How to Play avi files

[drstew]

Apparently I need to install a CODEC to play avi files. How should I do this (which one, where to get it). I have a new netbook computer and it will play MPEG2 but not avi. I tried Windows Media Player and InterVideo WinDVD and niether works straight off.

[aedipuss]

you can identify what codec is needed with mediainfo or gspot. then install only the ones you need. stay away from the codec "packs", they can cause more problems.

another choice would be to try and play the avi with vlc, as it has it's own way to play them.

[drstew]

What is your feeling about ffdshow?

[guns1inger]

It is a good, multi-purpose set of codecs to play back most formats. It rarely causes the type of issues you get with codec packs, and is updated frequently.

Your other alternative is to install a player like VLC or The KM Player, which will play most formats without the need for extra codecs.

[johns0]

Xvid is the best codec to install for divx,xvid avi files.CoreAVC for newer avi and mkv.

[steptoe]

If its an AVI 'movie' then it could be the divx codec that is missing

Also, have a look at The KMPlayer or MediaPlayer Classic, both are 100% non-trialware (free but you need to pay to stop the annoying nag or watermark, so its not really free is it ......)

And play virtually anything without using overbloated software that tries to do everything in one package but in the end makes it sluggish and a pain in the neck to use, these two are simple and do excatly what they say ... play

[drstew]

So where do I get the Xvid codec (forgive me for being ignorant)? When this is installed, will most commercial players work?

[Jim44]

Type "xvid" into the search box on the main page?

[Ai Haibara]

So where do I get the Xvid codec (forgive me for being ignorant)? When this is installed, will most commercial players work?

It depends on what codecs are being used in the video you're trying to play. So if you install Xvid and the video you mention in the first post requires a completely different codec, that video still will not play.

As aedipuss mentioned, run the video through GSpot or MediaInfo, and see which codecs the video uses. If you need them, download only those codecs and install them. And yes, avoid codec packs (not counting ffdshow, as it's not a codec pack per se, as mentioned above.)

steptoe: What annoying nag or watermark does Media Player Classic have?

[drstew]

The file I am trying to play was made with AutoGK.

[Ai Haibara]

The file I am trying to play was made with AutoGK.

That doesn't really mean much... however, if it's an AVI you made with AutoGK installed on your system, you should already have a version of Xvid installed (AutoGK usually installs a version of Xvid).

[johns0]

Google xvid codecs and you will get the address to download the newest version which is Xvid-1.2.1-04122008.exe.

[guns1inger]

The Divx codec displays a watermack by default, but this can be turned off, even in the free version, through the configuration utility. Niether The KM PLayer or MPC have watermarks.

[drstew]

I am trying to play an avi file created by AutoGK by one computer on another. Should I just install AutoGK on the new computer?

[guns1inger]

No. AutoGK encodes with either Xvid or Divx (Xvid by default), so just install the Xvid codec. I fou look back through the posts here you will see that Xvid Codec appears in red in many of them. That is because it is a link to the Tools page for the Xvid codec, and from there you will find links to the files you need. It couldn't be simpler.

[drstew]

I installed the Xvid codec and my player now works with the avi files I made on AutoGK. However, it fills only a portion of the screen. How can I make use of the entire screen? My computer is an Asus Eee PC with a screen resoultion of 1024x600. Is this a function of the resolution I encode to? If one plays an mpg file on a computer, can it be made to file the entire screen when the resolution is 720x480?

[guns1inger]

Alt+Enter will usually tell your player to fill the screen. This is a function of playback, not encoding. You gain nothing by trying to encode to higher resolutions.

You also have to take into account the aspect ratio of the video, and the aspect ratio of the screen. Most videos will require black bars of some form to fill out the screen.

[drstew]

Alt+Enter toggles to a larger screeen but does not fill the screen completely. The picture is framed with black all around it, effectively making the viewing area smaller than the screen by a significant amount (area may be ~1/2). In Windows Media Palyer, occassionally, the screen will fill completely, but I cannot seem to control this. In InterVideo WinDVD 5, the screen is always as described above.

[drstew]

I find I can fill more of the screen if I choose less resolution for my graphics (say, 800x600). Someone told me if I encode for a certain aspect ratio, I should be able to fill more of the screen. Given my PCs resoultion (1024x600), what aspect ratio/resolution should I choose in AutoGK to fill as much of my screen as possible? Is there a calculation I can perform to determine this?

[halsboss]

You've been told half a dozen times to use gspot or mediainfo or equivalent to identify SPECIFICALLY the codecs needed.

That'll stand you in good stead next time you have the same problem, since you've just found out AVIs can contain different types/combinations of video/audio encoding.

Do it, to help yourself.

ffdshow is great as is the real xvid. Don't care for the divx codec (ffdshow/xvid will play them). You don't need much else, I don't install anything else and don't have to worry about watermarks or other intentional crud.

[dcsos]

First of All Don't use WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER
It is not a program that plays you video the way you encoded it.
Try VLC. Media Player Classic or any other player.
You see, in addition to full screen you need to uncheked the default
'fit video to player size'..
The media player puts black in the sides.. Don't use it

[Seeker47]

Xvid is the best codec to install for divx,xvid avi files.CoreAVC for newer avi and mkv.

Well, I'd say Yes & No. As I was getting at in the thread about some clips playback killing my video and forcing a reboot, Divx-5 turns out to be one of the known offenders. But I've been inspecting a lot of clips with GSpot, which tells me that I do have Xvid installed (no problems with playback of any Xvid clips, as best I can recall). It seems I can also play Divx-3 video files. I think I saw a mention of Divx-7, which may be the most recent version (?), so I don't know what's up with that, but I'm staying away from trying to play that format, until I get some better codec coverage on this system, or find a standalone player that covers it. Neither VLC nor Gom do.