Without answering the question "why doesn't it work", I'd say: try VLC, it usually handles most multimedia containers. (tip: even FLV videos downloaded from YouTube etc.)
Ok so I downloaded VLC however, it seems that this program is only for streaming video. These videos are downloaded as WMV's to my brand new MacBook Pro. Anyone know why it won't work? how to make it work?
VLC plays everything and no it is not just for streaming video. Flip4mac works fine on my machine for playing wmvs in QT. Try installing perian, may be it helps...
Ok. So I've installed VLC and tried running the movie, it plays but no sound. I've installed Perian, and the movie still has no sound in QT.
What is going on?
the movies are from the columbia video network
Either the movies do not contain the sound (which may be stored in a seperate audio file, which is unusual but possible), or it is corrupt. Can you provide us with the movie, so that we can check it out?
Here is the link
http://www5.cvn.columbia.edu:8080/viewpreview.php
scroll down to "ELEN E 6010 Systems Biology: Design Principles for Biological Circuits"
You can download or try to view in the webbrowser