thumb pictures for flv files

[john339]

I just started using Windows 7 home premium and see that there are thumbnails for the following files; avi, gif, jpg, mp4, mpg, and wmv
I do not have thumbnails for the flv files.
Is there an option I should use or possibly another program that will show thumbnails for the flv files?
Thank you for any help.
John

 

[Lemur]

I think it's a codec issue. You have a 64-bit OS. Please install K-Lite codec for Win 7, 64-bit.

K-Lite Codec Pack 64-bit

Lemme know if that helps.

 

[john339]

I tried the 64 bit program and it works very well now.
Thank you for the help.
John

 

[kiwichick]

Hi there, I'm running W7 Home Prem 64-bit too and I don't have thumbnails for flv files - I also have some random mpg and avi files that don't have thumbnails either. I've installed the K-Lite Codec pack but it hasn't made any difference. I admit I don't know anything at all about codecs so i just installed it with all the default settings. Is there something else I should be doing? Cheers for any help.

 

[match0003]

Well if you like to open all of your av files using one easy to use program, I suggest using VLC. I have not installed any additional codec and it also shows all of the thumbnails for my av files.

 

[john339]

Did you install the mega version?
I read that I should install both 64 bit and the 32 bit.
I installed both and now I see the thumbs for the FLV files.
Did your installation menu ask which files to show thumbnails for?

 

[kiwichick]

Thanks match0003, I already use VLC but the playlist doesn't show thumbnails - although it's not VLC thumbnails I'm talking about.

Thanks john339, Uh no, the mega version and 32-bit weren't mentioned so why would I install them It took a bit to figure you meant the mega version was 32-bit because that wasn't mentioned either. So now that I have installed the 32-bit mega version it's made no difference. Still no flv thumbnails - and just to be clear, we are talking about Windows Explorer thumbnails, right? Yes it asked me which files and I selected flv but other than that I didn't touch anything else. It didn't seem to be particularly newbie-friendly so I wasn't keen on changing anything.

 

[Lemur]

Did you install the mega version?
I read that I should install both 64 bit and the 32 bit.
I installed both and now I see the thumbs for the FLV files.
Did your installation menu ask which files to show thumbnails for?

John339 is quite correct. You can install the 32- and 64-bit version of K-Lite codecs without conflict.

 

[kiwichick]

Yes and, as I said, I did install both.

 

[tagen]

.flv thumbnails & K Lite Codecs...

Hey kiwichick -

I really hate thumbnail issues - and win 7 doesn't make it easy trust me I know.

After you installed the K Lite did you use the 'codec tweaker tool' that came with the program? This is where you enable thumbnails for your file types. In the start menu find your k lite folder and look for a file called 'tweaking tool' or something similar. ( sorry but it's been awhile since I've installed my codecs ) Start the program and I think you'll be shown a list of options and if I remember correctly the last option says thumbnails. Check that box and that box ONLY and then hit 'next' or 'proceed' or whatever the heck arrow they have that gets you to the next page. There just check the boxes of the file types that you want enabled with thumbnails and finish the program - you should be good to go.

If that doesn't work ( you might have to reboot after making the thumbnail change ) you can use a trick that I've used on the fly before. If you don't already have the graphic program IrfanView download it - freeware. After installing IrfanView right click on any flv file and check it's properties. on the first page when the dialogue says " opens with..." and it lists WMP or whatever else you have listed - hit change and change the default program to open flv files IrfanView - click apply and then hit ok. Your files will immediately begin to thumbnail. When all of your flv files have thumbnailed just repeat the process and switch back the default program to whatever you like - the files will keep and display the thumbnail already saved. Just remember that if you ever empty your computers thumbnail cache you'll loose them and have to do it all over again. No worries - the codec tweaking tool should work.

Sorry about the long answer but I had a redbull a short while ago and am typing at warp 10.

Good luck !

-Tagen

 

[tagen]

Here's the tool you need

Hey there -

left a response to your thread yesterday but came across the tool that you need to enable your flv files to thumbnail in explorer.

It's called the K Lite Codec Tweak Tool and it's free at file forum downloads.

Again, it's the last box on the bottom, check that then click next and check the flv box and then click finish.

Hope it works for you.
Tagen

Link to tool: K-Lite Codec Tweak Tool Free Download and Reviews - Fileforum

 

[Seventy Nine]

Yo Tagen and RedBull

Nice try but the 'codec tweaker tool' didn't improve matters and after I installed IrfanView and set it as the default program to open .flv files all I got was red-teddy-bear-road-kill icons in Windows Explorer.

http://www.sevenforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=101924&stc=1&d=1286115242

 

[SledgeDG]

Why would you ever set Irfan View as default viewer for FLV ??? Go ahead and right click any flv, go to Open with/Chose default program and set that to windows Media player. Make sure you'll check the box "Alway use...."

-DG

 

[Seventy Nine]

I'd only do it to try and get something better that the Traffic Cones of VLC Player or the Movie Strip icon of Windows Media Player. But all I really want is a thumbnail view of what the video clip is about.

 

[SledgeDG]

All I did was installing the K-Lite Mega pack, start the codec tweaker Tool as admin, first use the 1st option (Detect broken....) and then the last option (Thumbnail setting for WMP)
And now I can open virtually everything in WMP..plus most of them now show a thumbnail.
-DG

 

[Seventy Nine]

Thanks for the advice SledgeDG .. but even having done what you suggest I still get the default icon on most of my .flv files. Guess I just have to learn to live with it.

 

[SledgeDG]

Just don't give up at first it didn't work here either...I kept installing codecs like there was no tomorrow (which is always a bad thing !!). So I finally removed everything I could and installed said K-lite Mega pack. During the installation I let K-lite uninstall everything it claimed what had to go...I used all suggested settings except I unchecked Windows media player classic (since I already have the newer mpc-hc) Plus I activated the VP6 codec and set WMP as standart for all movie formats I have. That's basically all I did, and ever since flvs play in WMP and show the filmclip thumbnail.
You could always try the shark 007 codec instead (which also claims to show said thumbnails, just don't use them all together...that's bound to fail)
Less is more here

-DG

 

[Seventy Nine]

FLV thumbnails - problem solved

Just don't give up at first it didn't work here either...

Sound advice SledgeDG. I kept trying and now I finally have thumbnails for FLV and just about every other type of video file on Windows 7 x64.

The steps, just in case anyone else comes up against a similar brick wall, were:

1. Uninstall the K-Lite Codec Packs, IrfanView, FLV Viewer and all the other stuff that didn't help show thumbnails before.
2. Download the latest Win7codecs (32-bit and 64-bit versions) from Shark007
3. Switch User Account Control to the default setting.
4. Install the 32-bit codecs (Win7codecs_v264.exe).
5. Install the 64-bit codecs (x64Components_v268.exe)
6. -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Win7codecs\tools -> Run Settings32.exe - Run as Admin
7. -> Check 'Shark007 SUGGESTED Settings' (bottom of screen).
8. -> H264 Tab -> H264 codec in Direct Show Players (right of screen) -> Select 'Use FFDshow's codec' -> Exit.
9. -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Win7codecs\tools -> Run Settings32.exe - Run as User (left click) -> Exit
10. -> C:\Program Files\Shark0007\tools -> Run Settings64.exe - Run as Admin
11 . -> Check Shark007 SUGGESTED Settings (bottom of screen).
12 . -> H264 Tab -> H264 codec in Direct Show Players (right of screen) -> Select 'Use FFDshow's codec' -> Exit.
13 -> C:\Program Files\Shark0007\tools -> Run Settings64.exe - Run as User (left click) -> Exit
14. -> Start Orb -> type ' Disk Cleanup' -> Disk Cleanup -> Select C: Drive -> ok -> Check 'Thumbnails -> Ok -> ok.
15. Reboot the computer.

That gave me plenty thumbnails that I'd never seen before. There were a few FLV files that had black thumbnails which I just converted to AVI files so that I now I have thumbnails for everything. Game Over...

 

[SledgeDG]

Good thing it finally worked for you
And thanks for the feedback as I'm sure, others will have the same problem.

-DG

 

[AriaOfSorrow]

Just don't give up at first it didn't work here either...

Sound advice SledgeDG. I kept trying and now I finally have thumbnails for FLV and just about every other type of video file on Windows 7 x64.

The steps, just in case anyone else comes up against a similar brick wall, were:

1. Uninstall the K-Lite Codec Packs, IrfanView, FLV Viewer and all the other stuff that didn't help show thumbnails before.
2. Download the latest Win7codecs (32-bit and 64-bit versions) from Shark007
3. Switch User Account Control to the default setting.
4. Install the 32-bit codecs (Win7codecs_v264.exe).
5. Install the 64-bit codecs (x64Components_v268.exe)
6. -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Win7codecs\tools -> Run Settings32.exe - Run as Admin
7. -> Check 'Shark007 SUGGESTED Settings' (bottom of screen).
8. -> H264 Tab -> H264 codec in Direct Show Players (right of screen) -> Select 'Use FFDshow's codec' -> Exit.
9. -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Win7codecs\tools -> Run Settings32.exe - Run as User (left click) -> Exit
10. -> C:\Program Files\Shark0007\tools -> Run Settings64.exe - Run as Admin
11 . -> Check Shark007 SUGGESTED Settings (bottom of screen).
12 . -> H264 Tab -> H264 codec in Direct Show Players (right of screen) -> Select 'Use FFDshow's codec' -> Exit.
13 -> C:\Program Files\Shark0007\tools -> Run Settings64.exe - Run as User (left click) -> Exit
14. -> Start Orb -> type ' Disk Cleanup' -> Disk Cleanup -> Select C: Drive -> ok -> Check 'Thumbnails -> Ok -> ok.
15. Reboot the computer.

That gave me plenty thumbnails that I'd never seen before. There were a few FLV files that had black thumbnails which I just converted to AVI files so that I now I have thumbnails for everything. Game Over...

Holy shit, this ACTUALLY worked. I can't even describe how frustrating it has been. Over a year now I've been trying to do this, and only ONE method even worked, and that was installing the K-lite codec pack with the 64 bit version. However, it would always cause some kind of error with Windows explorer. It would just crash, and that was even more annoying than not having the thumbnails, so I had to uninstall that and look for another way. I remember I tried this Shark007 stuff before, but it didn't work. So far though this method has actually given me the thumbnails. I can only hope it won't cause any kind of problems like K-lite did, but if it holds up then this is finally the solution.