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Why wont my mac play .AVI files? and some mpg files too!

edcoche

edcoche

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 2, 2007
116
0
I am moving some files from my old PC onto my mac and some of my .AVI videos aren't playing. It says that I need to download a plugin for it to play. It takes me to a webpage with some links. I downloaded the Divx codec and all it did was install a divx player. I am not sure if it installed any plugins for quicktime. I tried updating my QT software and it said I had the most current software. What am I doing wrong? Also, I am having trouble playing some mpg files too. Some are working whereas others are not. All of these files played just fine in my windows media player on my PC and no mac app seems to be working for me. :(

I have a 3 week old MB.

I have never experienced a problem like this before in all my years using computers.
 
edcoche

edcoche

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 2, 2007
116
0
mrkramer said:
If you haven't already try VLC it will play almost any video file.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that plays some but not all. This really puzzles me. The videos are an assortment from the years past. Some are funny avi/mpg/mpeg's from college days and such.
 
edcoche

edcoche

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 2, 2007
116
0
bluefiberoptics said:
Try downloading and installing Perian: http://perian.org/

It will let Quicktime play all the popular formats.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks! I have one more question, when you install an application does it make it a "device" in finder and on the desktop just like opening safari and having to "quit safari" in order for the installer/safari to close? I ask this b/c Perian 1.0 is now a icon on my desktop. I am new to installing files on a mac and such.

edcoche said:
Hey thanks! I have one more question, when you install an application does it make it a "device" in finder and on the desktop just like opening safari and having to "quit safari" in order for the installer/safari to close? I ask this b/c Perian 1.0 is now a icon on my desktop. I am new to installing files on a mac and such.
Click to expand...

I think I got it figured out. The reason I asked is b/c I am trying to minimize having a double copy of files on my HD. I want this mac to be clean, neat, organized, efficient....well you get the point. On my pc things were scattered everywhere with no organization whatsoever.

thanks to all who took the time to reply :)
 
richard.mac

richard.mac

macrumors 603
Feb 2, 2007
6,292
4
51.50024, -0.12662
perian is an installer so you just double click its icon. it will install and you then eject the white virtual disk and delete the .dmg you just downloaded.

for applications you drag it to your applications folder and then again eject the white virtual disk and delete the .dmg file.

to see if its an app or installer do a "get info" i.e. command-I on it.
 
A

atthecross

macrumors 6502
Jun 8, 2007
279
1
I sorta have the same issue...

I have embedded an .avi file into my website but it won't play when you navigate to the site.

I have VLC installed but thats a player and you have to navigate to the file rather than having a plugin recognize a video via safari.

any suggestions?
 
shu82

shu82

macrumors 6502a
Jan 10, 2007
697
4
Rocket City, AL
flip4mac

Its the first thing I put on a mac. It really pissed me off no windows media played on ....some sites.

It and vlc should solve all your problems
 
diamond.g

diamond.g

macrumors G4
Mar 20, 2007
11,114
2,444
OBX
The only thing that wont play with all the options given is Intel Indeo Codec stuff. The real old stuff. Just an FYI.
 
H

hecxs

macrumors newbie
Dec 4, 2007
22
0
Ahhhhh!!! I Have The Same Problem!!

I downloaded the perian but i don't know how to open avi files with it!!

HELLLLLLLLLP!!!!!:confused::confused:
 
S

se6git

macrumors newbie
Sep 14, 2008
8
0
Still no joy

I know this is an old thread but the problem is still around.
I have some avi files which open fine in iPhoto, QuickTime etc. I can even preview them in Finder. However, I made a website with iWeb and embedded some of these avis and they refuse to play in Safari or Firefox. I can even "Save as Source" to my desktop and watch them but they just wont play in a browser. The first image comes up briefly and the sound plays but all the video is missing.
I have flip4mac and Perian installed.
Any one know what's going on here?
 
kastenbrust

kastenbrust

macrumors 68030
Dec 26, 2008
2,890
0
North Korea
se6git said:
I know this is an old thread but the problem is still around.
I have some avi files which open fine in iPhoto, QuickTime etc. I can even preview them in Finder. However, I made a website with iWeb and embedded some of these avis and they refuse to play in Safari or Firefox. I can even "Save as Source" to my desktop and watch them but they just wont play in a browser. The first image comes up briefly and the sound plays but all the video is missing.
I have flip4mac and Perian installed.
Any one know what's going on here?
Click to expand...

what format are the video files in when embedded? flash?
 
S

se6git

macrumors newbie
Sep 14, 2008
8
0
Not sure what you mean there. They are avi files from an Ixus that Safari (and Firefox) tries to play through QuickTime.
 
P

pbwizard

macrumors newbie
Dec 19, 2009
1
0
Does anyone know of a way to play the old Indeo stuff in OSX Leopard?

diamond.g said:
The only thing that wont play with all the options given is Intel Indeo Codec stuff. The real old stuff. Just an FYI.
Click to expand...

Perian doesn't work here. QT list the video as YVU9, which, after much digging looks like it's old Indeo. VLC plays it fine, but these files are embedded in a PPT presentation.
 
T

ThirteenXIII

macrumors 6502a
Mar 8, 2008
843
277
perhaps it be better to stop supporting these archaic filetypes and switch a much more open and usable standard instead of a ton of various codecs.

:D
 
dXTC

dXTC

macrumors 68020
Oct 30, 2006
2,033
50
Up, up in my studio, studio
ThirteenXIII said:
perhaps it be better to stop supporting these archaic filetypes and switch a much more open and usable standard instead of a ton of various codecs.

:D
Click to expand...

Seconded. I used Handbrake in conjunction with VLC to transcode several old AVIs, MPGs and DivX videos into the H264 standard. Works like a charm, and the results play on my iPods flawlessly. (Yes, Handbrake does more than DVDs. :) )
 
S

scarvo

macrumors newbie
Oct 27, 2010
2
0
.AVI not playing on my Mac, nothing has worked

So I'm trying to play a .avi dvd on my Mac, went to apple.com - recommended to get the Quicktime MPEG2 Plug-in and MPEG Streamline to play the .avi - done - Doesn't Work.

Called an apple specialist - yeah yeah Quicktime not meant to play .avi that is why all the plug-ins, go and get VLC-1.1.3.dmg download - Doesn't Work

Tried Perian 1.2.1 - still won't play the .avi dvd

What am I doing wrong?!?!?!?

I'm obviously not the brightest star when it comes to this but I really need some advice!
 
roadbloc

roadbloc

macrumors G3
Aug 24, 2009
8,784
215
UK
scarvo said:
So I'm trying to play a .avi dvd on my Mac, went to apple.com - recommended to get the Quicktime MPEG2 Plug-in and MPEG Streamline to play the .avi - done - Doesn't Work.

Called an apple specialist - yeah yeah Quicktime not meant to play .avi that is why all the plug-ins, go and get VLC-1.1.3.dmg download - Doesn't Work

Tried Perian 1.2.1 - still won't play the .avi dvd

What am I doing wrong?!?!?!?

I'm obviously not the brightest star when it comes to this but I really need some advice!
Click to expand...
Sounds to me like the avi file is corrupt.
 
spinnerlys

spinnerlys

Guest
Sep 7, 2008
14,328
7
forlod bygningen
scarvo said:
So I'm trying to play a .avi dvd on my Mac, went to apple.com - recommended to get the Quicktime MPEG2 Plug-in and MPEG Streamline to play the .avi - done - Doesn't Work.

Called an apple specialist - yeah yeah Quicktime not meant to play .avi that is why all the plug-ins, go and get VLC-1.1.3.dmg download - Doesn't Work

Tried Perian 1.2.1 - still won't play the .avi dvd

What am I doing wrong?!?!?!?

I'm obviously not the brightest star when it comes to this but I really need some advice!
Click to expand...

With .avi DVD you mean, you have a DVD on which you have one or several .avi files?

If that is the case, use VideoSpec and open one of the .avi files in there and copy the report into your next reply.

If you have a video DVD, then there is no .avi file on it, but an Audio_TS and a Video_TS folder, with .vob, .ifo and .bup files inside the Video_TS folder and Apple's DVD Player (in Applications folder) or VLC should be able to play it.

The QT MPEG-2 Playback Component is for playing back MPEG-2 encoded video (video DVDs use MPEG-2 as video codec) inside QT Player or transcoding software like MPEG Streamclip.
 
S

scarvo

macrumors newbie
Oct 27, 2010
2
0
It Worked!

spinnerlys said:
With .avi DVD you mean, you have a DVD on which you have one or several .avi files?

If that is the case, use VideoSpec and open one of the .avi files in there and copy the report into your next reply.

If you have a video DVD, then there is no .avi file on it, but an Audio_TS and a Video_TS folder, with .vob, .ifo and .bup files inside the Video_TS folder and Apple's DVD Player (in Applications folder) or VLC should be able to play it.

The QT MPEG-2 Playback Component is for playing back MPEG-2 encoded video (video DVDs use MPEG-2 as video codec) inside QT Player or transcoding software like MPEG Streamclip.
Click to expand...

Holy COW! Video Spec WORKED! It was so easy! You are a genius! Thank you so much!
 
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