.mov codecs help

choose one from here:
http://www.codec-download.de/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=23

Sadly a lot of files (especially from P2P file sharers) have the wrong extensions and it may well be that this is not a Quicktime file after all (& maybe not even a video file at all).  Two quick ways of testing ...

1) Codec checker like G-Spot Codec info included with the excellent K-lite codec pack

http://www.k-lite.tk

Run the codec checker to open the file and it will detect most of the common codecs

2) Load into VirtualDub

VirtualDub has a neat trick of looking at the file header and determining if what you're trying to view is in fact a wrongly labelled Zip file or ISO etc.

Good luck

M :o)

Here is the official site for GSpot so you dont have to download anything extra. - http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ - I love that program.

the program is free and loads up any video file - telling you if it was able to run using the codecs insatalled on your machine, and if not what codecs you need to properly run the file. It can also tell you what errors it came across during the reading of the file.

The absolute best place to check up on video problems of any kind is www.dvdrhelp.com

I visit that site every day and they have every possible tutorial and tool available as well as the largest video forum on the net dedicated to ripping, encoding, and decoding video images. They can answer anything.

another trick is to try and name a file .mpg  this works a lot

no guys...tried everythin, but no success

OK try opening it in Wordpad - it will take ages!
at the top of the file you should see some text
if it really is a Quicktime file in the first dozen lines you should see (amongst the gibberish) the following:
| VER |PCK|S|Q|L| RES |D| QuickTime Payload ID |
it'll be separated out don't expect it as neat as how I've written it.

If its not there then you don't have a .MOV file

M :o)

Read this http://www.divx-digest.com/articles/mov2avi.html   Maybe you can convert to avi. if that doesnt work its either 1. not a .mov file 2. seriously corrupted.

Good Luck

rude_ass, what happens when you try to open it in VirtualDub?  What does GSpot tell you about the file?

M :o)

rude is trying to explain gspot to someone who cant figure out how to get a file to play, thats a bit advanced for someone who asks questions here dont you think. i guess being an expert means the most complicated answer is right....

... I would hope a response like "how do I use GSpot/VirtualDub ?" Would be met with a response at the right level.  The tricky bit for experts or otherwise is offering advice but not knowing if it has made any difference.  If the answer is "I can't open it in VirtualDub because I don't know how to get it to run" this can be solved.  If it's "I can't open it in VirualDub because it's a corrupted Zip file" then the problem is solved.

If you don't understand the answer it's the wrong answer.  (Even if it's correct!)

M :o)