Help with file extensions

[Alex2011]

Hi everybody!

I'm new to this site, so if this thread is in the wrong place I apologise. I've been having troubles with a few movie files I've got. I'll start from the beginning.

I found a stack of old VHS movies of when I was a kid in the attic. I went and bought a VHS to DVD converter, and began to convert all of the movies. I now have them all on my computer, but here's the problem. Initially the films played automatically with Windows Movie Player. But, me being me, I had to fiddle about with the auto-play settings, and tried to get the movies to play automatically with Quick time, and the films would not play (however they would before). I tried to revert the settings back to their original state but this done nothing, and now I have all these movies but cant play them!

Can anybody please help with this, I've trawled through countless websites trying to find the solution but to no avail.

Thank you

 

[Mike Connor]

What extension do these movies have now?

You can play practically anything and everything with this;

VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework!

when you install it, associate all media files with it, and make it the default player.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Alex2011]

Hi thanks for your reply Mike,

Currently the file extensions for all the movies are .avi, but every time I try to open it in Windows Media Player it says

'Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file.'

I have downloaded VLC media player however it will not work on there either.

thanks

 

[severedsolo]

IF they aren't working on VLC either, then they are probably dodgy video's. I've seen VLC play ANYTHING, upto and including corrupted files that Media Player threw a fit at

GOing to go ahead and assume that these are legally obtained movies... I would get in touch with the supplier.

 

[Alex2011]

They are legal videos, they were recorded on one of those Camcorders with the little VHS inside and to play it you needed to put the little VHS into a bigger VHS.

Get in touch with which supplier?

Thanks

 

[severedsolo]

Sorry, I assumed you had got them from an online service like LoveFilm or something, didn't read your first post properly

ignore my last post.

 

[Arc]

Have you tried this ?
Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs

EDIT : What's the extention of those converted video files ?

 

[Mike Connor]

Hi thanks for your reply Mike,

Currently the file extensions for all the movies are .avi, but every time I try to open it in Windows Media Player it says

'Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file.'

I have downloaded VLC media player however it will not work on there either.

thanks

Well, if VLC wont play them they are more than likely corrupted in some way.

Download this and run it;

Malwarebytes

Tell us what it says.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Shark007]

try copying the avi file from the disk to your desktop and attempt to play it from there.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Hi there,

If it's only happening to the videos that was converted the I would it's those are corrupted it's a good idea to re-convert them.

 

[Alex2011]

Hi Shark007, I copied one of them onto my desktop and it would not play for the first 5 minutes but after skipping that first 5, they played like a charm, thanks.

but is there any way that I can get it so they play perfectly?

I want to burn these onto DVD's for family etc

thanks again

 

[Alex2011]

Hi Arc - the converted file extension is .avi, but I think that when I messed around with the file extensions before, it must have changed them for good. if you know what i mean?

 

[Arc]

Hi Arc - the converted file extension is .avi, but I think that when I messed around with the file extensions before, it must have changed them for good. if you know what i mean?

You may try a re-muxing of the video files. Capt. Jack has also suggested that . The best and most elaborate way to do it is http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/104382-video-encoding-x264-megui.html .

As an easier (but not certain in your case) option, you may try HandBrake, too .