Convert avi to different aspect ratio?

[enchanted]

Someone just posted the entire 22-episode series of an Australian TV show that I've been waiting for. Unfortunately, they screwed something up. I suspect that the aspect ratio should have been widescreen, but they stretched it to fit the screen, and everyone is thin and tall.

Are there any utilities that I can use to modify the aspect ratio?

[guns1inger]

mpeg4modifier

[enchanted]

mpeg4modifier

This looks like it might be just what I'm looking for, but I've downloaded it from a couple different llocations, and when I try to run it, I get this generic error:
The application failed to initialize properly. Click on OK to terminate the applicaiton.

[guns1inger]

requires the .net framework 1.1 from Microsoft. There is a link on the mpeg4modifer page. It's a good sized download, so I hope you aren't on dialup.

[celtic_druid]

Could be that the files already have the PAR set correctly and whatever you are using for playback is ignoring it. Because that is all MPEG4Modifier does; sets a flag for the AR. It is upto the player/decoder to resize.

Also, there was a java port if you don't like .NET. Next version will require .NET 2.0 to.

[enchanted]

A long time ago, I installed MS's .net framework, and it tried taking over my computer. I don't think I'll try that one again. Is there anything else that might do this?

For playback, I've tried the following:
Windows Media Player
Intervideo WinDVD 6
Philips standalone dvd player (playing .avi files)
Above, playing DVD that was converted using VSO ConvertXtoDVD

[celtic_druid]

Never heard of .NET doing anything particularly bad. As I said there is a java port. So if you don't like .NET you could try that.

[enchanted]

Can you point me to this java port?

[enchanted]

I hope nobody yells at me for being a complete bozo, but when I downloaded these tv episodes, they had a suffix of ".divx". I changed them to ".avi". Was this a mistake?

[enchanted]

I found an extra machine and loaded the .net framework on it and tried mpeg4modifier. It seems to work, but I can't find any documentation, and I'm not sure what to do. I browse and open my .avi file. There is an aspect ratio radio-select area. I'm assuming that I should choose one of these. So far, I've tried 16:9 NTSC under the "Pixal AR" column and 16:9 under the "Display AR" option. I click on save and choose a name for the file. It grinds for a while and tells me that the file was successfully saved. But the new file has the same aspect ratio as the old.