Can't play this file

[Jeikobu]

I want to play a video file, but I can't even play it with VLC player. When I try it, it plays for the first several seconds, but once the audio starts playing (the first several seconds are silent), the video freezes, and soon I get a message saying that VLC encountered an error and needs to close. So I figured maybe the first part of the file is bad. But if I drag it later on into the file, it barely plays any video at all before it freezes again and quits. And no other program will play it at all (I tried MPC, RealPalyer and WMP). Most act like they will play it, but it never actually does. I wondered if maybe there was a problem with the file, but I also can't help but wonder if I'm missing something required to play it. I'm not sure what file type it is (I don't know how to check that on a PC), but I looked at properties and the audio bit rate is 128kbps, and the format is MPEG Layer-3. The video frame rate is 29 frames/second, and the data rate is 127kbps. Can anyone help me with this problem?

[yoda313]

Use gspot to identify the video codec.

Also load it into virtualdub and do a scan for errors. You could have bad frames.

[Jeikobu]

I tried VirtualDub, and when I try to open a file, I get a message that specifically says:

"Couldn't locate compressor for format 'H264' (unknown)

VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to decompress video. DirectShow codecs, such as those used by Windows Media Player, are not suitable."

Would GSpot fix this?

[jimmalenko]

You need a codec capable of decoding H264 - ffdshow can decode almost anything so it might be worth a shot.

[Jeikobu]

Ok, I downloaded it, but I have no idea how to use it. ^^;;;

[kschang]

Install FFDShow, then go into codec config, decoders, and turn on H264

[Jeikobu]

Ok, I went to VFW codec configuration, choose Decoder, then Codecs from the menu, and I changed H.264 to "libavcodec" where it said disabled (this was the only other option).
Then I tried opening the video file in VirtualDub, which worked this time, I chose "Scan video stream for errors" under the Video pull down menu. I ran the scan, but didn't report anything when it finished. So I closed VD, tried running the file again on VLC, and got the same results as before. What should I do?

[kschang]

Try running the file through Windows Media Player instead. VLC may be tyring to use its own codec.

EDIT: VLC does have its own x264 library, which may be causing your problem.

[Jeikobu]

Hmm, you're right, strangely enough it seems to be working with WMP. Strange that VLC wouldn't work, normally that seems to be hands down the best video playing program out there...
But anyway, thanks everyone! ^^