Can't open .wmv files - any ideas?

[tobasco27]

I've got numerous .wmv files on my MacPro, and I used to be able to just click on them and they'd play. All of a sudden, when I click on them, the window opens, but when I hit the play button, nothing happens. I'm sure it's just some setting or something, but can't figure it out. Anybody have and ideas on how to resolve?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Dalton63841]

I've got numerous .wmv files on my MacPro, and I used to be able to just click on them and they'd play. All of a sudden, when I click on them, the window opens, but when I hit the play button, nothing happens. I'm sure it's just some setting or something, but can't figure it out. Anybody have and ideas on how to resolve?

Thanks for any help!

You need to install Perian. Unless you are on Mavericks, which doesn't support it.

 

[cbs20]

Download and install VLC media player to watch those files.

 

[lagisibuk]

Download and install VLC media player to watch those files.

yeah, you need this one

 

[bobcan]

VLC.. Agreed..

Download and install VLC media player to watch those files.

Agreed.. VLC has 'successfully played' about 99.9% of the media I have asked it to for the past 5-6 years or so.. Get it and Be Happy!!

 

[Intell]

VLC isn't needed. You can do it in QuickTime and enabled playback for all QuickTime compliant with Flip4Mac: http://www.telestream.net/flip4mac/

 

[Astroboy907]

VLC isn't needed. You can do it in QuickTime and enabled playback for all QuickTime compliant with Flip4Mac: http://www.telestream.net/flip4mac/

I'd prefer VLC, simply because of the sheer number of video formats it supports. Then when the OP eventually comes across a bizarre format, he/she need not download another program.

Then again, I have VLC, Perian, Flip4Mac, Adapter, Handbrake, a WMV player, in addition to several other video conversion programs installed on my mac

 

[tgi]

+1 for VLC. Not to de-rail the thread, but what's an MKV file and what makes it special?

 

[GermanyChris]

+1 for VLC. Not to de-rail the thread, but what's an MKV file and what makes it special?

You can do BluRay audio and video without a loss of quality..

Strip the DRM, and convert to .mkv BluRay on you Mac.

 

[priitv8]

You can do BluRay audio and video without a loss of quality.
Strip the DRM, and convert to .mkv BluRay on you Mac.

I'd say, apart from
a) native DTS(-MA, -HD) support and
b) being prevalent format in the rippers' world (accordingly huge toolset and multi-OS support)
I can't imagine much technological advantages of MKV over MP4 container format. Both are multi-track containers that support various media streams in separate tracks of a single file (eg video, several audio & subtitle tracks, chapter & thumbnail image tracks, metadata tracks etc).