Any recommendations for codecs that contains no spyware/malware/junk

[RyougaLolakie]

Hey, since I clean installed windows, I'm searching for a good codec that can play almost anything for windows media player. Although there is a problem, since most installers contain some spyware/malware crap, I'm at loss. I know this has been said a few times before, but I want your opinions since I really don't want malware on my system. Anyways, what are your reccomendatins of a good codec or video player that can play any format, even mkvs and which doesn't contain malware in the installation file? Thanks.

 

[MrNeeds]

Hey, since I clean installed windows, I'm searching for a good codec that can play almost anything for windows media player. Although there is a problem, since most installers contain some spyware/malware crap, I'm at loss. I know this has been said a few times before, but I want your opinions since I really don't want malware on my system. Anyways, what are your reccomendatins of a good codec or video player that can play any format, even mkvs and which doesn't contain malware in the installation file? Thanks.

I use this site https://ninite.com/ , it removes the crapware and malware from such installations, it also includes the k-lite codec pack under "media", it's also been recommended by Linus Sebastian of Linustechtips.com

 

[Digital Life]

I have used VLC media player for over 3 years and so far have not had any problem's playing any file type and it has never had any PUP's or malware attached to it. Due to a hard drive failure I had to re-install Windows media center edition about a month ago and decided to stay away from k-lite , I have no proof or citation to quote I just personally don't trust it. I use media center for watching tv shows and for watching my recorded shows and have VLC as the default viewer for everything else

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
If you have a 64 bit system there is a download for that too

 

[JDobbsy1987]

I use this site https://ninite.com/ , it removes the crapware and malware from such installations, it also includes the k-lite codec pack under "media"

 

[whs]

This is a 100% safe site and Shark has the best codecs. I would never use anything else. Shark007's FREE Codec solutions - Windows 7 codecs - Windows 8 codecs

 

[Slartybart]

VideoLAN - Download official VLC media player for Windows - select the installer pkg (.exe)

It plays everything and has some nice features for streaming stuff (TV, music, tech talks ...) off the internet.

 

[Vistangel]

K-Lite codec pack seems right (no malware or anything and you can select what to install, very good) but at rare occasions WMP crashed with BSOD on my old laptop with MKVs (first it made the screen black and crashed the video driver, but I didn't use the original drivers so it was the problem I think).
But I don't really want to install it anymore since I don't really have FLVs or MKVs to play with WMP, if I have some of them, I just convert them with my new desktop PC.

 

[dsperber]

I'm searching for a good codec that can play almost anything for windows media player

Better you should find a much more capable media player than WMP, that can play ANYTHING and without requiring any extra codec than what's already present in standard Windows.

PotPlayer 64-bit "for the win". A standalone media player that can play anything: audio, video, DVD/BD discs, etc., provides LOTS of customization preference settings which can be saved in an INI file, etc.

Like VLC, it does not need ANY EXTERNAL CODECs to play ANY TYPE OF MEDIA FILE, and thus will not cause instability or integrity issues in otherwise standard and pure Windows behavior caused by the install of external codec packages.

I never install any external codec package.

PotPlayer author web site in English, but be careful about getting a Korean version by accident. The earlier link above is guaranteed to be English 64-bit, from DVBSupport.

EDIT: corrected URL to PotPlayer 64-bit so that it works (sorry)

 

[RyougaLolakie]

Thanks for the reccomendations!

I guess I decide to get PotPlayer , but the link to the 64 bit Pot Player gives me 400 error on the website. I hope this installer doesn't contain spyware junk. Surprisingly Pot player wasn't included in Ninite site. :sarc:

 

[dsperber]

I guess I decide to get PotPlayer , but the link to the 64 bit Pot Player gives me 400 error on the website.

Don't know what happened to that link in my earlier post.

Here it is again, and it works. Sorry for the confusion.

(and there's nothing to worry about in the installer)

 

[RyougaLolakie]

I guess I decide to get PotPlayer , but the link to the 64 bit Pot Player gives me 400 error on the website.

Don't know what happened to that link in my earlier post.

Here it is again, and it works. Sorry for the confusion.

(and there's nothing to worry about in the installer)

Ah ok! Got it. I must say that I really enjoyed using Pot Player, plus adding windows media player skin makes it look like a better overall video player. Thank goodness the installer didn't have malware when I ran it.

Once again, thanks for the link!