# Why won't my computer play mpegs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099 "2008-04-27T15:54:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/21 "2008-04-28T17:17:04Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] **DDG,** if I “explore”, I get a two part display with a tree structure in the left pane. If I “open”, I get a single pane with no tree structure. [/QUOTE] If I may make a quick hijack here, if I have Windows Explorer open but only have the single pane visible, how do I make the left pane with the tree stucture visible? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/22 "2008-04-28T17:32:17Z")
[QUOTE=flex727] If I may make a quick hijack here, if I have Windows Explorer open but only have the single pane visible, how do I make the left pane with the tree stucture visible? [/QUOTE] Click on “Folders”. ---
**Author:** ![PuddingCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@PuddingCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PuddingCat)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/23 "2008-04-28T18:43:48Z")
[QUOTE=flex727] If I may make a quick hijack here, if I have Windows Explorer open but only have the single pane visible, how do I make the left pane with the tree stucture visible? [/QUOTE] Click Folders icon. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/24 "2008-04-28T18:54:14Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] If what I describe here does not match your experience, all I can say is: 1) I guess I am lucky it works as well and consistently as it does for me, and 2) YMMV. [/QUOTE] In an earlier post in this thread you said that you were running Windows 98. That is why you can type a URL into Windows Explorer and have Internet Explorer render it and display it in the same window, but **DDG** can’t. Read the Wikipedia article that she linked to (bolding mine): > [@](#): > > With the release of the Windows Desktop Update (packaged with Internet Explorer 4.0 as an optional component, and included in Windows 98), Windows Explorer became based on Internet Explorer technology, most notably with the addition of navigation arrows (back and forward) for moving between recently visited directories, as well as Internet Explorer’s Favorites menu. At the time these changes raised antitrust concerns about the incorporation of what was seen as an application feature, but this feature has since been emulated by most other file browsers. > > An address bar was also added to Windows Explorer, which a user could type in directory paths directly, and be taken to that folder. **It also operated as a URL bar for Internet addresses; web pages would open in the main portion of the window.** And: > [@](#): > > If XP SP2 is upgraded to Internet Explorer 7, explorer.exe no longer hosts Internet Explorer ActiveX controls with a view to render HTML files, it instead spawns off a new iexplore.exe process. That is slightly incorrect, though. What it should say is that it spawns your default browser. For example, if I type a URL into Windows Explorer on my XP SP2 PC, it opens that link in Firefox. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/25 "2008-04-28T20:47:43Z")
[QUOTE=trmatthe] Click Folders icon. [/QUOTE] :smack: Thanks, **trmatthe** and **Giles**! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/26 "2008-04-29T00:52:06Z")
[QUOTE=flex727] If I may make a quick hijack here, if I have Windows Explorer open but only have the single pane visible, how do I make the left pane with the tree stucture visible? [/QUOTE] You can have your folders set to always open on the tree structure. First go to Tools/Folder Options and choose Show Common Tasks In Folders. This opens the side panel each time. Then, go to the File Types tab, find “Folder” (_not_ “File Folder”) and select (or add) “Explore” and set it as Default. It will go bold, and will now be the default setting for opening a folder. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/27 "2008-04-29T03:32:06Z")
[QUOTE=neutron star] In an earlier post in this thread you said that you were running Windows 98. That is why you can type a URL into Windows Explorer and have Internet Explorer render it and display it in the same window, but **DDG** can’t. [/quote] In post #19, I said I had just verified that it works _exactly_ the same way in XP (SP2), as I went to that computer and tried everything out before posting. I use a half-dozen computers on occasion (mostly XP SP2) and they work the same way, IIRC. It’s entirely possible that they are set to some default that’s different from others’ defaults; I’ve never tried to change them. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/28 "2008-04-29T03:43:43Z")
I’m fascinated by the new information that apparently it’s possible to get from Explore to the Internet. But I don’t see how to do that. I’m right-clicking on Start. Up comes: Open Explore Search… Resco crypting Search active captions BitDefender Antivirus V.10 Properties Open All Users Explore All Users Okay, so I click on Explore. Up comes a window with two panes, listing everything in folders that’s on my computer. Question: where do I type in an URL in order to cause Explore to change itself into Internet Explorer and take me to, say, [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com)? There’s no address bar, no http:// prompt. So where do I put the URL? ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/29 "2008-04-29T03:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] In post #19, I said I had just verified that it works _exactly_ the same way in XP (SP2), as I went to that computer and tried everything out before posting. I use a half-dozen computers on occasion (mostly XP SP2) and they work the same way, IIRC. It’s entirely possible that they are set to some default that’s different from others’ defaults; I’ve never tried to change them. [/QUOTE] It works in IE 6, I have done it many times. Web pages load in the Windows Explorer pane, you can explore your hard drive in Internet Explorer. It no longer works in IE 7, I have verified this for myself. Typing C:\ in the address bar of Internet Explorer opens a new instance of Windows Explorer. Typing [http://straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com) in the address bar of Windows Explorer opens a new instance of the default browser (IE or FF or what-have-you). It wasn’t broke, but they fixed it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/30 "2008-04-29T03:47:17Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] In post #19, I said I had just verified that it works _exactly_ the same way in XP (SP2), as I went to that computer and tried everything out before posting. I use a half-dozen computers on occasion (mostly XP SP2) and they work the same way, IIRC. [/QUOTE] Is it XP SP2 with IE 7? Because you can have SP2 on an XP machine without upgrading IE to version 7. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/31 "2008-04-29T03:50:00Z")
[QUOTE=Duck Duck Goose] Okay, so I click on Explore. Up comes a window with two panes, listing everything in folders that’s on my computer. Question: where do I type in an URL in order to cause Explore to change itself into Internet Explorer and take me to, say, [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com)? There’s no address bar, no http:// prompt. So where do I put the URL? [/QUOTE] If you were using a computer that didn’t have SP2 and IE7, you’d put it in the address bar where the local directory is showing. If the address bar is hidden, go to View-\>Toolbars-\>Address Bar to show it. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/32 "2008-04-29T03:55:26Z")
[QUOTE=Duck Duck Goose] I’m fascinated by the new information that apparently it’s possible to get from Explore to the Internet. But I don’t see how to do that. … Okay, so I click on Explore. Up comes a window with two panes, listing everything in folders that’s on my computer. Question: where do I type in an URL in order to cause Explore to change itself into Internet Explorer and take me to, say, [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com)? There’s no address bar, no http:// prompt. So where do I put the URL? [/QUOTE] There should be an address bar at the very top of the page that shows the folder you are currently browsing, in my case "\<\< Roaming \> Microsoft \> Windows \> Start Menu " Click on this bar and type in a web address. It should launch a new browser instance. hint: the easiest way to launch Windows Explorer is to hit ‘windows’-E. The ‘windows’ key is next to the ‘alt’ key on most keyboards. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/33 "2008-04-29T04:58:00Z")
1. Ignore all the confusion above about explorer vs internet explorer. And the program association, at least for now. My guess is that’s probably not the problem, but we’ll see. 2. Go update your graphic drivers to the latest, that’ll probably fix it. 3. Ok, that didn’t do it. Download the MPEG (right-click on the link and choose “Save Target As…” and save the mpeg somewhere. Go find it, and double click on it – what happens? For me, it runs Windows Media Player. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/34 "2008-04-29T05:39:05Z")
**DDG,** If you don’t see an address bar, you have it hidden. How can a power user function without an addr bar? Some of those options you see on a right-click were installed by some program(s), and are not universal. But the Open and Explore options are the ones I am talking about. For those who asked, I don’t have much experience with IE7, and I have no way to test it right now. My comments relate to Win98 with IE6 and XP, SP2 with IE6. It sure is nice when there is uniformity across platforms, and I don’t plan to change it anytime soon. > [@squeegee](#): > > …and save the mpeg somewhere. Go find it, and double click on it – what happens? For me, it runs Windows Media Player. Of course it does. Your file assocations aren’t screwed up, and we’re back to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/35 "2008-04-29T05:45:36Z")
[QUOTE=neutron star] If the address bar is hidden, go to View-\>Toolbars-\>Address Bar to show it. [/QUOTE] Shortcut: right-click on an empty area in the browser top, like the blank to the right of the File…Edit…View… area (almost anyplace an icon is NOT). You should be presented with a checklist of what’s enabled on your display. Check or un-check what you want to see. Works like a charm in IE6. Can’t vouch for anything else. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/36 "2008-04-29T05:46:05Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] Of course it does. Your file assocations aren’t screwed up, and we’re back to the OP. [/QUOTE] Right, but does Media Player then play the file correctly? If it doesn’t, there’s more options to try. If it does, there’s nothing wrong with the machine’s display driver or codecs. And if it launches something else, we get a clue to what **BrainGlutton** installed that screwed things up (QuickTime would be my guess). And this is the most hijacked GQ thread I’ve ever seen ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099/37 "2008-04-29T05:58:44Z")
[QUOTE=Rhubarb] It no longer works in IE 7, I have verified this for myself. Typing C:\ in the address bar of Internet Explorer opens a new instance of Windows Explorer. Typing [http://straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com) in the address bar of Windows Explorer opens a new instance of the default browser (IE or FF or what-have-you). It wasn’t broke, but they fixed it anyway. [/QUOTE] What you are observing is probably an option. In my IE6, in local mode, View-\>Folder options-\>General-\>Custom-\>Settings-\>“Browse folders as follows” gives 2 choices: Open in same window, Open in new window. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-computer-play-mpegs/447099.md?page=1)