How do u clean up "codecs debris"

[treehh]

Over the time, I installed / unistalled various codecs. Wondering what's the most effective way to know what kind of codecs you are using for certain files and how to remove them? I want to know when I'm playing a divx file, i'm actually using divx codec not xvid and vice versa. Thanks for all your help

[jggimi]

@treehh:

I've moved your question to its very own thread in a more appropriate forum. Your question was off topic both for the thread and the forum it was in.

[neuron2]

"Most effective" is subjective in the absence of stated criteria.

One thing you can use for getting information on your files is GSpot.

[unskinnyboy]

Rendering the file in GraphEdit will also show you which decoder decodes what (for both video & audio).

For removing any codec, the proper way is to uninstall them - this will ensure that the associated DLLs are unregistered and the dlls/axs deleted. You could also unregister individual codecs if you know the correct DLLs associated with it, either manually via the commandline using the RegSvr32 command or via a tool like RadLight Filter Manager, RegShell etc. But don't do this without a proper understanding of what exactly you are doing, because you may inadvertently unregister vital components of your OS.