How to play .avi video ?

Dumb_Question · Feb 6, 2015

Here's another simple-for-most but baffles me one:

I've got an avi video file.
When I try playing it on the Windows media player (default player which opens), I get music (unrelated to soundtrack) and the meaningless animated graphic pattern video that it plays when there isn't a video, certainly not the video I was expecting to see.

Now, I understood that Windows media player was able to play back avi (movie) files....why isn't it playing ? How do get it to play the movie ?

Dumb_Question
6.February.2015

MSI MS-6577 v2.1 motherboard using on-board graphics : o/s Windows 32-bit XP Home

DavidGP · Feb 6, 2015

Hi DQ

Where did you get the AVI file from the internet or a friend?
Most AVI's should play with WMP but at times you need some extra codecs (codecs are media files that allow playback/record functions for media that's not native to Windows or built in) as some AVIs are encoded non-standard.

If you install Shark Codecs (say Vista but they are for XP/Vista) but do keep a watch on the install as it may offer your 3rd party software so untick suggested extra software, I have suggested these as I use Sharks codecs on Windows 8 and have done since XP/Vista/7

Then see what playback is like, as you "may" have a corrupted file if audio not matching video.

Log in or Sign up

How to play .avi video ?

Dumb_Question Sergeant Major

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

Log in or Sign up

How to play .avi video ?

Dumb_Question Sergeant Major

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

Useful Searches