How do I play MPEG ?

Janie · Jan 19, 2013

I have just purchased a new laptop which has Windows 8 installed . I am used to using Vista

I have loads of problems but today I want to know how I can use my video camera with it

I connected the Sony digital video camera to the computer and downloaded the files but Windows

cant play MPEG. Can Any one help ?

rchris · Jan 19, 2013

Unfortunately, Windows 8 dropped its media player. You can install a program to do the job: VLC is a free program that does about everything--play, convert, record, etc. VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework!

Another option is a light-weight app that, I think, just plays is MPC-HC: Home :: MPC-HC ::

Or, you could search through the App Store to find a player.

PJL · Jan 19, 2013

rchris said:
Unfortunately, Windows 8 dropped its media player....

Say what? Windows Media Player version 12 is alive and well on my Windows 8 installation.

topgundcp · Jan 19, 2013

Windows Media Player version 12 is still there. Just right click on the .mpeg file and select open with Windows Media. However, Windows Media Player version 12 will not play some of the format such as .mkv and DVD. You can install VLC or another freeware such as KMPlayer which has a nice user interface, both will use their built in codec pack to play almost any format.
Just be careful when installing those freewares, they always ask to install additional softwares such as Google Chrome, Ask toolbar etc... just uncheck those.

bassfisher6522 · Jan 19, 2013

Window media player was dropped in the EU...in America it's still there. There was a lawsuit brought before the EU counsel and MS was forced to drop it.

Janie · Jan 20, 2013

Thanks I have now got VLC installed

rchris said:
Unfortunately, Windows 8 dropped its media player. You can install a program to do the job: VLC is a free program that does about everything--play, convert, record, etc. VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework!

Another option is a light-weight app that, I think, just plays is MPC-HC: Home :: MPC-HC ::

Or, you could search through the App Store to find a player.

Janie · Jan 20, 2013

Thanks for the suggestions I am not very good at this ! My next problem is - I have found a download on the Windows site for Windows movie maker, which I really like and have been using for ages but the MPEG files dont play on that anymore can anyone tell me if theres a solution ?

topgundcp · Jan 20, 2013

You need to install a codec pack. K-lite standard should do the job:
http://www.free-codecs.com/k_lite_codec_pack_download.htm

brummyfan · Jan 20, 2013

You could also try Shark007 which works fine:Shark007.net - Windows 8 Codecs for Media Center

KentC · Jan 20, 2013

Janie,

You can always try this website which will give you all the tools mentioned prior and a few other solutions to ease your issue:

Ninite - Install or Update Multiple Apps at Once

Der Snoober · Jan 20, 2013

bassfisher6522 said:
Window media player was dropped in the EU...in America it's still there. There was a lawsuit brought before the EU counsel and MS was forced to drop it.

This is not entirely true

Microsoft was forced to create a Windows version without Media Player ==> Hence the "Windows N" versions (many thanks to Nelie Kroes who made this possible :shock

It's a stupid EU rule, because once you install the N version you can download Media Player through Windows Update.

The point is that Microsoft is still allowed to sell the origional version (luckily!!) and the price is the same as the N versions. So the N versions aren't selling very good. In fact all the mayor shops here don't even have the N versions on sale.

It isn't known how many N versions have been sold since "Windows XP N", but rumours are the numbers won't be higher than a few thousand. It doesn't surprise me and I don't mind. I mean seriously....it would be like selling a car without the integrated stereoset because that way the other stereoset manufacturers won't have a chance to sell their products.

Janie · Jan 20, 2013

I tried K lite but I still cant view the MPEGs in Windows movie maker

Now I cant open Movie maker beause it says '' Another user is using Movie Maker close the session '' but there isnt another one open - ??
Things getting worse ! Wish I could take this thing back

bobkn · Jan 20, 2013

If you have an "N" (no media player) version of Windows 8, you can add the stuff back in using the Media Feature Pack:

Download Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 8 from Official Microsoft Download Center

(The EU didn't ban that stuff, but it's not allowed to be installed by default. You have to do it yourself.)

I don't know whether it will fix your problems, but I'd be more hopeful than with installing third party codec packs.

Janie · Jan 21, 2013

Thanks but it didnt work - not suitable for my computer it says

Der Snoober · Jan 21, 2013

Have you tried installing K-Lite codecpack? That ought to do it.....

Janie · Jan 21, 2013

Der Snoober said:
Have you tried installing K-Lite codecpack? That ought to do it.....

Yes I tried - that didnt work either

bassfisher6522 · Jan 21, 2013

Der Snoober said:
bassfisher6522 said:

Window media player was dropped in the EU...in America it's still there. There was a lawsuit brought before the EU counsel and MS was forced to drop it.

Click to expand...

This is not entirely true

Microsoft was forced to create a Windows version without Media Player ==> Hence the "Windows N" versions (many thanks to Nelie Kroes who made this possible :shock It's a stupid EU rule, because once you install the N version you can download Media Player through Windows Update.

The point is that Microsoft is still allowed to sell the origional version (luckily!!) and the price is the same as the N versions. So the N versions aren't selling very good. In fact all the mayor shops here don't even have the N versions on sale.

It isn't known how many N versions have been sold since "Windows XP N", but rumours are the numbers won't be higher than a few thousand. It doesn't surprise me and I don't mind. I mean seriously....it would be like selling a car without the integrated stereoset because that way the other stereoset manufacturers won't have a chance to sell their products.

I should have posted a link that explained in detail...I was just pointing out the main bullets and dropped the ball on that part. Your absolutely correct with what you've posted...thanks for posting the full explanation.

Der Snoober · Jan 21, 2013

Are you sure your camcorder MPEG files aren't compressed by some wierd Sony-like codec? In other words..... you might have to download and install some files from Sony to 'translate' their own MPEG format. You might want to check out their site.

Unfortunately not all MPEG files are alike you see ==> just because it's called MPEG doesn't naturally mean it's all the same

Once, a long time ago

, I helped a friend of mine who had a Sony camcorder and couldn't get the movies played on the computer. It appeared that they were coded in some wierd Sony format. Installed a Sony codec and done....

bobkn · Jan 21, 2013

Janie said:
Der Snoober said:

Have you tried installing K-Lite codecpack? That ought to do it.....

Click to expand...

Yes I tried - that didnt work either

At some point it'd be good to have a few facts, like whether you have the 32 or 64 bit version of Windows 8, and whether you have the "N" version (no WMP) or not.

Janie · Jan 21, 2013

Oh no - it just gets worse !

I checked the movie maker help pages and it says -- I can use these files

Video files: .asf, .avi, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpe, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm, and .wmv

I have experimented and now find that MPEG can be viewed on the timeline and not the preview screen and WMV can be viewed on the preview screen and not the timeline ???????? I need both :cry:

Der Snoober said:
Are you sure your camcorder MPEG files aren't compressed by some wierd Sony-like codec? In other words..... you might have to download and install some files from Sony to 'translate' their own MPEG format. You might want to check out their site.

Unfortunately not all MPEG files are alike you see ==> just because it's called MPEG doesn't naturally mean it's all the same

Once, a long time ago , I helped a friend of mine who had a Sony camcorder and couldn't get the movies played on the computer. It appeared that they were coded in some wierd Sony format. Installed a Sony codec and done....

How do I play MPEG ?

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Well-Known Member

My Computer

Banned

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Well-Known Member

My Computer

Well-Known Member

My Computer

Banned

My Computer

Well-Known Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Well-Known Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Banned

My Computer

Well-Known Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer