MS H.264 Decoder on Windows Server 2008 R2?

[thewebchat]

Recently, I was wondering if there were a way to use the MS H.264 Decoder on Server 2008 R2, as it is built from the same code as Windows 7. According to some random Internet sources, the filename of the MF decoder is Msmpeg2vdec.dll, which, according to Microsoft (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd797815%28VS.85%29.aspx), is included in Server 2008 R2. However, a quick search of System32, SysWOW64, and WinSXS returns no results. Interestingly, the MF encoders mfh264enc.dll and mfaacenc.dll are present.

So, is the MS H.264 Decoder (and the AAC decoder for that matter) present on Server 2008 R2?

[Snowknight26]

I couldn't find it either, but then again, you probably have to install a specific feature in the server manager before it appears.

[benwaggoner]

To get Windows Media Player at all, you'll need to install the Desktop Experience feature, which gives you WMP, Aero Glass, and all the other stuff that's appropriate to a workstation but not needed for a server.

I haven't installed 2008 R2 myself yet, so can't check myself. I'll ask someone who will know.

[thewebchat]

Indeed, I did install the "Desktop Experience" feature, which added Aero, Windows Media Player (ick), Windows Defender (ick), and a bunch of other crap, but Msmpeg2vdec.dll and Msmpeg2adec.dll were conspicuously absent. I found on Google that this was the case for Server 2008 as well, and that the said DLL originally did DVD decrypting and MPEG-2 decoding per the name. The only reason I could think of for this to be absent is some kind of licensing issue, but that doesn't seem to make sense as Server 2008 R2 ships with a file named "mfh264enc.dll".

[Snowknight26]

Same. I had Desktop Experience and all the required subfeatures installed but the files were missing.