I have a lot of AVI files on my computer. I used to watch these in Windows Media Player. But lately when I play my files in that player the quality is really bad. I can still see the movies but there is this irritating something crossing the screen so it seems. Even on files that used to be good!!! However when I watch the files in WinDVD there is no problem at all.
Now, there is nothing wrong with watching the movies using WinDVD, but I would like to know is there is a solution for the quality problem in WMP. I have version 10. Could it be my video card or is it software related as I don;t face the problem in the other player?
I have a similar problem with Windows Media Player.
The quality for me is OK, but if I try to play multiple movies in a row (such as watching a DVD) it only plays the first for a few seconds and then blacks out. If I watch it one movie at a time (or in the case of a DVD, one chapter at a time), it plays just fine. So, my temporary fix (until I reformat my computer) is to use Cyberlink's PowerDVD XP. Windows Media Player acts fine for me if I were to use it for music. I could play multiple songs in a row on it just fine. But for videos and movies, forget it.
It looks like that Microsoft has problems with it. 
- Mike. I dont know what is causing the problem. I havent experienced any such problem.
But in general the quality of video in VLC player tends to be the best.
All i can suggest is that you reinstall your Video Card drivers
Also I would check if there is some kind of setting for AVI compression in the settings.
Hmmm... You may don't use Hardware acclleration. I can't tell you much about this technology, but it uses overlays to play videos and it's much faster
(-> Accleration) 
Try to activate this somewhere...
x-stream It could also be a problem with one of the codecs. Sounds like an odd problem though. Make sure you are using the latest version of Media Player, that could help.
Have you tried updating your codecs? Try downloading a new codec from divx.com as most avi vodeos are actually divx encoded.
If you get a new codec and you are still having the same problem, then try playing the files in the Divx player, or like was said before, try playing them using the free VLC media player.
I personally have switched off of using windows media player whenever possible. I have used it to rip my whole music collection off of cd so I can play my music whenever I want without having to put a cd in the drive, but other than that I don't use win media player. There simply are better options for video playback.
Try DIVX from divx.com
or search on google for VLC media player
Both of those are good players, and they don't try to get to you buy anything, like windows media player tried to get me to buy a simple DVD decoder, when I know for a fact there are free options out there like VLC.
Maybe the problem is with the codecs, as already stated by other people, since VLC and WinDVD use they own codecs. Try to reinstall your codecs.
How about trying a free reliable avi or multimedia player. VLC media player, could play almost any media regardless of codec types. Just google for it.
Download Divx player. It never slows or skips.
| izcool wrote: |
I have a similar problem with Windows Media Player.
The quality for me is OK, but if I try to play multiple movies in a row (such as watching a DVD) it only plays the first for a few seconds and then blacks out. If I watch it one movie at a time (or in the case of a DVD, one chapter at a time), it plays just fine. So, my temporary fix (until I reformat my computer) is to use Cyberlink's PowerDVD XP. Windows Media Player acts fine for me if I were to use it for music. I could play multiple songs in a row on it just fine. But for videos and movies, forget it.
It looks like that Microsoft has problems with it.
- Mike. |
I have the same problem with you when i use windows media player to watch DVD.
But after i have install InterVideo WinDVD, i use Windows Media Player to watch DVD, the problem solved.
I don't know why actually, i guess that If i use WMPlayer to watch DVD, the codec used is the software we used(such as powerDVD).that mean the problem is come from PowerDVD but not WMPlayer.Good point about the hardware acceleration, you can find it in display settings, advanced ... Not sure as i use linux :p
VLC Player is a good option.
There is also Media Player Classic.
http://www.divx-digest.com/software/media_player_classic.html I will try the hardware acceleration...I also have WinDVD player. At first that one worked fine for me. Later on it started to show the same things...Not with all files. Just specific AVI's for example. However, now I have Nero Showview...and something I never could have guesed...this one works the best! The quality is amazing! I haven't found an archive that played bad on this player. I installes Nero 6 complete and the player is included.
Sounds like a possible codec issue, although I must say that I agree with most of the posts above...VLC is (in my opinion) easily the best media player out there. I used to be a huge Power DVD fan until I tried VLC...now it's gimme vlc or gimme death 
Hey, on top of being a GREAT media player, it's also freeware. It sound like a strange porblem, i would check that hardware accelleration is on full. youll find it under:- tools--> options--> Performance.
Other player options:-
VLC player is good - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
BS Player also very good - http://www.bsplayer.org/ i havent tried version 2 though.
Codecs:-
in my opinion you only need one codec FFDSHOW thats only my opinion though 
It covers DIVX 3,4,5, XVID, MP42, MP43, H261, MPEG1, MPEG2......etc etc etc
pretty much all the most common codecs your likely to need also its very fast, its FREE and supports subtitle files, has excellent post processing and de-blocking....... please excuse for getting a little carried away there!
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/ffdshow.cfm
hope this helps
