[paintfly]

How do I change 'em back to their original file extensions so I can play them on Windows Media Player and, more importantly, edit them in Moviemaker?

Also, when I load videos from my digital camera on to my PC, (as a removeable disc) how do I prevent them automatically becoming Quicktime files?

I've nothing against Quicktime per se, but I would like to try Moviemaker, as it's free and already on my computer, before I shell out $30 for Quicktime Pro.

I run Win XP Professional

[Noyb]

Folder Options > File types (tab) > scroll down to the desired file type ...
and change the "Open With" program.

There should be a way to do this in Quick Time .. but I threw it away a long time ago and replace it with ...
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...lternative.htm

My .mov files now open in Media Player Classic ...
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...er_Classic.htm

IMO ... anyone who has paid for QT has been had.

[paintfly]

Thanks for the reply.
Your first suggestion resulted in me being able to view most of my videos on the WMP, but not to import them into Moviemaker, which is what I'm really after.

When I changed the settings, the QT movie became a QT file with the WMP logo instead of the QT logo next to it, but in My Docs they are all still QTmovies. When WMP opened up it warned me that it wasn't really the right file but might be able to play it anyway, which it did.

Thanks for the links, I'm not too sure about the Codec one (I'll have to go back and take another look to see if I can work it out) and I assume that MP Classic is just a suggestion for a better alternative to WMP? Very kind - thank you. But that still doesn't solve my video editing problem.

I have just downloaded another bit of freeware - ZS4, but haven't had time to check whether this is too advanced for a total beginner.

QT haven't had any of my money yet and they're not likely to because I don't like the way they've changed my files so that I can't use my videos in other programs. How can I restore my video clips to whatever they were before I downloaded QT?

[Noyb]

QT or QTA is only required to open and view ****.mov videos.
Don’t know why you’d want QT pro.
It only works on ****.mov files … as I remember.

QTA loads the codec that allows ***.mov files to be opened in WMP or MPC.

Yes .. MPC is a lightweight alternative to WMP.
Most of the time, I like MPC better.

Now .. I need to know specifically what video file type you want to open in WMM …
Then I might need some help from the real video wizards here.

Again …
Folder options > file types(tab) > and change (or Restore the XP system default) for each file type that has a problem.

[Noyb]

May I add…
There are three ways to open a File with a Program.

1: 2click on the file and have it open in the system default program as set in the folder options … Above
2: Right click on the file … and choose the desired "open with" program from the context menu.
3: Open the program and Browse to the File ... I almost never use this backdoor approach.

There’s a 4th option (#2.5) … but I’m not going there till you’re working OK with the first three.

BTW ... Welcome to the forum.

[paintfly]

Thanks for your continued support.
OK I've downloaded MPC and taken advantage of the offer to uninstall QT during the setup. I've played one of my video clips on it and it works fine. However this doesn't get me any nearer to being able to edit.

I did restore the default settings in Folder Options, although this was only available on the General tab and not File Types as in your thumbnail.

All my video clips are MOV Files, were downloaded from a digi stills camera and will not import into WMM; this was my only reason for considering a purchase of QT PRO. However I would prefer to find another way (preferably free) of editing my clips if possible. But I was told by a techie friend at work today that video clips downloaded from Digi stills cameras are always QT files, I don't know if this is true, but if so, it seems the solution would be to convert them or copies into another file format. I couldn't see any way of doing this anywhere eg. Save As (although I seem to remember QT Pro did offer this facilty )

As I said, I've down loaded the ZS4 Video Editing program, http://www.zs4.net/free-software-downloads but it looks complicated at first glance and I haven't had time to do the beginners tutorials yet to see if this is a workable solution.

[Noyb]

Not sure what kind of editing you wish to do ... but as I remember ..
The only editing QT pro can do is cutting n splicing.

If a good mov file converter could be found .. I think that'd be the way to go.

Wonder where all the real video wizards went ???

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by paintfly

But I was told by a techie friend at work today that video clips downloaded from Digi stills cameras are always QT files,

That's not necessarily true but many use the .mov format. You only need Pro if you want to encode .mov .

I didn't look but as you have found out you can't import into WMM, AFAIK it doesn't support the format. You can try Super for converting: http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

You can also find many other free tools for converting here: www.videohelp.com/tools

If you want to work directly with the mov file many applications do support import and export of .mov Ulead Video Studio is one. Many cams include a stripped down SE version of this because it's one of the few consumer apps that supports .mov .

One thing to be aware of, the video you have wasn't intended for TV playback. It's highly compressed and and at a odd reolution and possibly odd framerate. How well it will convert to DVD for playback on TV will be mediocre at best. If you want to put video on disc for TV playback get a video camera. Otherwise it's fine for computer playback.

FYI, most apps ask you if you want to associate files that it supports when you install. You can easily change file associations in the options sections of most programs. When you associate it doesn't prevent other programs from opening it, it only sets the default program that opens it.

[hewee]

You can open QT and then go up to Edit and down to Preferences and QT Preferences and click on it.
Now when the QT setting box comes up pick from the dropdown "File Type Association".
Now click on the File type.. button.
You can click on the + and uncheck what you do not want QT to open.
You can if you never did anything here before click on the "Use Default" and it will uncheck most added things that were checked.

[paintfly]

Thanks for the responses; lot's to investigate, I'll report back when I've got my head around it all

[hewee]

Your welcome