Codecs

[Plague]

Noticed quite a few people saying they couldn't view files.
You don't need to go and install divx, quicktime or (try and say it without feeling sick) "Realplayer"
you can just get the codec packs and windows media player/internet explorer should play them fine. That way you don't get any of the "are you sure you don't want to pay us loads of cash" messages or popups.
Mega codec pack (33MB!) has just about everything
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/ACE_Mega_CoDecS_Pack.htm
Nimo codec pack (most common video files) =
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Nimo_Codec_Pack.htm
Just Divx codecs (.AVI) =
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Codec_Pack_All_in_1.htm
Realplayer alternative (might still be a bit buggy)=
http://www.codecsdownload.com/cgi-bin/TopDown/download.pl?file=0053
Quicktime alternative (works fine for me) =
http://www.codecsdownload.com/cgi-bin/TopDown/download.pl?file=0013

there are plenty of other packs but those should make just about any avi, mov, mpg etc play fine.

If you want to narrow down what exactly you need try this handy app, it'll tell you exactly what video and audio codecs a clip is using -
http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

 

[james]

nicely does it, cheers dude
Well worthy of being a sticky

 

[PhilMorrison]

Not sure if it's still an issue, but apparently this used to install conflicting codecs causing media player to crash.. Ed have you had any probs?

 

[Plague]

I used to use the Nimo one a fair bit, without any probs. Only probs I ever had with media player crashing was with some odd divx files, but this divx codec pack http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Codec_Pack_All_in_1.htm
sorted it out.
The 33MB codec pack seems to work a treat. It'll open all your files in media player classic, which is not a problem for me.