[Rivera42]

My computer needs the xvid codec, so I headed over to free-codecs.com and grabbed the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, which is K-Lite plus Media Player (NOT Windows Media Player) and a couple other things. free-codecs.com is supposed to be one of the top sites for clean codecs.

However, the installation screen confused the heck out of me!

How do I install this codec pack without breaking anything?

[AcaCandy]

K-Lite, would that be associated with Kazaa?

[Rivera42]

No I don't believe so. It's supposed to be this bundle of audio and video codecs that should enable Windows users to play any music or video file, for instance those using xvid codecs like .avi files. WMP11 sends users to xvidmovies.com IIRC but I continued my search at xvid.com, which links to free-codecs.com which is supposed to be one of the better sites for safe codec downloads. I have them bookmarked from last year so I know I must have done some digging in order to decide this wasn't a scam site. So far as I know, free-codecs.com and the KLite pack are legitimate. In any case, it isn't for kazaa, it's for WMP11 to view .avi files.

*I definitely wouldn't dirty my hands with kazaa, and if this pack has any relation to that software this is the first i'm hearing of it.

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

K-Lite, would that be associated with Kazaa?

In name only, really. The same company was involved with both at one time, I believe, but the codec pack (which contains loads of poorly written codecs that may cause a machine to lose sound, lock up, or play media poorly because the rotten codecs take precedence over the good ones) is now pretty independent and contains only (bad, some good) codecs.

Use a scanner to find codecs you need. Packs are unwise.

CodecInstaller
GSpot
DP MediaInfo
VideoInspector
Sherlock

[AcaCandy]

Many codecs I have searched for involve paying for them. I must admit though, this is out of my area of expertise, and anytime I see K-LITE, it usually has involved Kazaa. I apologize if I am mistaken.

[AcaCandy]

Elvandil is following me around today

[Rivera42]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have no idea what sort of headache you may have just spared me, and I wouldn't want to know. But I think you just spared me one heck of a headache!

I have gspot, but it doesn't tell me where to go for the codecs, only which ones I need.

Do you guys (er, and ladies ) happen to know if this site free-codecs.com is at least reliable? Because they seem to be pretty big KLite boosters, yet on the other hand even xvid.com sends people here.

[Elvandil]

Try Codec Installer. He updates that a lot and has download pages.

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

Elvandil is following me around today

Well, if you keep going to new posts, and things I want to respond to...see you at the next one.

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by Rivera42

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have no idea what sort of headache you may have just spared me, and I wouldn't want to know. But I think you just spared me one heck of a headache!

I have gspot, but it doesn't tell me where to go for the codecs, only which ones I need.

Do you guys (er, and lady ) happen to know if this site free-codecs.com is at least reliable? Because they seem to be pretty big KLite boosters, yet on the other hand even xvid.com sends people here.

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/

[Rivera42]

The page won't load. I think it's them, not me, since im not having any trouble logging on to TG. I am on a mobile, though, maybe that's got something to do with it.

Likewise I can't exactly go download Codec Installer yet, since I'm not at my computer, but what will I need to know about actually using it?

Avoid the codec "packs," I understand that. Use gspot to determine what codec I need, ok. What comes next?

[Elvandil]

Codec Installer is very friendly. You can use it to find out what codec a file needs, or scan your machine for what codecs you have, what are missing, and where to download them. I think the startup window only has 3 buttons.

[Rivera42]

I don't get why Windows Media Player can't "borrow" codecs from my installed VLC Player and MPlayer. I understand that it can't, but I don't understand WHY it can't.

What's all this about some codecs costing money?

[Rivera42]

Here's a reference to free-codecs.com right here on TG, only an hour ago:

http://forums.techguy.org/multimedia...-new-post.html

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by Rivera42

I don't get why Windows Media Player can't "borrow" codecs from my installed VLC Player and MPlayer. I understand that it can't, but I don't understand WHY it can't.

What's all this about some codecs costing money?

There is a lot of sahring between apps. For example, I play Real and Quicktime movies in WMP11 now after installing Real Alternative, Quicktime Alternative, and the Media Player Classic that comes with them.

But sharing is not complete, for sure, and it may have something to do with how each player identifies that codec that is needed for a particular file to play.

Of course, file associations are another matter. Though QT and Real formats are not listed in the WMP11 formats liost in Options, if they are associated with WMP11 by another method, like with File Types Manager or FileAssociate, they take on the WMP icon and play with it when clicked.