Real / Quick Time Alternative, WMP updates

[mommalina]

:help: .... Ever since I installed Real Alternative and Quick Time Alternative, I get confused as to which programs need updating.

In Add/Remove programs I have:

- Real Alternative 1.38
- Quick Time Alternative 1.46
- Viewpoint Media Player
- Macromedia Flash Player 8

and these updates:

- Windows Player 10
- Windows Media Format Runtime

I often receive emails with videos I can't play and suspect it's because some of the above software need updating. O/S is XP Home, and the only pop-up blocker I have is Firefox's.

Would appreciate your help. Thanks.

Lina

[photolady]

The videos you get that you can't play, does it give you an error message as to why they won't play?

[RAK]

Could be a number of things, Lina. Are you getting a message that the proper codec(file) is missing to play the video? If you need a certain codec to play the video, you might need to download K-Lite Codec Pack. Here's a sight to find it:
http://www.codecpackguide.com/klcodec.htm

I reccomend only the BASIC pack, as the other packs contain another version of Media Player Classic. This tends to create a conflict with Real Player Alternative and messes things up; at least it does on my machine. Plus, if you have any Real software (Real Player, Real Arcade, Rhapsody Music) on your computer, this tends to screw things up big-time.
By the way, what are the extensions(.ram, .mov, ?) of the videos your having problems with?

[Seth]

I reccomend only the BASIC pack, as the other packs contain another version of Media Player Classic. This tends to create a conflict with Real Player Alternative and messes things up; at least it does on my machine. Plus, if you have any Real software (Real Player, Real Arcade, Rhapsody Music) on your computer, this tends to screw things up big-time.
By the way, what are the extensions(.ram, .mov, ?) of the videos your having problems with?

Good advice.

If you're looking for a program that will tell you the type of codec that a file requires, then I recommend G-Spot from here (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/GSpot.htm).

Alternatively, you can get a media player that plays just about anything. I recommend VLC media player from here (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/).

Although it may not be a codec problem at all. It may be that your security software is preventing the E-mail file from opening. That's why it would be a good idea to post more details as Photolady suggested.

[mommalina]

Photolady and RAK:

In the attachment box of the email it has the WMP symbol followed by Fwd_Beer.email (4.12KB).

I'm getting these messages:

1. Windows Media Player. The selected file has an extension that is not recognized by Windows Media Player, but the Player may still be able to play it. Because the extension is unknown by the Player, you should be sure that the file comes from a trustworthy source.

Do you want the Player to play the file?

I click Yes

2. WMP cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file.

I click More Information and get:

3. Windows Media Player Error Center. C00D1199: Cannot play the file
Windows Media Player cannot play the file. You might encounter this error message for one of the following reasons:

The file type is not supported by the Player. For a list of file types (formats) that are supported by Windows Media Player, see Supported file types.
The file type is supported by the Player, but the file was compressed by using a codec that is not supported by the Player.
The file type is supported, but you are trying to play it in a way that is not supported by the Player. For example, you might have tried to drag a DVD file with a .vob extension from a DVD to the Windows Media Player icon. Or you might have tried to open a .vob file by clicking Open on the File menu.
You are trying to play one part of a multipart file. Use a newsreader or other program to combine the files, and then try again.
[IError ID = 0xC00D1199, Condition ID = 0x00000000[/I]

RAK wrote: By the way, what are the extensions(.ram, .mov, ?) of the videos your having problems with?

RAK, I don't know where to look for the extensions(.ram, .mov.).


RAK wrote: Could be a number of things, Lina. Are you getting a message that the proper codec(file) is missing to play the video? If you need a certain codec to play the video, you might need to download K-Lite Codec Pack. Here's a sight to find it:
http://www.codecpackguide.com/klcodec.htm

I reccomend only the BASIC pack, as the other packs contain another version of Media Player Classic. This tends to create a conflict with Real Player Alternative and messes things up; at least it does on my machine. Plus, if you have any Real software (Real Player, Real Arcade, Rhapsody Music) on your computer, this tends to screw things up big-time.

I'm a little overwhelmed by these instructions and fear screwing it up. Maybe the guys can walk me through it during our next Wednesday night KH Computer Help Desk Paltalk chatroom session.

BTW, I purposely posted this lengthy, detailed message in case a newbie or another computer-challenged user runs into the same problem.

Thanks Photolady and RAK.

Lina

[Seth]

Lina,

I don't think that's a video file. It looks like a text file. Try opening in something like wordpad, notepad or some other text editor.

[Seth]

Just did a check. It's a text file for Outlook Express, or possibly Outlook...but apparantly these types of files can often contain malware. So if you're intent on opening it, scan it first.

[mommalina]

Just did a check. It's a text file for Outlook Express, or possibly Outlook...but apparantly these types of files can often contain malware. So if you're intent on opening it, scan it first.

Where would I click to scan it?

If it doesn't open when I ask it to, why would it open if I scan it first?

Hasn't my AV (Kaspersky) already scanned it?

Forgive the dumb questions, Seth. Thanks for your input.

Lina

[Seth]

Where would I click to scan it?

Your e-mail client may or may not scan attachments automatically. Do you recall it saying so? I don't use Kaspersky, but it should have a scan option where you can scan one particular file. Many antivirus programs also give you the ability to scan a file by right clicking on it and choosing "Scan with (whatever antivirus you use).

If it doesn't open when I ask it to, why would it open if I scan it first?

Scanning the file doesn't open it. BTW, you should have the ability to save the file by right clicking on it and choosing "Save As.." or "Save Target As". It's easiest to just save it to the desktop. You may also have the ability to choose what type of program is used to open the file by right clicking on it and choosing "Open With...".

Hasn't my AV (Kaspersky) already scanned it?

It should have, did it say so?

Forgive the dumb questions, Seth. Thanks for your input.

There's no dumb questions Lina. We're all amateurs at one time or another, and we all have different talents and skills. I knew the .email wasn't a standard video extension, but I had to research it to confirm what program it opens with. So you see, I learned something!

[mommalina]

Many thanks, Seth.

I could not determine whether Kaspersky automatically scans attachments; I just assumed there was a default setting to do so. I had Nod32 at one time and never confirmed that it automatically scanned attachments.

I'm going to have to read Kaspersky's Knowledge Base and check out its Lab Forum for some answers.

I'll also check with Rich M Wednesday night on PalTalk. He has used Kaspersky in the past.

Thanks again.

Lina

[mylanta]

Many thanks, Seth.

I could not determine whether Kaspersky automatically scans attachments; I just assumed there was a default setting to do so. I had Nod32 at one time and never confirmed that it automatically scanned attachments.

I'm going to have to read Kaspersky's Knowledge Base and check out its Lab Forum for some answers.

I'll also check with Rich M Wednesday night on PalTalk. He has used Kaspersky in the past.

Thanks again.

Lina


No need to wait until Wed Night, they both scan attachemnts...

[mommalina]

No need to wait until Wed Night, they both scan attachemnts...

Rich, can I assume you mean that Kaspersky and Nod32 scan each email attachment automatically rather than only on demand?

Thanks.

Lina

[mylanta]

Rich, can I assume you mean that Kaspersky and Nod32 scan each email attachment automatically rather than only on demand?

Thanks.

Lina

Yes you may assume it...

[photolady]

The extension Lina is on the end of the attachment. In your case it was ".email"

A movie would have the extension .mov or .avi or similar movie extension but it wouldn't have .email