think there's really much difference between the hard drive manufacturers. You can find people with horror stories about all of them! There's not a huge difference in price between the brands. Size depends on your budget. You will want an EIDE (also called ATA, Parallel ATA, PATA, or just IDE) drive, not SATA (Serial ATA) or SCSI. Just about any 80 to 250 GB EIDE drive will be suitable.

Fry's often has the retail version of this Western Digital drive:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-118

for $60 after after a mail in rebate ($90 before). Something like that is probably a good choice for you. As you can see, NewEgg sells that drive for $88. GoGoCity.com usually has decent prices on drives too.

If you're going to install the drive yourself and you're not familiar with installing drives consider spending a little extra and get a retail drive (as opposed to a bare OEM drive). It will come with screws, software, and instructions to make your life easier! Also consider buying a drive from a local shop and have them install it. If you can get someone with experiece (and 4 screws!) to help you, you can get away with an OEM drive.

ahh yes, I've had trouble with my comp before. There was a script that ran MS-DOS and deleted my C:\ with DELTREE.....then I went to my IBM neighbour, and he came with a hard drive, took like 15 minutes with boot cd's and all kinds of floppys that did all kinds of stuff, then he installed a new HD and I was all good. All this for free also.

I think I could ask him to install it for me. so I dont need a retail drive, I can get the OEM and he will know what to do with it. Thank You for your help, I love this board.