Windows 7: Windows 7 Codec Pack (from Vista Codec Pack developer)

Hi

Anyone who knows the issues with CODECS for Vista will probably know about Shark007's Vista Codec Pack and how it solved all codec issues in one small package.

Well, Shark has recently released the VCP for Windows 7 (Alpha but stable!)
The info can be found at Shark007's Homepage for Win 7 CODECS and downloaded from MajorGeeks.

Excellent history for these packages, small footprint, effective and all you need for every media file to play in WMP and WMC...GET YOURS TODAY!

NOTE - There seems to be a behaviour noted in Vista that possibly has carried over to Windows 7 as well. It's not a VCP related behaviour but it CAN affect if some files play or not.
Vista (and Windows 7) come with both a 32 & 64bit version of WMP and it was found in Vista that if you associated a certain file type with WMP while the 64bit player was set to the default, that file association could NOT be changed even if WMP was set to use the 32bit player as default afterwards. This causes certain file types to be Unplayable due to 64bit WMP's limitations (well actually it's CODEC limitations). There are no functional differences between 32 or 64bit WMP but because of "lazy" CODEC developers, many CODECS are not 64bit compatible...yet.

Because of this, most of us set the 32bit WMP as default before making any file association changes for WMP. This way the 32bit WMP will play all file types with no issues using VCP. Unfortunately, if you have opened a media file in Windows 7 and checked the "associate this file type to WMP" option while the 64bit player is default (which it is out of the box), then that file type may not play even though you change to 32bit player using the VCP x64 tools.

Another thing I think I've found is that .FLV (Flash Video) files will not play in WMP no matter which version is default. They do play in WMC, and I'm going to check with Shark007 later about .flv support, so I'll post any results later.

New Note - There has been a re-release of Windows 7 Codecs, 1.0 Beta and a new x64 Tools for Windows 7, avaiable at MajorGeeks. Always uninstall previous versions first!
Noted - .FLV files now play with no problems - FLAC files are now recognized properly with WMP, and by installing the WmpTagSupportExtender and making sure it's enabled (WMP Options, Plug-ins) you can edit FLAC tags directly in WMP Library.

I will update this as changes occur, and with Shark007...that can be often as he's very diligent about keeping this up to date and stable.

thaks chappy

Grassy arse, nice find.

Thanks Dave, nice find.

Yes, thanks for that Dave.

Thanks dave.

ThanX Dave

Cheers Dave...... i shall stick these on





SK

Thanks very much for the codec news


I already posted these! New Codecs

Found this on my own this after noon when looking around at BetaNews - and it works perfectly fine here.

Of course, I have only tried MKV and AVI....