DVD/codec....?

castle96

Hi, your help please (in simple terms).
I have never played a dvd on my HP a6421.uk desktop, only music/cds.
Friend recorded a fil onto a memory stick. "Just stick it in and it will play, and/or save it"...

Screen says that a codec is required ""C00D10D1 error using Mindows Media Player"

"XVID MPEG-4 codec is not installed"

on investigation, there are many warnings about downloading this codec (found one on downloader.com. Don't know what version of MMP I have (poota is 4 yrs old), but"WMP 12 may have this codec on".

Is this the safest way too be able to play films, ie find/download WMP12

(am using Vista) the 'download codecs automatically' box IS checked on WMP

many thanks

m5rcc

Download and run this

castle96

wow, that was quick. But is it 'safe' ?

TakeThis

VLC Media Player will play most everything.

If you just want the Xvid CoDec, get it from the official XviD website

TakeThis

castle96 wrote: »

wow, that was quick. But is it 'safe' ?

It's fine. All of the solutions will work, but the Xvid Codec alone is the minimalist solution.

The other two options will just play most anything else you wish to throw at them.

castle96

Is the VLC player of more use than the WMP then ?

castle96

should I download both ?

TakeThis

castle96 wrote: »

Is the VLC player of more use than the WMP then ?

Yes. But untick 'File Associations' whilst installing VLC, so that you can choose what you want it to play and what you want to leave to WMP.

should I download both ?

No.

TakeThis

For those with much older, low spec machines(not yours), I'd recommend Media Player Classic - Home Cinema, rather than VLC.

castle96

downloaded VLC (can't make head nor tail what to do with it though !), and Xvid codec.

Film now plays (BUT NO SOUND), on WMP, but not WMCentre (didn't previously realise there were 2).

Still something wrong then

TakeThis

castle96 wrote: »

downloaded VLC (can't make head nor tail what to do with it though !), and Xvid codec.

Film now plays (BUT NO SOUND), on WMP, but not WMCentre (didn't previously realise there were 2).

Still something wrong then

You chose to ignore post #8??

Right click on the film file and choose to play it with VLC. You can choose 'open with', make sure 'always play with' is tacked and then double click on the VLC player icon, if you want VLC to become the default player for XviD files.