With multiple codec installed, which one is used for decoding?

[cheerful]

GSpot shows that I have 2 codec's installed for a 4CC. How can I tell which is in use when the file is played?

In MPC, each external codec has a merit. Does it affect the choice?

Thanks!

[Skith]

One easy way is to right click on the video->filters->Read list of loaded filters

see the attatched screenshot:

[edit: changed screenshot to a cropped version to save screen space]

[cheerful]

Got it, thanks!

There is also a preferred radio button in External Filter setting which allows me to choose one over the other. But I guess it works only in MPC. How do I make the preference global (e.g. in WMP)?

Thanks!

[Skith]

depending on what filters you are using, and if you know which ones you don't want, you could unregister the offending filters. (note: FFDShow offers settings to disable its fillters in the gui.)

to disable a filter (example, l3codecx.ax, the default windows mp3 filter) open a command prompt (start->run->cmd)
syntax: regsvr32 /u [path]\filter_name

example, type: /regsvr32 /u C:\windows\system32\l3codecx.ax


If you change your mind and want to use the filter you disabled (you brake something) type the same line, but omit the /u

example: /regsvr32 C:\windows\system32\l3codecx.ax

be careful what you disable, some filters are required by windows. only disable if you are sure you have a replacement, and/or know you don't need it. You also might want to make a system restore point before messing around.

There might be an easier way (like uninstalling various codec/filters) and leaving only what you want. I suppose it may depend on what you want to do, mabey you could give more detail?

[cheerful]

Well, I want to disable H264 filter from InterVideo, which came as part of WinDVD. But I do want to keep WinDVD as MPC does not play m2v files right. So unreg is the only way out?

Thanks!