Windows 7: Won't play m4v's, everything else does.

Recently upgraded to Windows 7 from XP for my HTPC I recently built. Only two reasons why I upgraded- hardware acceleration and WMC.
I copied my DVD library (to save all that storage space of DVD's) using Handbrake, and the only player that can't play the files is WMC. Boxee, XBMC, VLC and iTunes have no problems at all, with 5.1 sound.

I've installed the latest Windows codecs. I've used ffdshow, shark007, but still no luck.

I have a hard time believing that all other media players have no problems playing these files, but WMC can't.

Kudos to YAMMM, though- did a fantastic job with all the metadata!

If I didn't shave my head I'd be pulling my hair out!



Thanks,
Jim

Did you (in the shark007 config tool) reset and use the suggested settings? (start it as Admin !!)

Well, sledge, ya' got video working for me, but no 5.1!
DVD's play in 5.1, but not the files.
Checked the same movie on boxee and XBMC, and they both have surround.

mmm did you check the Audio page? I believe shark suggested settings sets it to 2 speakers



-DG

for anolog users, the speaker configuration detects what a user has set up in Control Panel | Sound, and automatically sets the same on the Audio TAB's speaker configuration panel. So, if the speaker configuration is incorrectly displayed on the Audio TAB, it is also incorrect in Control Panel | Sound. Changing the speaker count in Control Panel | Sound, will automatically change what is displayed on the Audio TAB.

If you are connected to a receiver, in Control Panel | Sound, under your active digital device, you should set stereo for the speakers and NOT your actual speaker count such as 5.1 or 7.1 - After setting up the Control Panel you should select 'passthrough' on the Audio TAB which will automatically set 'Same as input' for the speaker configuration, which is the correct setting.
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ALSO KNOW, The Audio TAB can be setup using 'Run as Administrator' which is a different user from simply openning the application without admin rights. Run as administrator, envokes a 'different user' as far as Windows is concerned. So set it up as an administrator AND as a regular user for FULL playback control. This instruction ONLY applies to the audio tab because on a system with several users, several audio configurations can co-exist within my application, such as an admin using headphones, and someone else setting digital audio.


The SUGGESTED settings have no effect on the Audio TAB.

Hey Shark-
Thanks for that tutorial, but it didn't help. I followed your instructions to a T.
Should I uninstall the Windows 7 codec pack? Thinking there might be a conflict.
Thanks.

THIS POST on my forum may help you.

If that doesnt solve your issue, make a post on my forum with a URL to sample that is less than 40MB uploaded to **************. I'll test the sample personally.

On the Misc TAB is a dropbox for creating 40MB samples.
To use it, you must start the settings application without admin rights.
The created sample is placed in the source files directory.

Unless you installed FFDshow, Haali or AC3Filter on your own, there is no conflict.

Thanks for all your help, Shark!
AC3filter was installed and was causing a conflict.
Uninstalled, and all is well!
Thanks again for your help.

Hats off to Shark 007. I have been following his instructions to the dot from the beginning. No other codec pack/s, No other helper program/s and no other media player/s and no problemo.

Incidentally, my 100th thanksgiving post. Glad that it goes to Shark007.

Sharks codecs have been the best pack IMHO.

What small problems I have encountered in the past have either been something small on my end I overlooked, or a issue that was out of his hands. (IE, the codec build itself)