This problem is making my brain ache

[Slow Rocket]

I have a strange problem playing avi files created in my CCTV system.

My CCTV is PC based using an old Dell Poweredge SC 440 server running Windows XP Home edition version 2002 Service Pack 3

The files created are .avi files and the properties says Video compression Indeo Video 5

I can play them on my Dell CCTV PC using Windows Media Player v11 and SMplayer but not using VLC but that 's fine so far so good.

If I then copy the avi file to any media it fails. I have tried DVD's CD's and USB's and they all cause the same problem. When I try to play the file using any version of WM player on a different PC it appears to play but shows a black screen. However if I take the same copied file I can play it back on my Dell CCTV PC

The copied file will play on SMplayer on any PC but that isn't really useful as primarily I have to provide these files to the police and they normally use WMplayer.

I tried to convert the copied avi file to many different file types including mp4, wmv and mkv but all these caused this message "Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file."

Can anyone give me any clues as to why these files will only play on the PC that they were created on. Is there a way to get them to play on WMplayer on any PC

Thanks
Jason

[yoda313]

tried to convert the copied avi file to many different file types including mp4, wmv and mkv but all these caused this message "Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file."

What program did you use?

I'd try again using something like format factory or winff.

You can also try mpchc to playback the original file.

[Slow Rocket]

Damn can't believe I forgot to put that in

It was Freemake Video Converter v3.0.2

[yoda313]

I've never used freemake so I can't comment on it. It should do ok if its posted as a recommended tool on this website.

But I would also try using one of the other tools I mentioned.

[Nelson37]

OK, how about the name of the capture card and the software it uses?

These systems almost always use a proprietary and/or funky codec so that you need their playback software, which is often bundled with the system in some way. Look carefully for export options that will include the required player on a disk.

If that doesn't work, you have to dig out the required codec from the capture software, and/or find a playback option that will let you make a true AVI file that can be played or converted. You will most likely have to make a simple AVI type such as a Huffy and then convert to a second, more compact, file type. I would start with Virtualdub.

Trying to do the conversion in one step is a mistake. You may get some significant image degradation, some experimentation may be necessary. You may need to create an empty sound file, if there is no audio.

[Slow Rocket]

Job done

I downloaded format factory as mentioned but instead of converting it on the other PC's I converted it to a WMV on the DELL CCTV that first created the file. It then played fine using WMplayer on any other PC

Thanks to Yoda for your advice

Nelson I think you're definitely correct about this CCTV software and card it is a very old version and am sure it is outputting some "funky" codec

Thankfully converting on the CCTV PC itself has saved me the job of messing with the CCTV software or replacing it

[yoda313]

Glad you got it going. And glad Nelson chimed in to.

[Cornucopia]

Indeo5 used to be a mainstay codec back in the early/mid '90s, but it now is "funky" and pretty unsupported, so I'm not surprised at the other machine's responses. There are other workarounds (DL the codec, etc), but it looks like you've got a good method now...

Scott