WinAvi

grannybroon

I have been given a dvd with Avi files on it. I have been told I will need to download WinAvi. I have checked various sites and there is a free trial download or would it be better to pay for the full version? Also there seemed to be different Avi downloads for different things. Any advice greatfully received.

GB

BillScarab

Are they just video files you want to play on your PC? I thought Winavi made conversion software. What is the actual file extension of the files, i.e. what are the 3 letters after the full stop in the file name?

BritBrat

Why do you need WinAvi?

Just open the files with media player.

If the files are not avi (although the extension may sugest they are) and are xvid files you may need to get the xvid codec then they should play in media player.

By the way WinAvi is a great program for converting files to different formats.

It is crap at playing files as that is not what it is for.

grannybroon

I have checked the properties and the files seem to be video clips. The icons have avi on them

GB

grannybroon

Media player plays the sound but not the video clips. My friend suggested WinAvi so the clips can be converted to DVD.

GB

BillScarab

If you want to play them on your PC download VLC it will play pretty much anything. If you want to burn them to DVD then download DVDflick which will convert AVI's and burn them to DVD.

grannybroon

Thanks for your advice.

I have downloaded DVDFlick and it appears that it is converting first file to DVD. It seems quite user friendly but will reserve judgement until process has finished.

GB

[MaccA]

If the file opens in media player without an error but fails to show the video then as BritBrat suggests, it sounds like you do not have the right codec installed.

Codecs are plug-ins for media players with the specific compression/decompression (hence co/dec) algorithm for that format. Certain codecs make smaller files due to superior algorithms.

Try downloading and installing the XViD codec from here http://www.digital-digest.com/software/getdownload.php?sid=1052&did=1

I have tested the download and it appears safe.

Once installed you should just be able to open the file again in media player and it should work this time.

Hope this helps

[MaccA]

BillScarab

Or just download VLC that includes all of the codecs already.

When you're using DVDflick you should be able to put more than one avi in each disc if they're fairly small.

bat999

BillScarab wrote: »

Or just download VLC that includes all of the codecs already.

+1 for VLC.
If you only want to watch the files on a PC there's no need to make a DVD.

grannybroon

These are family movie clips which I want to share and that is why they are going on to DVD as I can then make copies and distribute.

Thanks again for your help and advice - much appreciated.

GB