Welcome to ECCIE - Sign up today!

tia travels · 10-20-2011, 11:05 PM

On my old computer with Windows 98SE, I made small 5-25 second videos of me on my web cam. They were viewable for years.

I saved them...and now I have Windows 7. They do not display at all on my Media Player and I don't understand what I can do to get them to play with the right extension, how to CHANGE the extension or how to transfer it to some program that will make them play. The player plays, but nothing comes on the screen. It's blank. I think they were probably wav. or avi. files.

Can anyone help? Please don't ask me to send them to you and you'll fix them for me. I prefer just written help please. LOL

Mokoa · 10-20-2011, 11:32 PM

WAV files contain audio only, no video. So, when you play them you will only get sound.

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) files came from Microsoft back in the early 1990's. Windows Media player supports AVI files.

There is a lot of software out there that will convert a multimedia file from one format to another.

jframe2 · 10-21-2011, 05:13 AM

Hi Tia,
Several possibilities on your video problem-
- your W7 media player has not downloaded the extension/codec to play the phone video, go into WMP and force it do all the updates;
- same for the WAV audio file;
- VideoLan is a free audio/video player that is not codec dependent and should play the files. Link is- http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Hope this helps.

redlovely · 10-21-2011, 09:52 AM

So how do I put my photo up on my profile?

tia travels · 10-21-2011, 01:01 PM

I just answered redlovely's question via email. Thank you Mokoa and Jframe2. I will work on that and get back to you. Yes, they must be avi not wav. My blonde bad.

Guest032514-1 · 10-21-2011, 05:50 PM

I have free file viewer? On this HP Tia, but it wasnt what I originally had. Do you have your old rig? Did you try <rightclick> Properties and see what kind of files they are?

I have some NIN stuff that has some crazy file extension like aflac or something. I used to use IFAN/ IFRAN? for all my graphic stuff. It opens almost everything. (except those crazy aflac type NIN files)

oesman · 10-21-2011, 07:40 PM

Didn't read the whole thread, don't know if it's been said, but if you just wanna view the video try VLC, it's a free cross-platform player. Supports virtually every format. You can also output the video to another format. If you want to edit the videos and re-encode I prefer Adobe Premiere.

tia travels · 10-21-2011, 08:08 PM

Adobe Premiere $ound$ like it might be co$tly? I'll check out VLC too.

Babee, no I don't have the old computer. It's gone to a better place (minus the hard drives that is.) I'm pretty sure they are avi files, but I'll look again.

You would think that the most recent Media Player is adept at playing anything...from prehistoric to modern. And I would assume it should be updated already if it's a new player.

I don't just want to see them for myself...I was thinking of posting on my web site maybe for blasts from the past.

Babee....are you sure?? it was....

tia travels · 10-21-2011, 08:15 PM

jframe2, I'm looking as to how to FORCE it to update. Can't find it. Do I just pull a DEVO and "whip it good"??

I saw where it asked how often to update. I changed THAT to daily, but it didn't start to update when I hit APPLY.

Mokoa · 10-22-2011, 12:06 AM

Did you chick on Help, then Check For Updates?

oesman · 10-22-2011, 12:28 AM

Just try VLC, it will play virtually anything. If you want to re-encode the video, first see if it plays, then in VLC do this:

1. Click 'Media' -> 'Advanced Open File...'
2. Make sure you're in the 'File' tab, click 'Add...' and select the video you want to convert from it's location.
3. Look at the 'Play' button next to 'Cancel'. Use the drop down arrow and select 'Convert' instead of 'Play'.
4. As soon as you've selected 'Convert' the window will change. Click 'Browse' to select the desitnation file, ie. 'myvideo.mp4'.
5. You can play with the settings if you want, H.264 + AAC preset is fine.
6. Click start. VLC will now play through the movie, but not display the video to you, it will say 'Streaming'. This is normal, wait for it to get to the end.

jframe2 · 10-22-2011, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tia travels

jframe2, I'm looking as to how to FORCE it to update. Can't find it. Do I just pull a DEVO and "whip it good"??

I saw where it asked how often to update. I changed THAT to daily, but it didn't start to update when I hit APPLY.

Hi ya Cutie Tia,
I deal with this quite a bit on new computers. Even though it is new to you, it has been sitting on shelves at the manufacturer and in the store. In the meantime, Windows and the manufacturer have been putting out updates that are not on the "new" computer.

You need to make sure do the updates for the Windows OS and the manufacturer.

Try this-
- go to Start button> All Programs and look for Windows update. Run this several times over several days. Updates can be cumulative, and even though the current version of an update is #4, the process requires you to update version#1, then restart; update version#2 then restart, etc.

- go to Start button>All Programs and look for the manufacture update link. Do these updates over several days.

Keep the computer turned on and hooked to the internet for approx 24-48 hours and you should see updates start showing up automatically.

Good luck, Travel safe, Be well,
J

Capt. Lincoln F. Stern · 10-22-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babee

I have free file viewer? On this HP Tia, but it wasnt what I originally had. Do you have your old rig? Did you try <rightclick> Properties and see what kind of files they are?

I have some NIN stuff that has some crazy file extension like aflac or something. I used to use IFAN/ IFRAN? for all my graphic stuff. It opens almost everything. (except those crazy aflac type NIN files)

if you can give me the file extension I can find something that will play it or convert.

if it is .flv that is Flash Video (you tube stuff) and VLC should play it once it has the correct codec.

tia travels · 10-22-2011, 10:37 AM

I only have time for a quick reply at this second as the maid is breathing down my neck, but in response to Mokoa, there was no HELP section listed on my Media Player. I know about that on every other program---that clicking it will not only tell you what version you're using, but let you click for updates. Mine does not have the word "help" anywhere.
:-(