convert .smv

[bigerniel]

Sujet : Need help decoding an old Smith Micro "VideoLink Mail" .SMV webcam video (1990s)
Hi everyone,
I have an old webcam video recorded with Smith Micro VideoLink Mail software (probably late 1990s), saved as a .smv file. The software is long discontinued and I can't find a working copy or player.
What I've found so far:
The file starts with embedded resource strings referencing "VideoLink Mail" (error messages, etc.)
FFmpeg detects a raw H.263 video stream inside (176x144, ~25fps) starting a few KB into the file
Extracting and decoding that stream with FFmpeg produces heavily corrupted/garbled frames — mostly colored noise blocks, not a real image
It's possible the video is interleaved with audio or extra framing bytes I'm not accounting for
Does anyone recognize this format, have a working copy of VideoLink Mail (Windows 98/XP era), or know how the container structures the H.263 payload? Any pointers appreciated — happy to share a hex dump or the file itself if useful.

[ProWo]

You can try clever FFmpeg-GUI.
It can handle smv video and convert it to modern avc/hevc mp4, mov, mkv aso.

[bigerniel]

Thanks for your answer but Unfortunately,i am a beginner and the software is too complicated to use; I can't get it to work.

[cholla]

Share the original file.
You will need to put it in a .zip file to post it in this forum.
7 zip is a good software for creating a .zip file.
Use zip for the format & Store for the compression level the default should work for the rest .
I just need to right click on the file & select 7 zip & "add to archive'

[Alwyn]

Try attaching it as is; it might work (SMV isn't listed in approved attachments but...)

If it doesn't, just change the extension to exe or similar, then we can change it back.

No need for 7zip, in Windows Explorer, right-click ("more options" if necessary) and towards the bottom choose "Send to >Compressed (zipped) folder".

Or put it up on Google Drive or similar.

[cholla]

@ Alwyn ,
I will give the extension change a try next time I have a file with an odd extension.
The Windows compression to zip is OK but it does slightly compress a file.
Or did on a video file I used it on.
7zip Store mode does not compress.
I only use Google Drive or similar if the file is too large to post.That is rare.

[bigerniel]

I'm trying with a Drive link because I couldn't even manage to upload the file—that shows you what my skill level is :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tEIQapuxRN2xKpCqFRev9vvNURdUPtoU/view?usp=sharing