Windows Vista Codec Pack is a all in one codec pack for Windows Vista users who suffer from their system’s inability to play a variety of popular audio and video formats. It remains a mystery to many why Microsoft has decided to ship Windows Vista without the required Windows Vista Codec to play those multimedia files.
I’m normally not a friend of codec packs because they tend to install many codecs that are not needed on most systems and could pose compatibility problems with codecs already installed on the system. Windows Vista on the other hand misses some essential codecs that can be quite easily added with the Vista Codec Package which can be customized during installation. That is right, unlike other codec packages you can select to install all or only some of the codecs offered.
Most possible conflicts have already been dealt with and the settings have already been altered for best results. The Windows Vista codec package does not ship with a media player which means that no file associations are being made. Just fire up your favorite media player, I recommend VLC or Mplayer, who automatically will use the codecs that are installed on your system.
Windows Vista Codec
All the important codecs are in the package, including xvid, windows media video 9, ffdshow, ogg and ac-3 acm. The codec package can be installed in Windows Vista and Windows XP and runs on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating systems.
Installing a Windows Vista Codec Package can have direct impacts on system performance, stability and multimedia output. It is therefor recommended to be very cautious when installing a Windows Vista Codec Package.
Windows Vista Codec Alternatives
A viable alternative is to install a media player that comes with so called binary codecs which can only be used in this program and cannot be accessed by other applications. This has the immense advantage that those codecs cannot “pollute” the system and cause stability and performance issues which windows vista codec packs can.
Related posts:
Windows 7 Codec PackageFind out which codec is missing for playback
Find out which audio or video codec is missing
List all installed multimedia codecs
Fix Broken Video Codecs With Codec Sniper
I have MANY instrutional videos that would not run on my new computer (Vista). I downloaded the Vista codec pack above and now everything works great.
Thanks!
where do i down load
Check here:
http://www.codecs.com/download/Vista_Codec_Package.htm
It works!!!!! tank you so much
Downloaded this still cannotr get any video files to display.
I bought a new computer with the Windows vista and I can’t use Windows movie maker to publish a video that I filming by a camera, the files are .avi.
I tried a LOT of different codecs install to my computer and I still don’t figured it out
I do can import the avi file to WMM, but the WMM isn’t able to save a short movie at all.
To googling : codec for windows vista
isn’t a solution…
so what I am would to do?
MPlayer does not need any codecs! It comes with them built in. Runs very well on Windows.
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/
I wish you would not pontificate about browsers and your religious affiliation with Firefox. I love IE and will continue to use it. Stick to your knitting.
OMG thank u so much… I spend days trying to convert my camcorder .mod files into movie maker compatible avi or wmw files… without succes. after that cute litte package i can use the mod files directly. it took me 2 mins HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA thx guys