What codecs with Windows Media Player?

[Jim Ford]

How can I tell what codecs are available to Windows Media Player, on an installation, please?

I'm encoding video files to play on the network at the school where I work. About the only files it will play are divx and xvid - every thing else I've tried, it tries to get the codec and fails.

Jim Ford

[DAvenger]

Install the codec you used to encode those files and you're ready to go.

Other than that I am not aware of a way how to show a list of in-use or available codecs in WMP, sorry. Anything that works in other DirectShow players should work with WMP also.

[setarip_old]

@Jim Ford

Hi!

I believe that if you install the FFDShow filter/codec, you'll be able to playback most anything with Windows Media Player...

[Jim Ford]

Thanks for the replies.

Installing anything on the Windows Network is not an option, as I don't have admin rights. Basically, I've got to use the codec(s) already installed and encode the video files to suit. That's why I want to find out what codecs are installed.

Jim Ford

[LoRd_MuldeR]

@Jim Ford
I think in your case you should definitely try MPlayer (http://mplayer.de.gg)!
MPlayer doesn't use DirectShow and thus won't need any codecs/filters to be installed.
You don't even need to install MPlayer itself, you can run it directly off a CD/DVD or a Network folder.
It will play almost every format in existence! (no codecs, filters, plugins and stuff needed)
Nice, eh?

If you don't like the MPlayer way, you could use DSFMgr (http://www.softella.com/dsfm/index.en.htm) to find out what DirectShow filters (codecs) are installed on the computer.

[setarip_old]

That's why I want to find out what codecs are installed.Control Panel>>System>>Hardware>>Device Manager>>Video Codecs

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Control Panel>>System>>Hardware>>Device Manager>>Video Codecs

You have to say that this will show VfW codecs only!
Most "codecs" today are DShow filters and so they are not be listed there.
Of course I'm aware that there's a VfW-Wrapper for DShow...

[Yong]

mplayer still need dshow video/audio codec binary to play rv30/40 , wma lossless, some qt audio and video too.

[setarip_old]

Most "codecs" today are DShow filters and so they are not be listed there.And which of these are included in a new Windows (presumably XP) installation?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

mplayer still need dshow video/audio codec binary to play rv30/40 , wma lossless, some qt audio and video too.
And which of these are included in a new Windows (presumably XP) installation?

AFAIK MPlayer can load all of those DLLs from it's "codecs" folder, so they don't need to be installed.
This means you can put MPlayer and the "Binary Codec Package" on a CD/DVD an it will run "out of the box".
So you won't need to install anything at all.

[setarip_old]

The question asked by "Jim Ford" isHow can I tell what codecs are available to Windows Media Player, on an installationI take this to mean, "What codecs are included in a new install of Windows" - and, unless I'm mistaken, those are only the codecs that can be found via the Control Panel directions I provided earlier in this thread...

[LoRd_MuldeR]

The question asked by "Jim Ford" isI take this to mean, "What codecs are included in a new install of Windows" - and, unless I'm mistaken, those are only the codecs that can be found via the Control Panel directions I provided earlier in this thread...

The question is what you call a "Codec". If you say Codec = Video for Windows (VfW) Codec, then it can be found in the control pannel. Nevertheless Windows Media Player (as well as any other DShow based player) use DirectShow Filters for decoding, not VfW Codecs! There is a VfW Wrapper in DirectShow, so VfW Codecs can be used for playback in DShow players, but usually they will use "real" DirectShow filters. And those are definitely not listed in Control Panel. For various formats that Windows Media Player can play by default, such as WMV, there are only DirectShow fiters available. If you want to list all installed DirectShow filters, then you'll need a tool like DSFMgr. GraphEdit should do the job too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectShow#Design_Model

[setarip_old]

If you want to list all installed DirectShow filters, then you'll need a tool like DSFMgr. GraphEdit should do the job too.This, then, is the second half of the answer to "Jim Ford"'s question...

[foxyshadis]

Still, I'm pretty sure the only usable default DS decoder not listed on the VFW section is WMV8 (7 for 98). Maybe 9, if they're more recent systems - most OEMs bundle WMP9 with XP now (now that 11 is current, y'know).

Definitely recommend the mplayer/mpui/makeinstantplayer solution if at all possible. All the default codecs pretty uniformly suck, except WMV9 (and even then only the now-dead complex profile is really usefully efficient, except it won't even play in WMP11).

[Jim Ford]

Control Panel>>System>>Hardware>>Device Manager>>Video Codecs

Got it - thanks!

I'm looking at the codecs I've got on the Win XP machine I have at home - there's about 20 of them in various flavours.

When I'm back at work on Monday I'll do the same check on the networked machines, but I suspect that as I don't have admin rights, I might not be able to access the Device Manager.

Thanks for all the helpful replies!

Jim Ford

[setarip_old]

I'm encoding video files to play on the network at the school where I work.I suspect that as I don't have admin rights, I might not be able to access the Device Manager.I'm presuming that this is a school project that's authorized. If so, arrange for the admin to give you temporary admin access to the Control Panel...