Video and Audio Codecs

[DR M]

Hello, Corrine and Forum  :mitch:

I am back with a new question... about codecs this time.

As soon I bought my laptop, I installed K-Lite Mega Codec. I don't know how it works and what exactly does, but I installed it because I was told that with this pack of codecs I could watch any video, in any format.

Anyway, today, as I ... was playing with my computer, I downloaded a sample of mov file, just to see what it is and if it can play in Windows Media Player. It was ok. I then tried to convert it. The conversion was ok, but I lost the sound, even from the original file. I then tried to change some things in k-Lite, but, as I didn't know what I was doing, I only mess up everything. So I uninstalled the codecs, and reinstalled it.

BUT...

Now, I am thinking... What is this codec pack and why I downloaded it? Is it good or it might harm the computer? Should I uninstall it again? What I should know about codecs? Should I download something else? And how can I have the sound of the mov file back???

[Corrine]

Let's start with background information:

• Codecs: frequently asked questions - Windows Help
  
• The official site for K-Lite Mega Codec, which includes FAQ's and a forum link:  Codec Guide: K-Lite Codec Pack - For XP, Vista, Windows 7 and 8
  
• Note the warning from this Codec site about K-Lite:
  

  Remember to deselect the adware which comes with the application during installation process.

• A bit of history:  this is just one article out of quite a few regarding codes from almost 8 years ago we were buried with malware removal topics by people fooled into installing fake codecs, Beware of Codecs!

As to the sample mov file, can you download it again?

[DR M]

Thank you, Corrine. This is the site I downloaded the codecs after I uninstalled them today. But I don't know what to do to customize them.

Yes, I downloaded again the mov file but I get no sound (except when I open it with the Quick Time Player). I am 100% sure that it had sound before (the samples of mov files are from this page: http://www.steppublishers.com/sample-video).

[Corrine]

I cannot test those since they require Apple Quick Time, which I uninstalled from this computer a number of years ago and, until trying one of those clips, have not had anything that needed it.

[DR M]

Hi, Corrine.

Although mov files are apple files, they open in Windows Media Player, without the use of Quick Time. I did not open the samples I found in the website, but saved them on my desktop. Then, I just opened them with WMP, and everything was ok. I don't know what exactly I did after that, and the sound is lost...

[Corrine]

Yes, they will open in WMP because that is set as the default player associated with that file type.  It will, however, use Quick Time.

[DR M]

Well, I spent all my day trying to solve the problem. I realized that without the codecs, I cannot play mov files in WMP at all. So, I uninstalled Quick Time, installed (again) K-Lite codecs, but the files I downloaded yesterday remained without sound.

But when I tried other mov files, they were ok! Sound and video!  :dance:

I just don't know why...  :shock: