Tool for changing preferred DirectShow filters in Windows 7 [Archive]

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clsid

8th May 2009, 22:06

Windows 7 uses its own DirectShow filters for decoding several audio and video formats.

Changing which filters get used requires modifications to some Registry keys, including adjusting access permissions. This can be quite difficult (and dangerous) for novice users.

Below you can find a small tool that can change the preferred filters with just a few clicks.

So now you can play .mkv files with for example ffdshow as the video decoder in Windows Media Center!

Currently supported formats:
* H.264
* MPEG-4 (Xvid/DivX/MP4V)
* MPEG-2
* VC-1 and WMVA
* WMV1/2/3
* DV
* MJPEG
* AAC
* MP1
* MP2
* MP3

Currently supported third party filters (32-bit):
* ffdshow
* LAV Video
* LAV CUVID
* MPCVideoDec
* CoreAVC H.264 decoder
* Xvid MPEG-4 decoder
* DivX H.264 decoder
* DivX MPEG-4 decoder
* DScaler5 MPEG-2 decoder
* Gabest MPEG-2 decoder
* Cyberlink H.264 decoder (PDVD 7/8/9/10)
* Cyberlink MPEG-2 decoder (PDVD 7/8/9/10)
* Cyberlink VC-1 decoder (patched with VC1Tweak: guid {394DFD1B-6F4C-4096-AA14-EF852B02595B})
* ArcSoft H.264 decoder
* ArcSoft MPEG-4 decoder
* ArcSoft MPEG-2 decoder
* ArcSoft VC-1 decoder (patched with VC1Tweak: guid {9DAD7B50-4432-4F48-AC60-B2B4E854454B})
* Monogram AAC decoder
* DiAVC H.264 decoder
* Purevideo MPEG-2 decoder
* NVIDIA MPEG-2 decoder
* Broadcom video decoder
* CoreAAC v2

Currently supported third party filters (64-bit):
* ffdshow
* LAV Video
* LAV CUVID
* CoreAVC
* DiAVC H.264 decoder
* MPCVideoDec
* Xvid MPEG-4 decoder
* Gabest MPEG-2 decoder
* CoreAAC v2

Works on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.

Note: The preferred filter settings only apply to DirectShow filters. It will not have any effect on files that are played using the Media Foundation framework! For example .m2ts and .mp4 files are played using Media Foundation. The tool also has specific tweaks to disable Media Foundation and other playback components from Microsoft.

Download (http://www.codecguide.com/windows7_preferred_filter_tweaker.htm) (v4.6 - August 23rd 2011):

Hypernova

9th May 2009, 01:13

Thanks clsid! This will help a lot. I think I should add something (that I think is related) tough. It seem like microsft got a way to make Media Extender play unsupport format or container by streaming files that the PC can play but the extender can't, and this seem to not work with file that decode by ffdshow. For example, I can play mkv file using xbox 360 if the file decoded by Microsoft decoder. But if that mkv is decoded by ffshow instead, the streaming won't work and I'll see an error. Not sure anything can fix that (I wish I could see subtitle in 360 though not much hope). Anyway, I just want to let anyone aware of this before using your tool. Again, thanks.

Atak_Snajpera

9th May 2009, 08:14

clsid
Are you going to combine this tool with ffdshow installer?

clsid

9th May 2009, 12:06

@Hypernova

I have no idea what MS did to make their software more compatible with the 360. But wasn't it already possible to stream .mkv files in Vista (after some reg tweaks)? From what I have read only 5.1 audio was problematic.

@Atak_Snajpera

If there is a demand for it, then maybe. First I will try to make the tool more complete.

Atak_Snajpera

9th May 2009, 12:26

If there is a demand for it, then maybe. First I will try to make the tool more complete.
FFdshow installer should automatically force ffdshow as preffered decoder if libavcodec or ffmpeg-mt is selected

gswudi

9th May 2009, 12:32

another filters setting tool
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7817/20090509191739.png

Hypernova

9th May 2009, 20:27

@Hypernova

I have no idea what MS did to make their software more compatible with the 360. But wasn't it already possible to stream .mkv files in Vista (after some reg tweaks)? From what I have read only 5.1 audio was problematic.

I think I can't get even Windows 7 Beta to stream mkv (without regsitry tweaks). Probably just my misunderstanding. But at least I don't have to mess with registry to get mkv playing this time.

Is that registry tweaks make it possible to have subtitle via ffdshow? Could you point me out how to do it? I have been searching but never find anything that's help.

Rhane

14th May 2009, 21:41

All I'm concerned about is if I can stream my .mkv's to my PS3 through the program "PS3 Media Server" http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/

Anbody else using Windows 7 and this software?

clsid

15th May 2009, 17:03

New version of the tool can be found in first post.

Keiyakusha

15th May 2009, 19:03

I have CoreAVC with "preferred decoder" checked.
Before and after applying this tool I see this:
http://www.petaimg.com/u327/219123.png
Should I see CoreAVC in this graph? (Win7 RC x86)

Edit: This is h264 video. For mp4 used haali splitter.

clsid

16th May 2009, 12:46

I have only tested with ffdshow.

Carpo

17th May 2009, 10:28

ok i must be doing something wrong because everytime i run this program i tell it to use ffdshow, but its looks like wmp 64 is still using its own codecs for x264 ac3 is handled by ffdshow, just seems the others are still being stolen by microsoft

Carpo

17th May 2009, 16:28

fixed it, seems i needed to change a registry entry so the tool could write to it

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectShow\Preferred - give yourself write permissions on there and run clsid's tool and all is good

mr.duck

18th May 2009, 14:00

what about the mess between 64 bit and 32 bit codecs?

The tool may work on 64 bit OS, but does it just set the prefered 32bit codecs?

clsid

18th May 2009, 15:53

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectShow\Preferred - give yourself write permissions on there and run clsid's tool and all is goodThe tool should be adjusting the permissions automatically by giving the Administrators group the ownership and full access. It seems this does not always work. I will see if I can improve that.

Simply running the tool again can show you if the changes were successful.

The tool may work on 64 bit OS, but does it just set the prefered 32bit codecs? It has separate options for 32-bit and 64-bit filters.

albain

19th May 2009, 12:05

Good work clsid, I have seen your post about the user account control tool but I did not have the time to implement it.

Snakefood

19th May 2009, 14:00

Simply running the tool again can show you if the changes were successful.

And it doesnt work anyways. Nothing happens. W7 x64 build 7100. Any suggestions?

clsid

19th May 2009, 14:40

Manually adjust the registry access permissions on
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectShow\Preferred

Edit: I have uploaded a new version. Maybe that will work better for you.

Edit2: I have just tested 0.4 on a completely fresh install of Windows 7 x64 build 7127 and it worked OK.

Snakefood

20th May 2009, 00:31

Edit2: I have just tested 0.4 on a completely fresh install of Windows 7 x64 build 7127 and it worked OK.

yeah works great, thanks a lot

Atak_Snajpera

20th May 2009, 15:11

Edit: I have uploaded a new version. Maybe that will work better for you.
Did you change commandline for SetACL?

clsid

20th May 2009, 15:13

Same commands, but now split into two separate steps. First change owner, then adjust permissions.

Atak_Snajpera

20th May 2009, 15:16

Something like this ?
SetACL.exe -ot reg -on "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\DirectShow\Preferred" -actn setowner -ownr "n:Administrators;s:n"
SetACL.exe -actn ace -ace "n:Administrators;p:read,full;s:n;i:io,so;m:grant;w:dacl" -rec yes

clsid

20th May 2009, 15:32

Second command must also specify the key name. Also, I have used 'm:set' instead of 'm:grant'.

Atak_Snajpera

20th May 2009, 15:37

Do I have to use 64bit SetACL.exe for 64bit OS?

Keiyakusha

20th May 2009, 15:45

Now I get this error message when trying to use Win7DSFilterTweaker_0.4 on Win7 x86.
http://www.petaimg.com/u440/296Untitled.png

clsid

20th May 2009, 15:54

Do I have to use 64bit SetACL.exe for 64bit OS?You need to use both.

Now I get this error message when trying to use Win7DSFilterTweaker_0.4 on Win7 x86.Is caused by a typo. I will upload a fixed version in a moment.

Keiyakusha

20th May 2009, 16:45

clsid
Just tried Tweaker 0.5, and... Finally, it works for me! Thanks for this great tool ^_^

Atak_Snajpera

21st May 2009, 13:50

@clsid
I think that it's time to combine this tool with ffdshow installer.

zachdms

22nd May 2009, 00:41

clsid

22nd May 2009, 13:41

Well, the tool can easily restore all settings to their defaults. So all changes that a user choses to make can be reverted.

DarkZell666

25th May 2009, 13:18

As someone who loves stability, this kind of thing frightens me.

I would suspect that if you tried to stabilize your architecture, someone would always find a way to introduce ways to destabilize it. Your "great cause" now is someone else's "uh oh whoops" three months from now. :)

As someone who loves life, cars frighten me. I would suspect that if you tried to live, someone would always find a way to introduce ways to kill you. Your "great cause" now is someone else's "uh oh whoops" three months from now. :rolleyes:

... Life can kill you, you know ;)

mr.duck

1st June 2009, 11:51

Errrr all I get with version 0.5 is a list with the only option for every single codec is "Microsoft". I sure have more options than that installed. DScaler5 for MPEG2 for a start. I'm on Windows 7 64 bit.

clsid

1st June 2009, 12:24

As you can read in the opening post, it only detects a few third party filters. DScaler5 is not yet on that list. I will add it in a future version. If you have more request, let me know.

In case of ffdshow, the tool also actually checks if a format is enabled in ffdshow options, before it is displayed as a choice in the tool.

mr.duck

1st June 2009, 12:53

Ya must add DScaler5 support since it's the best quality MPEG2 decoder and it's free :)

I just noticed that the cyberlink mpeg2 decoder I have installed isn't picked up either.

clsid

1st June 2009, 14:26

New version can be found in first post.

mr.duck

1st June 2009, 16:02

New version can be found in first post.

Both DScaler5 and Cyberlink are showing up now so seems to be working, thanks.

Brazil2

1st June 2009, 19:04

Thanks for the addition of Dscaler5 :)

If you have more request, let me know.
Arcsoft video decoder for both H264 and VC1 please :)

clsid

1st June 2009, 19:23

Could you give me the clsid values for those Arcsoft filters? That is all I need to know to be able to add them.

Edit:
I found value {B793E9A8-C53E-4845-9DE9-C32326EACCAD} belonging to ASVid.ax. Please confirm if that is the decoder you meant.

Brazil2

1st June 2009, 20:28

I found value {B793E9A8-C53E-4845-9DE9-C32326EACCAD} belonging to ASVid.ax. Please confirm if that is the decoder you meant.
Confirmed:
Display name: ArcSoft Video Decoder
File name: ASVid.ax
CLSID: {B793E9A8-C53E-4845-9DE9-C32326EACCAD}
Media types: MPEG1, MPEG2, DVSD, H264, VC1, MPEG4 ASP.

Full list:
Media Types: 30
Type: 0
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_MPEG2_VIDEO {E06D8026-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
Type: 1
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_MPEG2_PES {E06D8020-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_MPEG2_VIDEO {E06D8026-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
Type: 2
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_STANDARD_PACK_HEADER {36523B13-8EE5-11D1-8CA3-0060B057664A}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_MPEG2_VIDEO {E06D8026-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
Type: 3
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_DVD_ENCRYPTED_PACK {ED0B916A-044D-11D1-AA78-00C04FC31D60}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_MPEG2_VIDEO {E06D8026-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
Type: 4
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_MPEG1Packet {E436EB80-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
Type: 5
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_MPEG1Payload {E436EB81-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
Type: 6
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_STREAM {E436EB83-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_MPEG1Video {E436EB86-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
Type: 7
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:dvsd MEDIASUBTYPE_dvsd_ {64737664-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 8
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:DVSD MEDIASUBTYPE_DVSD {44535644-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 9
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_DVD_ENCRYPTED_PACK {ED0B916A-044D-11D1-AA78-00C04FC31D60}
MinorType: FourCC:dvsd MEDIASUBTYPE_dvsd_ {64737664-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 10
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_DVD_ENCRYPTED_PACK {ED0B916A-044D-11D1-AA78-00C04FC31D60}
MinorType: FourCC:DVSD MEDIASUBTYPE_DVSD {44535644-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 11
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:H264 {34363248-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 12
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:h264 {34363268-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 13
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:X264 {34363258-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 14
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:x264 {34363278-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 15
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:AVC1 {31435641-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 16
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:avc1 {31637661-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 17
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: {5B64102C-0CB7-47E6-8EB1-8EF806CCCB3C}
Type: 18
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: {8D2D71CB-243F-45E3-B2D8-5FD7967EC09B}
Type: 19
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: {6F29D2AD-E130-45AA-B42F-F623AD354A90}
Type: 20
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: {DDF4B57D-C1D7-4595-A34B-56A2255E5E0F}
Type: 21
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: {629B40AD-AD74-4EF4-A985-F0C8D92E5ECA}
Type: 22
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:xvid {64697678-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 23
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:XVID {44495658-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 24
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:divx {78766964-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 25
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:DIVX {58564944-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 26
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:dx50 {30357864-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 27
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:DX50 {30355844-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 28
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:mp4v {7634706D-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 29
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:MP4V {5634504D-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
----- Pin 1 ------
Flags: Output:0 ZeroInst:0 Renderer:0 ManyInst:0
Instances: 0
Media Types: 3
Type: 0
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_DVD_ENCRYPTED_PACK {ED0B916A-044D-11D1-AA78-00C04FC31D60}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_SUBPICTURE {E06D802D-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
Type: 1
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_STANDARD_PACK_HEADER {36523B13-8EE5-11D1-8CA3-0060B057664A}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_SUBPICTURE {E06D802D-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
Type: 2
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_MPEG2_PES {E06D8020-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_SUBPICTURE {E06D802D-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
----- Pin 2 ------
Flags: Output:1 ZeroInst:0 Renderer:0 ManyInst:0
Instances: 0
Media Types: 8
Type: 0
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:YUY2 MEDIASUBTYPE_YUY2 {32595559-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 1
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:YV12 MEDIASUBTYPE_YV12 {32315659-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 2
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: FourCC:UYVY MEDIASUBTYPE_UYVY {59565955-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 3
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: DDPF_RGB32 {E436EB7E-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
Type: 4
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: DDPF_RGB24 {E436EB7D-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
Type: 5
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: DDPF_RGB565 {E436EB7B-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
Type: 6
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: DDPF_RGB555 {E436EB7C-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
Type: 7
MajorType: FourCC:vids MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
MinorType: DDPF_ARGB32 {773C9AC0-3274-11D0-B724-00AA006C1A01}
----- Pin 3 ------
Flags: Output:1 ZeroInst:0 Renderer:0 ManyInst:0
Instances: 0
Media Types: 3
Type: 0
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_AUXLine21Data {670AEA80-3A82-11D0-B79B-00AA003767A7}
MinorType: KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_Line21_GOPPacket {6E8D4A23-310C-11D0-B79A-00AA003767A7}
Type: 1
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_STREAM {E436EB83-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
MinorType: FourCC:TVCC {43435654-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
Type: 2
MajorType: KSDATAFORMAT_TYPE_STREAM {E436EB83-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
MinorType: {A793C893-B525-4E56-9FD9-6C7A9E2CC103}

clsid

1st June 2009, 21:53

Added ;)

New version can be found in first post.

Brazil2

1st June 2009, 23:25

Added ;)

New version can be found in first post.
Brilliant! Thanks a lot ;)

turbojet

2nd June 2009, 03:24

Hi, is that for Arcsoft TMT2\TME or TMT3?

clsid

2nd June 2009, 11:16

I don't know, I haven't ever used that filter. It is likely they use the same filter in all their products.

turbojet

2nd June 2009, 22:00

zachdms

2nd June 2009, 23:36

As someone who loves life, cars frighten me. I would suspect that if you tried to live, someone would always find a way to introduce ways to kill you. Your "great cause" now is someone else's "uh oh whoops" three months from now. :rolleyes:

... Life can kill you, you know ;)I ain't trollin', just commentin'. I simply talk with security and stability folks often. Imagine if you will that you put an "air bag" in the car to make it "safer"... ;)

As a dev tool, sounds awesome. If it's something that starts creeping into the user ecosystem nonjudiciously... that's the part that scares me. As a reminder of why I politely bang the caution drum, during the middle of last year, the top crashes across all multimedia components upon Windows Vista were caused by codec packs. Not sheer and absolute MS incompetence as you might expect, just old dumb stuff like mmswitch, iac, and other oh-so-avoidable sources of error. Stuff not working is a tragedy I want to avoid. I'll do what I can to help put the pieces together, as I'm sure many of you do. <3

All respect to the project. I apologize for the minor digression.

clsid

3rd June 2009, 12:06

clsid

3rd June 2009, 21:20

Yup after registering ASVid.ax it does have the same CLSID and it shows up.

However I wonder how people are making use of it in directshow as it can't connect to haali or gabest splitters. Brazil2 how are you using it?
The only way I know of to get it to work is through VC1tweak (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1249154#post1249154) and that will only connect to certain TMT2 versions and it's currently not supported by this tool. What would be nifty is if this tool could setup arcsoft/powerdvd/windvd filters to connect to haali and gabest splitters, do you think that will be a possibility in the future?

BTW I kind of prefer this preferred method over merits, more organized, as long as tools like this exist and are supported. Thanks for the tool!
I would also like to know if the Arcsoft filter is actually usable. Otherwise there is no point in having an option for it in the tool. If it only works for certain versions of the filter, then additional information would be welcome. I could let the tool check the version of the filter if needed.

This tool only controls preferred decoders. It does not control which splitters are used.
A different tweak can be used to force a splitter for specific a file extension. Maybe I will someday make a similar tool for that.

zachdms

4th June 2009, 03:43

I am going to correct you there. Codec packs do not cause crashes. It are the bad components in some packs that cause the problems you refer to. Not all packs are bad. For example the K-Lite Codec Pack actually helps users to remove those buggy items you mention when it detects them as installed on a users system.
Agreed. I was assessing culpability that way for them throwing in the kitchen sink as opposed to being lean/trim. Given the stats, I don't think there's any way that that many people *really* were trying to install mmswitch... it was just included with other things they were getting.

It would be nearly technically impossible without extreme malice for things to be as bad as they were previously in the third party space here. Thanks to all for helping clean this area up. :)

We all know that most of this stuff functions on a lower level than any average user ever wants to deal with and in many times would be able to figure out themselves. (Well, OK, maybe not everybody you know - but I'll use the example of my parents.... ;) ) I think the current generation of multimedia development benefits from more people running 7, but when badness is placed on the system it manifests in strange ways that most novice users (80% of the PC population?) cannot sort out by themselves.

Voxware MS should generally be blacklisted as of Vista SP1: Vista RTM had an incomplete blacklisting that we fixed up.
Blacklisting is the last resort, the big huge hammer. And if people are already hacking away at your introduced tools to help stability, it's not like they won't create the new "deblacklist tool" next. Diminishing returns in this area vs doing other positive work. I'm just saying that if I see a tool like this in codec packs, regardless of 'vendor', I reserve the right to bash my head against the wall and set a calendar reminder to check the online crash report stats later. lol :)

Keep on keepin' on, I'm just being curmudgeonly and realize you're judicious and sane in how you use / configure tools like this. <3

turbojet

4th June 2009, 06:17

Is there any chance of supporting VC1tweak for Arcsoft and PowerDVD?

Filename: VC1Tweak_Haali.ax
CLSID: {9DAD7B50-4432-4F48-AC60-B2B4E854454B}

Filename: VC1Tweak_clhaali.ax
CLSID: {394DFD1B-6F4C-4096-AA14-EF852B02595B}

Let me know if you need any more info if you plan on adding it. Thanks

clsid

4th June 2009, 12:50

Voxware MS should generally be blacklisted as of Vista SP1: Vista RTM had an incomplete blacklisting that we fixed up.
Blacklisting is the last resort, the big huge hammer. And if people are already hacking away at your introduced tools to help stability, it's not like they won't create the new "deblacklist tool" next. Diminishing returns in this area vs doing other positive work. I'm just saying that if I see a tool like this in codec packs, regardless of 'vendor', I reserve the right to bash my head against the wall and set a calendar reminder to check the online crash report stats later. lol Would it be possible for you (in your role as MS dev) to share some info/stats about crash reports? It would be interesting to see which DS filters cause the most stability issues. Such knowledge would also be useful for me and others to assist people with solving multimedia issues in Windows. It would also be useful for the developers of those filters, since users often choose not to report bugs.

With regard to my tool. My intention is to only include options for filters which are considered to be stable.

Is there any chance of supporting VC1tweak for Arcsoft and PowerDVD?

Filename: VC1Tweak_Haali.ax
CLSID: {9DAD7B50-4432-4F48-AC60-B2B4E854454B}

Filename: VC1Tweak_clhaali.ax
CLSID: {394DFD1B-6F4C-4096-AA14-EF852B02595B}

Let me know if you need any more info if you plan on adding it. Thanks
Please clarify the following:
1) The unpatched Arcsoft filter only connects to its own splitters, right? Or does that only apply for VC-1 video?
2) What happens if you use the unpatched Arcsoft filter and set it as preferred with the current tool? Does WMP fallback to using a different filter?
3) Does the patched filter only connect to Haali splitter, or also to other splitters?
4) Could you give MD5 hashes of those two patched filters?