ffmpeg 7.0.1 and Windows 7

[JoeS99]

I downloaded the latest (7.0.1) and my usual batch files don't run - "application failed to initialize", I think.
Is ffmpeg broken for Win 7? I don't see any mention of it anywhere.

[JN-]

I know that for nvenc encoding u need to install the latest driver.

[pandy]

provide report - add "-report" to command line - log will be created so error can be analyzed.

[Vidd]

I assume you are using the gyan.dev builds.

ffmpeg-release-full 7.01 and ffmpeg-release-full-shared 7.01 do not work on Windows 7 due to being linked with a Windows 10 dll.

However, ffmpeg-release-essentials 7.0.1 will run on Windows 7. Note that ffmpeg-release-essentials does not include OpenCL or Vulkan.

Download from here:
https://www.gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds/

Read the Windows 7 issue here:
https://github.com/GyanD/codexffmpeg/issues/136



You don't have to use the Gyan build. Look for another build that is compatible with Windows 7 or compile it yourself.

[JoeS99]

I downloaded it from the link on the software page here.
I use it occasionally to convert formats.
I am not well-versed in the various versions, a "casual user" who knows enough to be dangerous.
Thanks for the info, I'll do some more homework. In the meantime I'll use the 7.0 version.

[pandy]

On my Win 7 ffmpeg build(s) located on site (search for "Automated nonfree builds of FFmpeg for Windows using GitHub Actions " for WIP and for stable ffmpeg search for "Automated stable nonfree builds of FFmpeg for Windows using GitHub Actions") works fine.

[autodidact]

Gyan identified the latest Rust as the cause of Windows 7 incompatibility with his full FFmpeg build.
Currently, the library (librav1e) that uses Rust doesn't require the latest version so I have made a "full" FFmpeg 7.1 build using a Windows 7 compatible Rust toolchain.

configuration: --disable-autodetect --enable-amf --enable-bzlib --enable-cuda --enable-cuvid --enable-d3d12va --enable-d3d11va --enable-dxva2 --enable-iconv --enable-lzma --enable-nvenc --enable-zlib --enable-sdl2 --enable-ffnvcodec --enable-nvdec --enable-cuda-llvm --enable-gmp --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libaom --disable-debug --enable-fontconfig --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libfreetype --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libwebp --enable-libxml2 --enable-libzimg --enable-libshine --enable-avisynth --enable-libxvid --enable-libopenmpt --enable-librav1e --enable-libsrt --enable-libgsm --enable-libvmaf --enable-libsvtav1 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libaribb24 --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libflite --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libilbc --enable-libkvazaar --enable-libmodplug --enable-librist --enable-librubberband --enable-libtesseract --enable-libxavs --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-openal --enable-libcodec2 --enable-ladspa --enable-liblensfun --enable-libglslang --enable-vulkan --enable-libdavs2 --enable-libxavs2 --enable-libuavs3d --enable-libplacebo --enable-libjxl --enable-libxeve --enable-libxevd --enable-libvvenc --enable-libharfbuzz --enable-libvpl --enable-liblc3 --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-gnutls --disable-w32threads --enable-gpl --enable-version3

[JoeS99]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.
I am confused (as a casual user)... what is the difference between the full-static and full-shared?

[cholla]

I'm using 5.1git in Windows 7 32-bit .
It works for me so far.

This version ffmpeg-7.0.2-full-static in post#7 if for 64-bit Windows.

[autodidact]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.
I am confused (as a casual user)... what is the difference between the full-static and full-shared?

The static build has all the libraries needed to run bundled into a single large ffmpeg executable.
The shared build has the libraries separate with a small ffmpeg executable. Some programs that use ffmpeg need access to the libraries so a shared build is useful in that case.

Added a 32-bit static build.

[duhaldedaftpunk]

Gyan identified the latest Rust as the cause of Windows 7 incompatibility with his full FFmpeg build.
Currently, the library (librav1e) that uses Rust doesn't require the latest version so I have made a "full" FFmpeg 7.0.2 build using a Windows 7 compatible Rust toolchain.

Thank you very much

[El Heggunte]

Gyan identified the latest Rust as the cause of Windows 7 incompatibility with his full FFmpeg build.
Currently, the library (librav1e) that uses Rust doesn't require the latest version so I have made a "full" FFmpeg 7.0.2 build using a Windows 7 compatible Rust toolchain.

THANKS! a lot 😎😎😎

[autodidact]

Updated build in post #7 to ffmpeg 7.1.

[JoeS99]

Updated build in post #7 to ffmpeg 7.1.

Thanks very much!

[duhaldedaftpunk]

Updated build in post #7 to ffmpeg 7.1.

Thank you again, I'll try it.

[Thalamus]

Much appreciated @autodidact !

[autodidact]

The build requirements for librav1e have recently changed so a Rust update is necessary.
I have built a new toolchain with the latest Rust using Windows 7 compatibility patches.
This also makes it possible to include the latest libdovi which libplacebo links to.

I will leave the previous build posted in case problems are encountered with this build.

FFmpeg 7.1.1 for Windows 7:

./configure --disable-autodetect --enable-amf --enable-bzlib --enable-cuda --enable-cuvid --enable-d3d12va --enable-d3d11va --enable-dxva2 --enable-iconv --enable-lzma --enable-nvenc --enable-zlib --enable-sdl2 --enable-ffnvcodec --enable-nvdec --enable-cuda-llvm --enable-gmp --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libaom --disable-debug --enable-fontconfig --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libfreetype --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libwebp --enable-libxml2 --enable-libzimg --enable-libshine --enable-avisynth --enable-libxvid --enable-libopenmpt --enable-librav1e --enable-libsrt --enable-libgsm --enable-libvmaf --enable-libsvtav1 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libaribb24 --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libflite --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libilbc --enable-libkvazaar --enable-libmodplug --enable-librist --enable-librubberband --enable-libtesseract --enable-libxavs --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-openal --enable-libcodec2 --enable-ladspa --enable-liblensfun --enable-libglslang --enable-vulkan --enable-libdavs2 --enable-libxavs2 --enable-libuavs3d --enable-libplacebo --enable-libjxl --enable-libxeve --enable-libxevd --enable-libvvenc --enable-libharfbuzz --enable-libvpl --enable-liblc3 --enable-libaribcaption --enable-libcelt --enable-lcms2 --enable-libdvdread --enable-libdvdnav --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-gnutls --disable-w32threads --enable-gpl --enable-version3

[duhaldedaftpunk]

The build requirements for librav1e have recently changed so a Rust update is necessary.
I have built a new toolchain with the latest Rust using Windows 7 compatibility patches.
This also makes it possible to include the latest libdovi which libplacebo links to.

I will leave the previous build posted in case problems are encountered with this build.

Once again, thank you!

𝕱𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖊𝖕𝖙𝖍𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓 𝕽𝖊𝖘𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊

[manolito]

The build requirements for librav1e have recently changed so a Rust update is necessary.
I have built a new toolchain with the latest Rust using Windows 7 compatibility patches.
This also makes it possible to include the latest libdovi which libplacebo links to.

Hi autodidact,

just discovered your FFmpeg builds which work under Win7. So far I only used your MKVtoolNix versions, but since Reino recently stopped his FFmpeg builds for WinXP I am very glad that you offer another FFmpeg alternative for Win7 now.


In my tests your current versions (32bit and 64bit) work without any problems. But I do have one request for future builds which I hope you might consider:

In most of my conversions I use the AAC format for audio. IMO the FFmpeg built-in AAC encoder is not too good, so I always use the Fraunhofer libfdk_AAC encoder for this. I know that the Fraunhofer licence is not compatible with the FFmpeg license, but this issue can be solved by using an external libfdk_aac.dll in the same folder as FFmpeg.exe.

Please let me know if you would be willing to add this feature to your Win7 compatible FFmpeg builds...


Cheers
manolito

[autodidact]

Hi manolito,

I took a look at Reino's script and patches to determine if this is something I can implement for a Windows 7 build.

I wanted to test the XP version first so I modified the script to target a Pentium 4 which has sse2 and changed the cryptography library from mbedtls to gnutls. It works and makes for an interesting configuration.

Two concerns at first glance:

1. Integrating and relying on patches that could break with API changes.
2. Whether to provide a libfdk DLL or leave it to the user to source or compile themselves if they wish to use it.

I will keep this in mind for future Windows 7 builds.

[manolito]

Hi autodidact,
thank you for the quick reply and for willing to look into this...

Let me take the opportunity to outline the current state of Win7 compatible FFmpeg builds which include libfdk_aac support (to the best of my knowledge):

1. Reino's latest and final offering. 32bit only, external DLL for libfdk_aac support. Extremely stable and reliable.

2. Sherpya recently released an updated version here:
https://oss.netfarm.it/mplayer/

This looks like an half baked and crippled effort compared to his previous release. The zscale plugin has been removed (no more tonemapping from HDR to SDR), so it is not usable for me.

3. VeritablePornocopium offers a 64bit version 7.0 at reddit. Find it here:
https://www.reddit.com/user/VeritablePornocopium/comments/okw130/ffmpeg_with_libfdk_aa...x64/?rdt=51481

The author does not care too much about the GPL, I could not find any source code, and libfdk_aac is integrated into the executable. But whatever, I have used this version extensively, and I never experienced any issues.


Alright, hopefully this list can be extended soon with your offerings...


Cheers and thanks again
manolito

[pandy]

In most of my conversions I use the AAC format for audio. IMO the FFmpeg built-in AAC encoder is not too good, so I always use the Fraunhofer libfdk_AAC encoder for this. I know that the Fraunhofer licence is not compatible with the FFmpeg license, but this issue can be solved by using an external libfdk_aac.dll in the same folder as FFmpeg.exe.

Try these builds https://github.com/AnimMouse?tab=repositories

[manolito]

Thanks pandy, but I am totally lost on your github page...

Which exact link on your site should I download? What I need is a link to a 32bit version and/or a 64bit version of a current FFmpeg build which works under Win7 plus a separate or integrated libfdk_aac version. Could you post the exact link(s) for this right here?


Thanks
manolito

[pandy]

Thanks pandy, but I am totally lost on your github page...

Hi manolito - this is not my github - had impression that names are self explanatory but obviously i was wrong

Which exact link on your site should I download? What I need is a link to a 32bit version and/or a 64bit version of a current FFmpeg build which works under Win7 plus a separate or integrated libfdk_aac version. Could you post the exact link(s) for this right here?

Sure - tried to not place direct link due eventual problems with eventual complains but there are two projects:

https://github.com/AnimMouse/ffmpeg-autobuild - "daily" builds
https://github.com/AnimMouse/ffmpeg-stable-autobuild "stable" builds

32 and 64 bit versions are provided with non free elements compiled - as i use Win7 i can confirm all working fine in Windows 7

[manolito]

as i use Win7 i can confirm all working fine in Windows 7

Are you sure?
I tested both your links in 32bit as well as in 64bit on a plain vanilla Win 7 64 system. No luck, it always quit on me with a fatal error. Probably the well known "rustc" problem. Did you test your builds on a native Win 7 system, or just on a VM?

Whatever, your uploads do not work for me, I'm going back to my previous alternatives.


Thanks anyways, cheers
manolito

[pandy]

as i use Win7 i can confirm all working fine in Windows 7

Are you sure?
I tested both your links in 32bit as well as in 64bit on a plain vanilla Win 7 64 system. No luck, it always quit on me with a fatal error. Probably the well known "rustc" problem. Did you test your builds on a native Win 7 system, or just on a VM?

Whatever, your uploads do not work for me, I'm going back to my previous alternatives.


Thanks anyways, cheers
manolito

Tested for you latest available release i.e. ffmpeg-26f2f03-3095850-win64-nonfree.7z :

ffmpeg version git-2025-03-23-26f2f03-ffmpeg-windows-build-helpers Copyright (c) 2000-2025 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 10.2.0 (GCC)
configuration: --pkg-config=pkg-config --pkg-config-flags=--static --extra-version=ffmpeg-windows-build-helpers --enable-version3 --disable-debug --disable-w32threads --arch=x86_64 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=/home/runner/work/ffmpeg-autobuild/ffmpeg-autobuild/sandbox/cross_compilers/mingw-w64-x86_64/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32- --enable-libcaca --enable-gray --enable-libtesseract --enable-fontconfig --enable-gmp --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libflite --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libharfbuzz --enable-filter=drawtext --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libilbc --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopus --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis --enable-libwebp --enable-libzimg --enable-libzvbi --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenh264 --enable-libvmaf --enable-libsrt --enable-libxml2 --enable-opengl --enable-libdav1d --enable-gnutls --enable-vulkan --enable-libsvtav1 --enable-libvpx --enable-libaom --enable-nvenc --enable-nvdec --extra-libs=-lz --extra-libs=-lpng --extra-libs=-lm --extra-libs=-lfreetype --extra-libs=-lshlwapi --extra-libs=-lmpg123 --extra-libs=-lpthread --extra-cflags=-DLIBTWOLAME_STATIC --extra-cflags=-DMODPLUG_STATIC --extra-cflags=-DCACA_STATIC --enable-amf --enable-libmfx --enable-libaribcaption --enable-gpl --enable-frei0r --enable-librubberband --enable-libvidstab --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-avisynth --enable-libaribb24 --enable-libxvid --enable-libdavs2 --enable-libxavs2 --enable-libxavs --extra-cflags='-mtune=generic' --extra-cflags=-O3 --enable-static --disable-shared --prefix=/home/runner/work/ffmpeg-autobuild/ffmpeg-autobuild/ffmpeg-source --enable-nonfree --enable-libfdk-aac --enable-decklink
libavutil      59. 60.100 / 59. 60.100
libavcodec     61. 33.102 / 61. 33.102
libavformat    61.  9.107 / 61.  9.107
libavdevice    61.  4.100 / 61.  4.100
libavfilter    10.  9.100 / 10.  9.100
libswscale      8. 13.103 /  8. 13.103
libswresample   5.  4.100 /  5.  4.100
libpostproc    58.  4.100 / 58.  4.100
--------------- 
ffmpeg -buildconf 
--------------- 
--------------- 

  configuration:
    --pkg-config=pkg-config --pkg-config-flags=--static
    --extra-version=ffmpeg-windows-build-helpers
    --enable-version3
    --disable-debug
    --disable-w32threads
    --arch=x86_64
    --target-os=mingw32
    --cross-prefix=/home/runner/work/ffmpeg-autobuild/ffmpeg-autobuild/sandbox/cross_compilers/mingw-w64-x86_64/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-
    --enable-libcaca
    --enable-gray
    --enable-libtesseract
    --enable-fontconfig
    --enable-gmp
    --enable-libass
    --enable-libbluray
    --enable-libbs2b
    --enable-libflite
    --enable-libfreetype
    --enable-libfribidi
    --enable-libharfbuzz
    --enable-filter=drawtext
    --enable-libgme
    --enable-libgsm
    --enable-libilbc
    --enable-libmodplug
    --enable-libmp3lame
    --enable-libopencore-amrnb
    --enable-libopencore-amrwb
    --enable-libopus
    --enable-libsnappy
    --enable-libsoxr
    --enable-libspeex
    --enable-libtheora
    --enable-libtwolame
    --enable-libvo-amrwbenc
    --enable-libvorbis
    --enable-libwebp
    --enable-libzimg
    --enable-libzvbi
    --enable-libmysofa
    --enable-libopenjpeg
    --enable-libopenh264
    --enable-libvmaf
    --enable-libsrt
    --enable-libxml2
    --enable-opengl
    --enable-libdav1d
    --enable-gnutls
    --enable-vulkan
    --enable-libsvtav1
    --enable-libvpx
    --enable-libaom
    --enable-nvenc
    --enable-nvdec
    --extra-libs=-lz
    --extra-libs=-lpng
    --extra-libs=-lm
    --extra-libs=-lfreetype
    --extra-libs=-lshlwapi
    --extra-libs=-lmpg123
    --extra-libs=-lpthread
    --extra-cflags=-DLIBTWOLAME_STATIC
    --extra-cflags=-DMODPLUG_STATIC
    --extra-cflags=-DCACA_STATIC
    --enable-amf
    --enable-libmfx
    --enable-libaribcaption
    --enable-gpl
    --enable-frei0r
    --enable-librubberband
    --enable-libvidstab
    --enable-libx264
    --enable-libx265
    --enable-avisynth
    --enable-libaribb24
    --enable-libxvid
    --enable-libdavs2
    --enable-libxavs2
    --enable-libxavs
    --extra-cflags='-mtune=generic'
    --extra-cflags=-O3
    --enable-static
    --disable-shared
    --prefix=/home/runner/work/ffmpeg-autobuild/ffmpeg-autobuild/ffmpeg-source
    --enable-nonfree
    --enable-libfdk-aac
    --enable-decklink
---------------

My OS is real Win7 SP1 (OEM Lenovo).

So works work me and i see no reason why it shouldn't work for you.

[manolito]

OK, I believe I found the reason for my crashes with your builds...

Looks like you included all kinds of non-gpl extras in your builds, but you forgot to include the (imo very necessary) --enable-libzimg . This library is absolutely necessary for converting HDR sources to SDR (either PQ or HLG), and I would never have expected that you forgot to include this lidrary to a non-gpl build with a lot of other extra libraries.

Whatever, right now your builds are not working for me. Please let me know when (or IF) you changed your mind and publish FFmpeg versions which include libzimg .


Cheers
manolito

[pandy]

OK, I believe I found the reason for my crashes with your builds...

Looks like you included all kinds of non-gpl extras in your builds, but you forgot to include the (imo very necessary) --enable-libzimg . This library is absolutely necessary for converting HDR sources to SDR (either PQ or HLG), and I would never have expected that you forgot to include this lidrary to a non-gpl build with a lot of other extra libraries.

Whatever, right now your builds are not working for me. Please let me know when (or IF) you changed your mind and publish FFmpeg versions which include libzimg .


Cheers
manolito

Not sure if you are addressing this to me or someone else - but lets assume it is addressed to me - at first those builds are not mine but from my perspective both repositories provide fresh Win7 working ffmpeg builds and regular updates - anyway seem libzimg is enabled - check line 'configuration:'

[manolito]

Hi pandy,

yes I was talking to you, after many more tests using your versions I think I know pretty well what's going on...

Even if the core parts of your offerings are working under Win7, some of the additional content does not, and libzimg is one of them. Each of the scripts I have to convert HDR sources to SDR using libzimg crashes right after starting the script. This was obviously not tested, the FFmpeg devs in their eternal visdom seem to have decided to change libzimg so it no longer works under Win7.

The most simple script I use for HDR to SDR is this one:

zscale=1280:-2,zscale=m=gbr:t=linear:dither=none:npl=225,format=gbrpf32le,tonemap=mobius:desat=3.0,zscale=m=709:t=709:p=709:r=limited:c=left:dither=error_diffusion,format=yuv420p,sidedata=delete

Works perfectly under the other FFmpeg versions I use, but crashes your offerings immediately.

This is no problem by itself, but if someone advertizes his offerings as Win7 compatible I would expect that this claim was tested. For the builds you offer this is obviously not the case, so I'm out...


Thanks anyways, and cheers
manolito

[autodidact]

I just want to clarify some things.

The builds suggested by pandy and being discussed here were not built by pandy.

Also, those AnimMouse builds are not related to the builds posted in this thread in that they include nonfree libraries and use the rdp script to build. Though they don't claim Windows 7 compatibility it likely is compatible because like all builds using that script, it doesn't contain any Rust built libraries.

Looking at that script it appears that it doesn't fetch submodules when building libzimg which may account for the zscale behavior observed in that build.

Just a guess.