Having Video Problems?

 

The problem may be with your video software...       

Symptoms:

 When you play the video: 

1. You hear the sounds - but do not see any  image
2. You hear the sound and see a sound visualization instead of the image
3. Or, Nothing happens at all

 

Likely Problem:

This is probably a codec issue.  What that means in plain English, is that I am using Microsoft's latest version of Movie Maker 2  (MM2) to create the movies.  MM2 uses the newer version 9 codecs when making the finished videos.

For playback on PC's running Windows Operating Systems other than NT,  your computer must have version 7 or higher of the Windows Media Player.  When version 7 or above trys to play newer videos it will automatically get the needed (newer) codec from the Microsoft online database.   This should not be an issue; but it may be a problem for some computers.

For people on Macs and Windows NT the newer version 9 codec is not yet available (as of July 2003).

There is a wealth of good information at the website of a Movie Maker Guru, Papa John.   Go to his website www.papajohn.org  and go to the pages titled "Saving Movies... General".  The direct link to that page is http://pws.chartermi.net/~papajohn/MM2.html 

 

Replay:  tip
If you replay the video it will likely run smoother and sharper the second time around.  This is because the video is now downloaded into your web browsers temporary disk space on your computer's hard drive.

 

So, what can you do:

• In General,  if nothing is happening:
  • Refresh or reload the page that contains the video
  • The video should self-start; but, click the video players start button if you see no activity
    • No percent downloaded is being shown
    • Or.  the % of buffering being completed is not increasing, etc.
  • If that doesn't work -- follow the suggestions below

   

• Windows Users (other than NT):
  • Users of Windows should update your Windows Media Player to a more current version.  Version 7 or higher is required.
  • If you already have Version 7 or higher and it doesn't play the videos (.MMV files) make sure that your Windows Media Player has the needed (newer) codec from the Microsoft online database.
  • The easiest solution for most of us is to simply load the most recent Windows Media Player.  You can do that for free by going to the Microsoft website.
     

To Get Windows Media Player Click Here >>
 

• The disadvantages of loading the latest version are:

  • The time to download and install  WMP 9

  • the 9 Series Player is larger than version 7

 

• Windows NT & Mac users:
  • I understand that the version 9 codecs is not available at this time (7/2003)
  • Check with Microsoft or Apple Support for a workaround
    • Sorry, there is no plan to support both Version 7 codecs for NT & Mac users plus the Version 9 at this website

 

My Thanks to PapaJohn,

Rush Hill Webmaster

 

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