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Codecs and Windows Media Player 9

I have some video files I have downloaded off the net and whenever I play them I get the error: "An operation failed due to a certification failure" however, these files show a preview image. My thoughts are that I have the right codec, or a codec that is similar enough to make the preview image, but for some reason, it won't play. I tried other players like PowerDVD XP and even renamed the files to a different extension (like .avi to .mpg). Is there a way to get Media Player to try more codecs if the first one fails, or a program that tells you what codec a particular video file needs to see if it is available. Or am I taking the wrong road, is there something else that could correct this.

Thanks

vikrem

First off you have not specified what kind of media are you trying to open..eg.. AVI or MPEG-4 or xVID. But I have come across simmilar problem. The best solution will be to goto www.divx.com and download/install the CODECS... also try using the DIVX player that is available there... I believe it plays virtually all media type files.
Hopefully this should resolve the situation. Let me know how it goes... cheers.

Vik

spiderfix

Codecs from Microsoft here
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/format/codecdownload.aspx

If you got this video file from file sharing (Kazaa etc) you most likely have a fake
and nothing will make it work because it's not an actual video file it's just a large
file renamed to a video file extention.

infotrader

I've had various problems with codec. Downloading and installing this resolved almost all of my problems:

http://www.k-litecodecpack.com/

- Info

LeeTutor

Here's a previously asked question concerning your same error message where the following answer was given:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20829712/Windows-Media-Player-Error.html

Make sure you have all the WMP updates from the Windows Update site.

This may be a codec issue. Depending on the type of file, you'll either want the DivX codec (which works remarkably well), or the Nimo codec.

Nimo codec: http://www.divx-digest.com/software/nimo_pack.html

DivX codec: http://www.divx.com/divx/?src=toptab_divx_from_/index.php (click the Standard DivX Codec FREE link)

infotrader

FYI... the k-lite codec include all of the codecs that I'v tried, such as DivX, Intel, etc.

- Info

spiderfix

Btw, (semi-off topic) I guess you all heard on the news that M$ has been ordered to remove
WMP from their O/Ss.

Funny, weren't they told to remove IE from the O/S like four years ago? IE is still there.

steveo225

ASKER

Ok, thanks for all your help so far. Here is what I have:
WMP9 is fully updated
I installed the latest codec pack that MS offers
I already have installed on my system the latest divx and xvid codecs as well as many others offered in the ACE mega codec packs
I am hesitant to install the Nimo codec pack and klite codec pack as I have been reading that they contain many viruses and spyware
I am trying to play video of mpg, avi, asf, mpeg2

I hope that answers all questions

If it comes down to it, I will try the klite codec pack, however, is there some program that will tell you what codec you need to play video? that way i would only have to install those codecs that are neccessary

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

spiderfix

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steveo225

ASKER

Thanks spiderfix, that was just what I was looking for, interestingly enough, the program says that all the video files I cant open are Windows Media Video V7 or V8, but I have both installed, perhaps they are corrupted or something

spiderfix

Perhaps not. I would venture to say that unless you downloaded these clips from
a large commercial site then it's probably some hobbyist computer person who
didn't make the clip properly. If your looking at a black screen in WMP when the
clip plays and a error pops up right away then this is probably where you stand.

>>"An operation failed due to a certification failure"<<
>>the video files I cant open are Windows Media Video V7 or V8<<
Only hobbyists compress with WMP. Pros use specific software designed
for such a purpose. WMP is freebee WindowsXX software and the last place
a vid-person would compress a video.

DrScarey

The answer is a lot simpler than all of the above suggests. The suffix has been changed from .wmv to .mpg to enable these files to play on non Microsoft players. If you change the suffix back from .mpg to .wmv the certification failure message will go away!