Downloaded video files only play as audio in wmp

[dannyzero]

This is my first time posting here, so bear with me! I recently downloaded Orbit downloader to capture and record live media (mostly webcams), and everything was working fine. I'd download the stream, play it back using Windows Media Player, and burn it to a disc. Some of the webcams I've downloaded recently have had music playing in the background, and won't play in WMP.

Initially, I'd get the following message in WMP when I tried to play these video-files: "Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or a required codec might not be installed on your computer.", and going to webhelp, it says "You've encountered error messageC00D119A while using Windows Media Player, and cannot play file." I've done searches and downloaded codec packages, and nothing has worked. I've been playing around with the FFDShow codec pack, and in the audio section I turn on the Nellymoser codec (months ago I had problems with some downloaded files that wouldn't play as the error message said I was missing a "Nell" codec, and downloading some codec packages fixed this problem). The Nellymoser codec was disabled, and I changed it to "Libavcodec" and now the files that won't play do play, but only as a music file with a black screen.

Going into the properties of the downloaded files that do play, I get different types of files listed (they download as flv files): most just say file, some say Windows Media Player (.flv), and the odd one says 2 file (.2). But all of these play fine using wmp. When I play these files, information listed in the properties is Media Type: Video, Video Size: 480 x 400, Aspect: Unknown, Audio: AC3Filter, and Video: DirectVobSub. All of these files play fine. Before activating the Nellymoser codec, the properties for the files that wouldn't play only listed the time, nothing else ; after the Nellycodec was activated and the files played (only music with a black screen), the properties section Media Type is listed as Audio, and the AC3Filter is listed under audio, and there is no other information since it's listed as audio only. The icon that is on the file and wmp is a music note, whereas all the files that do play the icon is a film frame with a ballon inside it.

Very frustrating and I can't understand why these particular downloaded files won't play, as I download each one the same way and do not change anything. As a matter of fact, a couple of times I've downloaded the same webcam three times (as it kept going off line) and only one of the downloads would play and I had the same problem, assuming the music playing causes the problem. And I'm only guessing that the music is the problem, as some of the files that do work also had music playing.

I've been searching online for days trying to find help or suggestions. As mentioned I've downloaded codec packs, and I also downloaded the VLC media player, and amazingly these files play fine on VLC: the video plays perfectly! Unfortunately I don't really like the VLC player, mainly because you can't burn the files to disc like you can with the wmp. I do not know if the problem is in the file itself (because of the music, as all of the other downloads have either had live sound or no sound, but no music) or the player, or a combination of both. Plus since the majority of my downloads play on wmp, I'd like to keep everything universal and use the same player.

I've been playing around with trying to convert these files using the VLC player, but have been very unsuccessful so far (and being a newbie to this stuff doesn't help!). I don't know if I'm wasting my time attempting to convert them to one that will play in wmp, so any help there would also be appreciated.

All of my downloaded files play successfully in wmp except for a handful with music in them (I think a couple that did have music in them had successful playback, but maybe that's because the music was at a low volume.) I just want to be able to play these files in the windows media player and burn them to a disc, and it's frustrating that most play fine, but these few ones with music won't. Any help, suggestions, or solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[diggingeagle]

Download Community Codec Pack. http://www.cccp-project.net/

Just leave all installation settings on default. Works awesome.

[filmboss80]

Download Community Codec Pack. (Link omitted)

Just leave all installation settings on default. Works awesome.

Terrific advice, diggingeagle. Why don't you just tell the OP to smash his computer with a baseball bat.

Note what the OP said:

As mentioned I've downloaded codec packs, and I also downloaded the VLC media player, and amazingly these files play fine on VLC: the video plays perfectly!

The reason the files play on VLC is because it uses its own internal codecs. Outside of that player, the OP has created a nightmare maze of codec conflicts from all the codec packs that have been loaded. Adding another codec pack will make things worse.

[diggingeagle]

He didn't say which one... How am I to know he installed one with all needed codecs?

[filmboss80]

This does not appear to be an issue of not having "all the needed codecs" (a subject up for further discussion), but rather having too many redundant codecs conflicting with one another.

Scores upon scores of user problems have been reported here that have been related to codec packs.

[dannyzero]

Thanks for your replies ; I removed all of the codec packages and downloaded a K Lite Codec 6.2 package, which did not help the problems I decribed in this thread, but it did help with a few downloaded videos that would not play! I took diggingeagle's advice and downloaded the CCCP project codec pack, and this not only did not help, but interferred with the K Lite package as the those few videos didn't play again! Removed K lite to see if CCCP would work, and it did not, and those videos still didn't play. So uninstalled CCCP and redownloaded K Lite!

So I decided to try to convert the files that would not play in Windows media player ; I downloaded AVS4You and it did work, unfortunately there was a watermark in the center of the screen. So I purchased the AVS program, and it does convert the files perfectly to play in WMP, unfortunately it takes forever and severely slows my computor down!

This morning I was playing around with the converter in the VLC player (which I was unsuccessful doing the other day), and after a few trials and errors, I figured out how to convert the files that wouldn't play into new flv files (and I had to put ".flv" in the name otherwise they wouldn't play) and everything now plays fine in WMP, and the conversion takes seconds, not minutes or even hours that it takes in the AVS program!! I'm pissed that dropped $40 for AVS, but I was getting frustated and impatient, but I do feel much better and relieved that I can now play (and burn to CD) all my files on the WMP.

Thank you for any all suggestions/posts, it was very appreciated.

[filmboss80]

Dannyzero, codec pack removal is messy in itself as it always leaves something behind. Your registry, for one, is likely a mess. All this adding and removing codec packs is only making things worse.

The only safe way to load codecs is to only load one at a time, as you need it. For example, if you are unable to play an Xvid .avi file, then you would simply install the Xvid codec in your system -- not an entire codec pack.

You need to rethink everything about codecs before you trash your entire system...if you haven't already.

[Bonie81]

@ dannyzero

make sure XVID or DiVX, CoreAVC, AC3 Filter, Haali Media Splitter are Lame already installed.
if not search for Essential Codecs for Windows Media Player on p2p (torrent).

Alternatively, you may wish to install Media Player Codec Pack 3.9.6
Link : http://download.cnet.com/Media-Player-Codec-Pack/3000-13632_4-10749065.html

Hopefully, you may be able to play videos in all major format in Windows Media Player.