[Rivera42]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

Just look at all the awards and great reviews this guy got for submitting a fake program that did nothing at all:

http://successfulsoftware.net/2007/0...e-awards-scam/

I could see myself downloading awardmestars, but that article makes me loath to believe everything I read on the Internet like I do now

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by Rivera42

I could see myself downloading awardmestars, but that article makes me loath to believe everything I read on the Internet like I do now

LOL. Well, I wasn't trying to make you lose all your faith in the human race, but the internet is powered by money and nearly any method of making it is fair game. Everything should be taken with a grain of salt. I know I have often downloaded freeware that had all kinds of awards that either didn't run or caused damage.

A good search is sometimes wise. You don't even need to go beyond the search results page. You can tell from them whether people recommend a program and whether it is trouble.

You even need to be careful in this forum (and all others). If someone gives you advice and has only 2 posts, you can wonder whether they just joined to prank someone or sabotage a machine for fun. But by the time they have 100+ posts, you can be quite sure that if they were trouble, CookieGal, AcaCandy, or someone else would have kicked them to the curb.

[Rivera42]

Sometimes when I can't figure something out, that's just what I do. Search it on Google. For instance I had this problem, and the results of my search helped to put my mind slightly at ease. Not fully, but enough so that I could move forward.

As for moving forward, I've got Codec Installer now, and you're right, it looks pretty easy to use. Now let's see if it can get me that xvid codec.

[Elvandil]

The Xvid codec recommended by xvid.com is here:

http://www.digital-digest.com/softwa...2&ssid=0&did=1 (with an installer).

Another very versatile one that will play most avi formats is FFDShow DirectShow Codec.

[Rivera42]

Now it's telling me I need the ac3 codec as well. WMP pointed me towards that codec's .net site, which sent me to sourceforge.

I'm guessing I just run the .exe's and that's it?

Something else strange, I installed the DivX bundle and now some of the files that wouldn't play before are working now, only with a DivX icon in the tray. I had a problem during install, as well, it looked for the firefox plugin folder in what I took to be a location used by Firefox Portable while there was a flash drive plugged in. I kept getting an error message that the DivX for Firefox plugin couldn't find Drive K.

[Elvandil]

Those portable apps can cause problems. Some of them only have a plugins folder while running (Thinstalled). Better to unhook it while updating browsers.

Some codecs have installers, yes. Others need to be placed manually in the system32 folder and registered like a dll.

[Rivera42]

Well, that's just it. Before I powered the system on, I had removed all the USB-connected drives, including the external hard drive, so as not to interfere with any updating, scanning or restoring I might do this session. I even refreshed Device Manager. But for some reason, something somewhere inside is pointing towards the portable firefox, which really isn't even supposed to leave traces.

[Rivera42]

WMPlugins says it's the Dolby AC3 2000 codec I need, which from sourceforge comes as ac3filter_1_46.exe, but when I run it I get the famous unsigned/unknown publisher warning. Makes me nervous. But I followed the white rabbit directly from WMP11's links, so is there cause for concern?

[sup2a]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

Yes, things become habitual on the internet. People hear things and repeat them. "Clean your registry. Vista is horrible. K-Lite is a must-have. MS sucks. The dumber you are, the less you sleep, and there's a guy in Spain that has never slept."

They spread very fast and never get validated.

Download sites check their wares for viruses, but most of the software is not tested except by downloaders themselves. The sites just want more traffic for more money.

Just look at all the awards and great reviews this guy got for submitting a fake program that did nothing at all:

http://successfulsoftware.net/2007/0...e-awards-scam/

HA! that is amazing! major proof you CANNOT believe everything on the net!...and it sure is ridiculous what some people believe...

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by Rivera42

WMPlugins says it's the Dolby AC3 2000 codec I need, which from sourceforge comes as ac3filter_1_46.exe, but when I run it I get the famous unsigned/unknown publisher warning. Makes me nervous. But I followed the white rabbit directly from WMP11's links, so is there cause for concern?

Sometimes you just have to trust. I imagine it is fine. Some people just don't have the time, money, or inclination to go that extra step.

[Rivera42]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

The Xvid codec recommended by xvid.com is here:

http://www.digital-digest.com/softwa...2&ssid=0&did=1 (with an installer).

Another very versatile one that will play most avi formats is FFDShow DirectShow Codec.

So these don't conflict with one another? Because CodecInstaller tells me I don't have that FFDShow one either and I was thinking about getting it. I noticed also the file versions differ between the xvid codec you linked me to, and the one from codecinstaller's helpful download. one had 2007 in the filename and one had 2008 - yours, i believe - reckon I'll use that one.

I'm also confused about the dolby AC3 codec, according to the codec installer I have it already, but WMP isn't playing the audio portions of those files.

[Elvandil]

Where is the codec located? The ones located in system32 are available to all players, but those in application folders are only used by that application.

You can copy codecs to system32 and then register them with the system.

For example, Start > Run: regsvr32 codec.ax
or regsvr32 codec.dll

[DarqueMist]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

.......

Another very versatile one that will play most avi formats is FFDShow DirectShow Codec.

An FYI Elvandil, the FFDshow codec has been causing some problems for gamers because of the way it forcibly locks itself to some games and apps. The most notable one is probably the performance / stability issues it caused when playing Oblivion.

[Rivera42]

So if I found codecs in, say, VLC Player's folder, those might work?

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by DarqueMist

An FYI Elvandil, the FFDshow codec has been causing some problems for gamers because of the way it forcibly locks itself to some games and apps. The most notable one is probably the performance / stability issues it caused when playing Oblivion.

Haven't heard that. Any links?

Ffdshow has been around so long that I think the makers of Oblivion should fix that problem.