Question

Google Chrome - Cannot open .wmv files

Asked by: flgolfnut

After receiving an email with a .wmv video attached, Chrome opens a SAVE TO dialog box when I try to open the file.  Firefox and IE both give me a dialog box with a choice of OPEN or SAVE.  When using Chrome, the only way I can view the video is to save it to hard drive and then open it from there.  Same thing happens regardless of which web based email program I am using (gmail, yahoo mail, etc.).

This happens regardless of what program I have setup to open these video attachments.  Tried it with both Winamp and Media Player set as default for the .wmv file extension, with the same results.  Curious if anyone else has seen the problem, and if there's a tweak I can use to correct this.

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Asked On
2008-12-14 at 06:58:16ID23983408
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Google Chrome

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Answers

 

by: astaecPosted on 2008-12-17 at 09:59:56ID: 23196072

Howdy,

I believe the link below will be helpful.  Apparently the team is working to fix the problem of images saved in Chrome without extensions, so if saved, be sure to add the DOT EXTENSION such as is happening, saving thus opening something within Chrome when the problem arose would look like this
testonejpg instead of testone.jpg ...  so adding the .filetype will be an interim solution until it is resolved.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=16d055bcce76cfd6&hl=en

Listening when I can,
Good luck ":0)  Asta

 

by: flgolfnutPosted on 2008-12-17 at 17:38:21ID: 23200060

Thanks Asta,

Unfortunately, the problem is not in "saving" the file, it is in "opening" it.  Let me try to clarify.

Normally, when I receive an email with an attachment, opening the attachment is merely a matter of double clicking on the attachment, and poof, it opens.  However, with Chrome, when I receive a .wmv video attachment, double clicking on it will not open it, nor will I get the option to OPEN or SAVE.  My only option is to download and SAVE the file, and then go to that location and OPEN the file from there.

So instead of just opening Windows Media Player or WinAmp and playing the video file, I am forced to go through the extra steps of downloading, saving, going to, and then opening the file.  File extensions are properly associated; problem is only with Chrome, not IE or Firefox; problem is the same whether using Yahoo mail or G-Mail.

I hope this explains it a little better.

Thanks,
Art

 

by: mtz1of4Posted on 2008-12-17 at 19:37:43ID: 23200479

flgolfnut,

You are aware that Chrome is an internet Browser and not a Media Player, correct?  And it is a Google browser, not a Windows Media Player (oops, I mean, not a Windows internet Browser).

Do you see the connection there? Windows IE will let you open a wmv because it wants you to use it's Windows Media Player.
Firefox will let you Open a wmv, once you tell it you have Media Player installed, but it's not native to Firefox either. Firefox actually requires a Plug-in to let you open Media Player.

Chances are Google Chrome (is it out of Beta, yet?) will get some sort of plugin eventually.  I think I'll go look, now that you have my curiosity peaked.

By the way, actually saving it to your harddrive gives your AV an opportunity to scan the file before you just start playing it.

 

by: mtz1of4Posted on 2008-12-17 at 19:46:23ID: 23200519

Wow, only 7 results when i search Google's help page for .wmv
None of them appear to be having your problem.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/search?hl=en&q=.wmv

Interesting, but again, your mail programs are also online, not directly linked to windows media player.  I wonder what Windows Live mail would do.

 

by: flgolfnutPosted on 2008-12-17 at 20:55:49ID: 23200746

mtz1of4,

I finally found a thread talking about this problem, actually on the Google Chromium developers site. I feel better now.  I was beginning to think I was the only one being bothered by this. Your thoughts about them not yet having a plugin or a solution to the problem are right on!  And yes, it is out of Beta, but still being heavily developed.

FYI here are a couple of links to the discussion:

http://code.google.com/chromium/

http://groups.google.com/group/chromium-discuss/browse_thread/thread/ce1aa7c55b879599/1820debb7c44fb19?show_docid=1820debb7c44fb19&pli=1

Thanks again,
Art

 

by: mtz1of4Posted on 2008-12-18 at 05:09:58ID: 23202918

Thanks for the update Art.  
yes, at least two bugs requesting a fix. One they have listed as a WontFix ,but that may be because it's a duplicate.  This is the active one.
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333

 

by: astaecPosted on 2008-12-18 at 05:21:11ID: 23202999

Excellent information and links.  Hats off in congratulations.  ":0)  Asta

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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