Convert a .DAT file to .wmv or .avi

The_One_2

Hi

I need to convert a .dat file to either .wmv or .avi

Has anyone got any suggestions on any good, free software that will do it

Thanks

mostly

http://www.vcdgear.com/

computerwoman

https://www.download.com
cw.

Cricri

A DAT video file is usually a MPEG file. You could just rename it to .mpg and try to read it that way, although that does not always work.
If it works, I'd say leave it that way, unless you want to reduce its size. Compatibility-wise, pretty much anything reading WMV and AVI will read MPEG. Besides, recoding will probably loose some quality, and it's not like MPEG as quality to spare.

The_One_2

Cricri wrote: »

A DAT video file is usually a MPEG file. You could just rename it to .mpg and try to read it that way, although that does not always work.
If it works, I'd say leave it that way, unless you want to reduce its size. Compatibility-wise, pretty much anything reading WMV and AVI will read MPEG. Besides, recoding will probably loose some quality, and it's not like MPEG as quality to spare.

WOW!!! i've just renamed it to .avi and converted the file to DVD using WinAVI Video Converter and works a treat on the DVD player.


Thanks to everyone in the thread

Cricri

It should have been .mpg and not .avi, but it doesn't really matter as far as the software is concerned (since they usually rely on signature and not extension).
Note that MPEG is VCD, so the DVD player should be able to play it out of the box. If it doesn't find the MPEG file, just build it as a VCD, it shouldn't need to recode the video at all.