# Is there a way to convert a .mov file to .wmv? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132 "2003-03-09T20:31:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/1 "2003-03-09T20:31:44Z")
I have a camera that records video in .mov format. Is there a way to convert it to .wmv? I have Windows 98 and am really looking for a free program that is easy to use. I understand it may have to be converted twice(like to .avi, then to .wmv), but does anyone know what would be the easiest and quickest way to convert it to .wmv? ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/2 "2003-03-09T20:35:56Z")
Why go from an annoying format to a completely shity and evil format? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/3 "2003-03-09T20:37:25Z")
Why not just download a free copy of [Quicktime for Windows](http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/)? Then you don’t need to convert. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/4 "2003-03-09T20:59:37Z")
I don’t know how to do it, but I’d appreciate knowing too, since I try to limit the amount of buggy obnoxious nagware I install on my system, quicktime included. PS. Dear Quicktime: nobody in their right mind wants you to register yourself for filetypes they already have viewers for (i.e. PNG, MPEG). That type of behavior is what gets you labeled “obnoxious.” ---
**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/5 "2003-03-09T21:15:05Z")
Quicktime is actually pretty good software, especially compared to Media Player. I second Q.E.D’s recommendation to download the free Quicktime player. Yes, it has a nag screen, but it’s free. For a very cheap $30, you can upgrade to the Pro version, which lets you convert to several other formats (WMV not among them, althoug AVI is) and do a little basic editing. It also loses the nag screen. ntucker’s right about QT taking over too many filetypes, especially on the Mac. But you can opt out when you install. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/6 "2003-03-09T21:16:04Z")
Ask and ye shall [receive.](http://www.windowspc.com/start.pl?page=/multimedia44.htm) > [@](#): > > Media Box Audio / Video Workstation…Encoding:- From CD CD to WAV / CD to MP3 / CD to WMA From File - Audio WAV to MP3 / MP3 to WAV / MP3 to WMA / WAV to WMA From File - Video AVI to WMV / **MOV to WMV** / MPG to WMV From Device Audio line-in, microphone to WMA / Video capture card or digital camera to WMV ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/7 "2003-03-10T01:17:00Z")
Did it ever occur to anyone that I may want the conversion so I could simply burn the files to disc and my dvd player(which plays .wmv) would play the .mov files? I didn’t want to go through the pain of making a vcd either. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/8 "2003-03-10T01:21:53Z")
We’re not mind readers. If that’s what you wanted, why not just say so up front? In any event, see my previous link. It solves your problem. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/9 "2003-03-10T04:19:28Z")
How about the other way around? On a Mac, WMV and Real are basically unwatchable. However, MPEG and MOV come through great with Quicktime Player. How can I convert those @#$%ing AVIs, RMs, and WMVs to MPEG or MOV? Is there anything that reads RMs and WMVs better than their respective designated players? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-convert-a-mov-file-to-wmv/160132/10 "2003-03-10T04:33:53Z")
Hmm… It seems the AVI-on-MAc question is in the process of being [answered](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=168313). Kind of. I’d rather convert, though.