WVID codec ??

[bambam]

Hi

I am trying to play a avi file that use the codec called WVID
it is not XVID but really WVID.

I try to read it with media player classic, windows media player, gom player, vlc and nothing is working
I installed ffdshow and still not working.

I use gspot and avi codec to find out some information about that codec but the only thing I came come out with is this name for the codec WVID
it also link me there http://www.fourcc.org/

is anyone can help me to find this weird codec it would really help me

thanx

[jagabo]

I bet what you have is a video that is trying to get you to download what you think is a codec but is really a trojan.

[aedipuss]

the only reference to a codec of that name i could find suggested that quicktime might be able to open it. might be as jag says though.....

[craigarta]

There isn't even anything for that listed on http://filext.com/

There is this from a old Mac Forum
http://archive.macfixitforums.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/443884

[Cornucopia]

TROJAN!

[bambam]

The file extension is avi, not WVID. That is why you dont find anything on filext.com

The file is suppose to be a recording of some security device like a surveillance camera in a bank or a grocery
I really don't think it is a trojan.
The link I post was not something the player link me into automaticly like infected video file do...
It's only when I try to find the codec using gspot or avicodec...

I try reading the file with quicktime alternative with no success

If no one have any idea of what codec I should use to read that I guess I will have to try find the person who recorded the file ...

thanx for your help
if anyone have other idea feel free to post.

[leghorn]

Never heard of WVID either

The program I could always rely on has been AviDemux. Give it a try...

Or you might want to try and hex-edit the video file. Maybe you can find something like an executable file header which would support the opinion of the other comment authors...

[edit]
Where'd you get the file anyway?

[LarryEvilsizer]

Not sure if this will help, but look at http://www.moviecodec.com/video-codecs/wvid-8759/. You might contact BenQ to see if they have a codec.

Good luck
Larry

[bambam]

Thanx for the help

I try to reading the file with AviDemux and it does the same thing, it only read the audio track of the file but no video.

When I open the file with an hex editor it shows me a couple of thing like these:

RIFF
AVI
LIST4
hdrlavih8
strlstrh
vidsWVID
LISTd
strf
JUNK

I really don't know if this help ...

I got the file from a DVD of someone I know. but he does not know with what tool it was taken from

Google give me some result about hdrlavih8
so I will continu my search

feel free to post any hints

[jagabo]

Those are all standard AVI header chunks. You will see them in all AVI files. The only thing "interesting" is the WVID fourcc. Make yourself a copy and try changing them (there should be two of them) to XVID . See if the resulting file will play.

[bambam]

That is weird
I edit the file with the hex editor changing the WVID to XVID
and trying to play it on mediaplayer classic and I it display a grey screen
but I must say I have been able to see some content lets say 1 frame every 3-5 minutes
So it's either a wrong codec (in the same familly) or a corrupted file

Have you ever heard of one of these:
flash back viewer
wvid install
govcodec

[leghorn]

Tried to google for those 3, but no success

Could you upload a small clip to some one-click hoster?

[Cornucopia]

I've posted on this before, so you could look it up...

There are a number of proprietary and secretive codecs in use in the surveillance industry. Lots of those companies would tell you it's because of "security", but the real truth is, they want you using (and paying $$$ for) THEIR stuff. Like Hollywood copy protection, but EVEN WORSE.

In many ways, they work JUST LIKE A TROJAN. Their video files sometimes come encrypted and pre-compiled into a self-contained proprietary player EXE that only has the features they want you to use. (even bog down or crap out your computer, too)

Thankfully, this doesn't seem to be completely the case here. But my guess is that you've still got a file with a video that is either A. encrypted, B. using a special codec, or C. BOTH.

If this codec, ALSO does the decrypting without any additional requirements (like a password, internet access, money Xaction, etc)...
AND
If this codec can be found a downloaded
AND
If the codec follows standard VFW and/or Directshow programming guidelines,

You could DL the codec separate from any player and use a standard media player or editor.

NOT LIKELY.

You're probably going to have to do this:

Find out from your source (wherever you got this file from) WHAT SYSTEM this was created on, whether PC or Mac or Other, Security system company brand and specs, etc.

If you can get a specialized player FROM THE SOURCE, that's your best bet.
If not, go to the company that made this brand of system. Hopefully you can DL a player from their website.
((Right here, I'd STRONGLY recommend you ONLY do this on a machine that you'll be able to uninstall/rollback correctly afterward, like a VM)
Then, install their player. Also install FRAPS or another good screen cap software. (I bet you see where I'm going now)

Then, while playing the video in their specialized player, you record the screen to a new STANDARD AVI CODEC file.
Save when done.
Copy the good file offline.
Uninstall all that other crap.

Then use the new file as you had originally wished...

Scott

edit:>>>
BTW, Instead of a hex editor, use a good AVI Riff viewer to see more of the specs of both the audio and the video, incl. MediaInfo, "RiffViewer", ABCAVI tag editor, or something similar.

[bambam]

thanx for your help
I am still looking to get to the source and see what software it is supposed to be played on

[bambam]

I finally was able to get my hand on a file called WVIDInstall.exe
which install WVID filterss (2 files in the windows directory DWvidFilter.ax and Uninstall.exe)
and after that I was able to read the file

it really work like a codec, but I dont know why it was so damn hard to find
I dont even know the web site of the company who provide those files

[jagabo]

The fact that you were able to get a little bit of a picture by changing the fourcc to XVID implies that WVID is some minor variation of the MPEG 4 part 2 (ASP) spec. Like DIV3, DIV4, MS42, etc.