Why no thumbnails for MP4 files?

[terrypin]

It's only recently that I've started using MP4 files (from my smartphone). I've just noticed that none of them display a thumbnail in Explorer folders. All other image and movie types (like MPG, WMV, AVI, etc) do so.

FWIW, MP4 is currently associated with WMP.

Anyone know how I can get these thumbnails displayed please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Gavino]

If you haven't already done so, install Haali Media Splitter.
Then, in the configuration options, under Explorer Integration, set 'Enable thumbnails extraction' to 'yes'.

[terrypin]

Thanks, appreciate the fast reply. I've done as you suggested but so far see no change. Do I need to run anything else other than the Settings dialog? I see these 3 programs but have no idea what they do.

dsmux.exe
gdsmux.exe
mkv2vfr.exe

I did use Refresh Thumbnail in the folder.

Maybe it needs a PC reboot, which I'll try later.

Shouldn't MP4 thumbnails show up automatically anyway, without running specialist programs?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Gavino]

You may also need to edit the registry.
Under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mp4\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}, set the value
{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}

If the key doesn't exist, you will have to create it, then set the value as a 'new string value'.

[terrypin]

Thanks Gavino. I already have that registry key and value.

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Atak_Snajpera]

You don't see thumbnails because you didn't install Windows 7

[DarrellS]

Try downloading the CodecTweakTool. It's an exe file so you don't need to install anything. No need to install the codec pack as most sites recommend.
http://majorgeeks.com/K-Lite_Codec_Tweak_Tool_d5738.html

Tick the box that says "Thumbnail settings for Windows Explorer and click next. There you'll have options to set a lot of different thumnbails.
One thumbnail that won't show up is H264 in FLV container. You need to demux it and mux into mp4 or mkv container.

You can use TweakUI to change the size of your thumbnails.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Here are a couple of webpages. The second one has a lot of information and tools to try.
http://www.churchvideo.co.uk/free/software/thumbnails-in-windows-explorer-for-mp4-flv-...iles_1380.html
http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?/topic/19751-get-thumbnails-of-more-file-typ...rd-party-file/

[terrypin]

Thanks a lot Darrell, I'll get onto that first thing tomorrow.

29 June 2010, 22:34 UK time

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[terrypin]

I'd tried 4 or 5 potential fixes, including a couple of registry hacks, all to no avail. But I also had a suggestion elsewhere to try this:
http://masteranza.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/mp4-thumbnails-in-ms-windows-explorer/

That sorted it. I downloaded and ran the file
Combined-Community-Codec-Pack-2009-09-09.exe
albeit without understanding several of the dialogs and options (codecs and ffdshow and all that stuff remains a largely black art to me!) and voila, I have MP4 thumbnails!

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[DarrellS]

So you were missing codecs and splitters. If you're going to be working in video then you need to learn about codecs and ffdshow. You shouldn't have had to install a codec pack to view thumbnails if you had the codecs and splitters needed to view these files.

Cccp installs an H264 decoder (and it probably installed quicktime alternative) or else the CodecTweakTool would've worked had you had the codecs installed.

[terrypin]

Thanks Darrell. As an 'end user' rather than a video techie or pro, I really don't have the time or motivation to master the full technicalities. But can you explain in basic terms please why I was able to play MP4 in all my players, and use them successfully in my video editing software if I was 'missing codecs' (and 'splitters', whatever they are)?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[mtsprod]

try changing (mp4 to avi) this won't Effect the Performance of the Video Quality at least it didn't on my computer
I also use iCaros for more encoding .

[cd090580]

Replace your outdate Windows XP by a decent one and you'll get the mp4 thumbnails