# Codec help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947 "2003-11-13T01:40:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/1 "2003-11-13T01:40:34Z")
I don’t even really know enough about my problem to give useful information, but hoepfully people here will be able to tell me where to look to answer questions. Many a moon ago, I installed a codec that included the TFM Audio Filter. Recently (being a couple days ago), I installed the [Ace Mega Codecs Pack](http://www.softrom.ro/3916.asp). It appears that there is some sort of conflict between the codecs, and I have a very difficult time playing most videos; to wit, they crash my video player (I have tried with WiMP, Winamp, and DivX). Can anyone tell me: [ul] [li]Where I can find out which codecs I have installed?[/li][li]How can I uninstall them?[/li][li]What other useful tidbits of information should I know to keep this from happening in the future?[/li][/ul] Thanks in advance for any and all help! ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/2 "2003-11-13T02:08:39Z")
What is your OS? Is WinXP, Control Panel | System | Hardware tab | Device Manager will list your Codecs under Sound, Video and game controllers. Expand that, dbl-click Audio Codecs and click on the Properties tab to see them. From there you can dbl-click each individual codec and remove it, keep it but don’t use it, change its priority, etc. It’s also possible that Ace Mega Codecs Pack has its own utility that lets you pick and choose which ones to retain. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/3 "2003-11-13T02:19:54Z")
In WIN9X go to Control Panel -\> Multimedia -\> Devices ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/4 "2003-11-13T03:08:55Z")
I have a codec question. I’m running XP with Windows Media Player 8.0. I downloaded this .avi clip, but every time I try to play it, Windows Media Player goes “Contacting codec server … Sending request for codec … Error downloading codec.” Then it gives up and plays the clip with no video! No idea which codec is needed. Anybody know a fix? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/5 "2003-11-13T04:16:14Z")
Jomo Mojo, you may need the DivX codec which MS does not like to divulge. You can get it at [divx.com](http://divx.com) and there are other codecs which will also process DivX like FFDSHOW and Xvid. If you do not know what codec the clip uses you can get a utility which will locate the 4 CC characters which tell. BTW. The codec files have AX extensions in the Windows/system folder. Right now I am counting 35 in my system. ---
**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/6 "2003-11-13T05:05:02Z")
I’m sorry, the problem is under Windows XP, and the video codecs are the ones causing the problem. I installed the program, it started causing the problems, so I immediately uninstalled it. However, it looks like it didn’t _remove_ any of the codecs that it installed. I followed your directions **Dooku** , but when I tried to click on the properties of the Video Codecs, the Microsoft Management Console crashed. It happens everytime. I tried rebooting, but it still wouldn’t let me into it. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/7 "2003-11-13T20:04:03Z")
Hmmm. Sol when you dbl-click on Audio Codecs, it crashes? If this were me, next I’d single-click on Audio Codecs, then right-click and choose “Update Drive” and let WinXP automatically try and find them. Hopefully this will replace the bad ones with no more ill effects. Let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/8 "2003-11-13T21:21:00Z")
I kinda wish I had seen this a little earlier; I’m already into the re-formatting process now. Thanks for the additional information though! ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codec-help/212947/9 "2003-11-13T22:57:49Z")
There’s a program called G-Spot that analyzes a video clip and tells you which video codec and audio codec it uses. Also, after having installed the ACEMCP, I’ve realized that it’s not worth the trouble. The NIMO codec pack contains almost everything you’ll need. One thing, though, is you may want to seperately install XviD.