AVI thumbnails on x64 Windows 7

[BlackBuzz]

Hey guys!

Got a really annoying problem with my thumbnails not generating correctly for avi files. It uses the first frame of the video so they are therefore usually black!

I have tried loads of things to fix it.. including numerous codec packs including the x64 Vista codec pack but with no luck!

Anyone have any idea what I could do to fix it?

 

[Dragonfly]

Sounds like the same issue as in Vista 64.

See HERE for a workaround. (Generate the thumbnails in 32 bit Explorer)

 

[BlackBuzz]

Thanks for the reply dragonfly but unfortunately i've already tried that and it doesn't work. I did have the same problem with 64bit vista and fixed it using a 64 bit codec pack but it doesn't work on windows 7

 

[Dragonfly]

I haven't checked my x86 install to see if it reads avi thumbnails correctly, but I'll give it a shot later this afternoon. Hopefully (for me) it's just an x64 problem.

 

[BlackBuzz]

Any other 64bit users seeing similar problems with avi thumbnails?

 

[Mark]

Have you installed any new media software or are you still playing your AVI's with WMP by default?

 

[BlackBuzz]

Hi Mr Grim! I have been using vlc player to play the avi files

 

[swarfega]

What you need is the Win 7 Codec Pack Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs as it seems your missing some codecs even though some were included with windows 7.

 

[BlackBuzz]

dam i thought you had the answer then!!

windows 7 codecs didn't work, even on a clean install. installed both 32bit and 64bit versions of the codec packs

any other suggestions?

 

[Mark]

Try giving back WMP all of it's defaults to see if that works.

 

[BlackBuzz]

tried that too.. they didnt work from a clean install with only the x64 win7 codecs installed.

i can't understand why it's just me this is happening too!

do your avi thumbnails work and if so which codecs did you use?

thanks for all the help so far guys!

 

[TheUSMarshall]

Personally I use MP3TagEditor to change all of my video files to static images of my choice (i.e. DVD covers) - i'm sure you could probably use that to select a specific frame of the video as your thumbnail as well.

I also highly endorse the Shark Win7 codec pack beta; it's enabled me to view things like m4v's and mkv's (and also generated thumbnails) where it hadn't done so before. If you're using Win7 x64, be sure to install both the Win7 codec pack and the x64 component add-on package. I still haven't figured out whether I like using Media Center in 32-bit or 64-bit mode better yet, but these installs make it easy to switch back and forth, and to change codecs for certain filetypes.

 

[dstruct2k]

Mine's doing the same thing, even with codecs installed and even in the 32-bit explorer. (Running x64)

 

[BlackBuzz]

Mine's doing the same thing, even with codecs installed and even in the 32-bit explorer. (Running x64)

None of the solutions posted here have worked so far.. i've tried every solution I can think of! Surely we can't be the only 64bit users with the problem?!

If you find a solution it would be great if you could post it here... obviously i'll do the same!

 

[Mark]

Here is what mine looks like, as you can see some are black, but they also start off black for the first couple of seconds.

 

[BlackBuzz]

That's the same problem as me! Some frames at the start aren't completely black but still, isn't windows supposed to choose the brightest frame from the avi file for thumbnail generation? Glad to see it's not just me with the problem.

 

[BlackBuzz]

no more ideas guys?

i've noticed something interesting... it could just be that these videos all start with non-black frames but look at the screenshot below... the thumbnails for the videos on the right seem fine... they are about the only ones in my video library that are!

wierd ey??

 

[Mark]

Now that is strange, did you also notice the dimensions of the preview differ from the ones showing no previews unlike the ones I have that are blank that have all the same dimensions, just out of interest can you move those AVI's to the folder showing previews to see what happens.

 

[BlackBuzz]

i think it's because the unit is broadcast in widescreen whereas that season of family guy is not!

there was no change when i moved a family guy episode to the folder showing thumbnails

 

[Mark]

Dam I thought I was onto something then, LOL