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

[edcoche]

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.

[mrkramer]

If you haven't already try VLC it will play almost any video file.

[edcoche]

Originally Posted by mrkramer

If you haven't already try VLC it will play almost any video file.

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.

[bluefiberoptics]

Try downloading and installing Perian: http://perian.org/

It will let Quicktime play all the popular formats.

[edcoche]

Originally Posted by bluefiberoptics

Try downloading and installing Perian: http://perian.org/

It will let Quicktime play all the popular formats.

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.

Originally Posted by edcoche

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.

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]

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.

[unknown.exe]

Download VLC player it is the best free macintosh .avi .mpeg .anything file player

[atthecross]

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]

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

[d wade]

Originally Posted by shu82

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

this is everything you need to know. no other apps necessary

[diamond.g]

The only thing that wont play with all the options given is Intel Indeo Codec stuff. The real old stuff. Just an FYI.

[hecxs]

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

HELLLLLLLLLP!!!!!

[richard.mac]

Originally Posted by hecxs

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

HELLLLLLLLLP!!!!!

install perian by double clicking on it once youve opened the perian disk image. eject the perian disk image and delete it or keep it if you want. then open the .avi with quicktime

[se6git]

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]

Originally Posted by se6git

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?

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

[se6git]

Not sure what you mean there. They are avi files from an Ixus that Safari (and Firefox) tries to play through QuickTime.

[pbwizard]

Originally Posted by diamond.g

The only thing that wont play with all the options given is Intel Indeo Codec stuff. The real old stuff. Just an FYI.

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.

[eclair4151]

ok you guys are not doing it right u have to download divx player
http://www.divx.com/en/software/mac
do the free download then when u are gona watch a vid right click and press open with divx player. then everything works

[jackerin]

Originally Posted by eclair4151

ok you guys are not doing it right u have to download divx player
http://www.divx.com/en/software/mac
do the free download then when u are gona watch a vid right click and press open with divx player. then everything works

Perian is a far better choice than the DivX player. It decodes all formats that DivX does (afaik) and doesn't clutter up your computer with useless components.

[ThirteenXIII]

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.

[dXTC]

Originally Posted by ThirteenXIII

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.

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. )

[scarvo]

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]

Originally Posted by scarvo

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!

Sounds to me like the avi file is corrupt.

[spinnerlys]

Originally Posted by scarvo

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!

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.

[scarvo]

Originally Posted by spinnerlys

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.

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