Cant Open MPEG Files!!!!

[MRSTI]

My PC has issues with Mpeg files, i have searched every where for answers but have come up with nothing!!.

If i record a tv show in Mpeg format, or convert any video file into Mpeg format, when i go to open the folder where the Video is, it will just freeze and not respond at all. No matter how i try to access the folder it wont work, every other type if video file works fine. Why dosnt my PC like Mpeg's ??.

Some ppl have told me to download all types of codec programs (k-lite ect) but that hasnt made any difference at all, i am not an expert in these things but i dont think its a codec problem, because i cant even access the file the video's are stored in let alone view them.

Any help would be appreciated Nic.

[Krispy Kritter]

Sounds like you have a bad or corrupt codec. Use a program such as codecsniper to search/delete the bad/corrupt codecs on your pc.

[Ai Haibara]

It could be related to the problem Explorer may have with thumbnails. Try opening a command-line and entering the following:

regsvr32.exe /u shmedia.dll

...then see if that helps. If not, reverse the process by entering:

regsvr32.exe shmedia.dll

Note that codec packs (especially since it sounds like you've already installed at least one) may also merely aggravate the problem.

[jman98]

I've heard a lot of bad things about the K-lite codec packs, like how they cause more problems than they solve. My suggestion would be to attempt to burn one file to a CD or DVD (burn as a data disc) and then take that disc to another PC. If that PC can play the file, then the file is OK and the problem is on the Windows side. If you can't play the file on another PC, then something is going wrong with the record process. If you can't burn at all, you probably have some kind of Windows or disk drive problems.

[theewizard]

set windows file view, to details, and set it the same for all folders, you can change it back later

then see if the folder will open and list the files,

creating or playing the file involves the use of codecs, viewing the file list is a windows function, for thumb nails widows has to access the file and create bitmap image of the first frame, the dll involved maybe currupt or missing

if you get the file list then choose 'open with' and navigate to your player software, do NOT just double click it

vlc & mpc use their own built in functions to view/play the files

OR use the player that came with your capture device

[MRSTI]

Ok so i have tried all of the above, codecsniper wont run for some reason, i typed the above into a command line but didnt make any difference with both commands, i got rid of K-lite and havent tried burning files to a cd yet,

Then i changed the settings in windows file view, the only setting i changed was (hide exstensions for know file types) i didnt really know what i was doin (*noob * ), but it worked to some extent??.

I can now record a program with my Dvico digital tv card in mpeg format. But can only watch it through the Fusion TV software it wont work with WMP, I CANT right click on the video file and open with Fusion TV, i have to Open Fusion TV first and then open the video though Fusion TV for it to work. So i guess thats ok, at least i can view stuff i have recorded in mpeg format from my TV card.

But now i have all these programs/videos in .tp format and when i run them through projectx and they convert to mpeg i cant open them, WMP just crashed when i try, it will play the audio file no problem but no the video file.

But i can at least access the folder now with my video's in without it not responding or crashing, so something from what you guys have suggested has half fixed the problem!!. Now i just have work out how to access mpeg files without WMP crashing or not responding.

[Krispy Kritter]

Open the files using gSpot and verify which codec(s) they are using. gSpot will also tell you if you have the codecs installed to play the files.

[MRSTI]

Ok so i got codecsniper to work but it says in the status colum it says everything is ok and when i run gSpot and open my video folder it just crashes.

[Nelson37]

First thing is to get some KNOWN GOOD mpg files and verify in which direction the problem lies.

From your description, you are dealing with converted or captured MPG files. If you have indeed tried ALL of the above suggestions, and VLC player failed to open these files, then that strongly indicates a problem with the files themselves. The files you have are NOT KNOWN TO BE GOOD.

Have you tried the VLC suggestion? This is extremely important, as it seperates the problem from codecs on your PC as VLC uses its own codecs. SFAIK this is not true of MPC.

The folder open problem is one of three things. Either the default MPG player in Windows is corrupted itself, the codec it uses is bad, or the file itself is bad. This relates to the main playback issue as well, they are the same problem. The change to detail display hasn't solved your problem, it just prevents it from happening while viewing a folder.

Get a known good sample. Try a different player. Use a player that has self-contained codecs. Do all three in isolation and combination and you will categorically define the problem.

Odds are very, very good you have a corrupt, bad, or conflicting codec and also that the K-lite pack is either the source of the problem or made it worse. Re-installing a DVD player may be the solution, or more in-depth surgery may be required to repair the damage.

[MRSTI]

Ok so i installed VLC player and same outcome, it wont even open my video folder.

The only way i can watch a mpeg video is if i record it with my Dvico TV card in mpeg format and open it through dvico. Every other player just closes my video folder as soon as i open it.

I have got rid of any codec programs i had, i reinstalled WMP 11 and unistalled all other video players i have tried and its still the same.

The only thing that has changed scince my first post is that i can use mpeg with Dvico and i can open my video file without it closing straight away with Iexplorer, but as soon as i double click on a mpeg folder or right click and click open with, it just crashes or dosnt respond.

[MRSTI]

I have had some success with VLC player scince my last post.

VLC player will open mpeg files that have been recorded with my Dvico TV card, i can open them through VLC player or by right clicking on the video file and choosing open with VLC player.

But VLC player wont open and mpeg videos that have been converted from .tp to mpeg files with projectX and WMP11 still wont open any sort of mpeg file.

And i also tried windows movie maker and it wont open anysort of mpeg file also??

Does this help any??

thanks for your help so far guys.

[theewizard]

you have some corrupted windows DLL files

either track then down and replace them, OR re-install winXP

[MRSTI]

Can i re-install windows xp without losing all my files??

what would be the best way to find the corrupt dll files?

[Nelson37]

Carefully, slowly, follow the instructions I gave you. The problem cannot be isolated until you provide some necessary troubleshooting data.

It took all of 20 minutes for completely different information regarding VLC to be determined.

The expression "Garbage in, Garbage out" also applies to diagnostic information supplied by you.

Don't go yanking stuff about on the PC. Non-destructive changes until you have some valid information.

Get some demo files, probably some on the install CD. Try those, these would be KNOWN TO BE GOOD.

Test one item at a time, try taking more than 20 minutes for this, there is a HUGE and EXTREME difference between a player that won't even open a folder and a player that appears to handle any MPG that hasn't been somewhow messed with by the user and/or PC.

You are getting freaked out by things that are not really a problem, you have made and are considering serious errors, and you are not understanding how to isolate a problem to a particular area, and/or eliminate possible factors to achieve this goal.

Slow and easy. No rush. And there is no solid evidence whatsoever that a bad DLL is the problem, at this point.

[MRSTI]

i cant find any KNOWN TO BE GOOD mpeg files on any of my cd's? where should i look

[Krispy Kritter]

Try a site such as this: http://membrane.com/test.html

I think the Divx Test Cd found at the top of the DVD Players page, also has mpg files.

[MRSTI]

I tried the the mpeg1 video from (http://membrane.com/test.html) and same result. It will work with VLC player but will not work with WMP or with Windows Movie Maker. Would this file be a good Mpeg file??.

[Krispy Kritter]

OK. Since the file works with VLC and not with WMP, this would seem to indicate that you have missing or corrupt codecs (VLC uses it own codecs). As for how to replace or correct this problem, someone else will need to help you. Usually when things get this mucked up, I just format and reinstall the OS.

[MRSTI]

Just been playing around with Gspot, when i open the system tab and click on (List Codes and other Filters) There is one line in red that reads the following :
ACM Base msacm.ac3filter ** Missing file: ac3filter.acm

Would this be related in any way to my problem??

[Krispy Kritter]

ac3 is audio related, sounds like it needs to be reinstalled.

[Dolus]

As no one has posted on this thread since June I might be talking to myself

I have had exactly the same problems as MRSTI happen to me twice.

1)When navigating to a folder containing a video file the folder would close or freeze.

2)When opening any program associated with video it wouild either close strright away or close when trying to open a video file.

Like MRSTI the first time it happened I never did find the cause (not for the want of trying) and was resolved to reinstalling the operating system, but thought I would sleep on it.

I did find a solution more by chance than anything.

I reinstalled the two codec packs, K-Lite & Combined Comunity Codec Pack(CCCP). The CCCP pack is for MKV files more than anything else, so I suspect that reinstalling the K-Lite pack solved the problem.

The second time it happened I did not bother looking for a cause I just reistalled the codec packs and the problem was solved.

[redwudz]

Installing one codec pack, especially K-lite, is a bad idea. Installing two is a invitation to disaster. They have probably overwritten your codecs several times and it's a wonder anything still works. Those codec packs may have caused the problem in the first place.

[Dolus]

That's an odd thing to say as it solved the problem. As for installing two codec packs, they serve two different purposes. Whether there is any overlap between the two I don't know.

The codec packs were installed long before the problem reared its ugly head. I assume one or more codecs had become corrupted and reinstalling the packs corrected this.

The reason for installing them in the first place was that I was fed up with WMP not being able to play a file because the codec was missing and then not being able find it on the web.

I am guessing you have had a bad experience with the K-Lite pack, and that is why you are against it. We have all had the experience of installing something that will not work or disrupts our PC but is fine on everybody else's.

[Krispy Kritter]

While codec packs work for most people, they still aren't a good idea. Whenever you come across a file type that doesn't play, you can simply download and install that single codec to solve the problem.

While your PC appears to be working fine for you now, you now have many unneeded/duplicate codecs installed and the associated mess in your registry.

It's been proven here in the forums time and again that codec packs often cause more problems than they solve. And sometimes the only fix is then a complete OS reinstall.

I'm glad it's working for you, but we are just passing along a warning from those of us who have learned the hard way.