I've recently toyed with the idea of sending some relatives short movie
clips, via my little utilised web page, as they're knocking on a bit and not
too computer literate (just like me) I suspect that they are unlikely to
have anything other than Windows Media Player installed on their computer,
for this reason I edited and converted the files to .wmv (using 'Windows
Live Movie Maker') which play perfectly.. that is on every other player
(such as VLC) but unfortunately not on Windows Media Player, the files will
only play back with sound and a black screen, I then tried downloading the
files onto a laptop which runs XP (and Media Player) with identical results
(likewise they play OK with other applications) any pointers in the right
direction would be greatly appreciated, TIA Ivan.

"Ivan"
> Live Movie Maker') which play perfectly.. that is on every other player
> (such as VLC) but unfortunately not on Windows Media Player, the files
> will
> only play back with sound and a black screen,

As so often, this can have multiple reasons and most likely the problem
comes from a wrong codec.
Windows7's media player (and Media Center) actually bring with them a good
set of codecs.
If i remember correctly, the file ending .wmv is (similar to .avi) some kind
of container format and it can contain many different types of video. Did
you give some kind of "digital rights" in the ASF container, at the point
where you converted your videos to .wmv?

greetings

Roland Schweiger

"Roland Schweiger" <roland_schweiger@web.de> wrote in message
news:hksks1$lnl$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> "Ivan"
>> Live Movie Maker') which play perfectly.. that is on every other player
>> (such as VLC) but unfortunately not on Windows Media Player, the files
>> will
>> only play back with sound and a black screen,
>
> As so often, this can have multiple reasons and most likely the problem
> comes from a wrong codec.
> Windows7's media player (and Media Center) actually bring with them a good
> set of codecs.
> If i remember correctly, the file ending .wmv is (similar to .avi) some
> kind of container format and it can contain many different types of video.
> Did you give some kind of "digital rights" in the ASF container, at the
> point where you converted your videos to .wmv?
>
>
>

Thanks Roland, but I think I've managed to suss out what was wrong, after a
lot of messing around I found that by clicking on 'skin' in the view menu in
WMP 11 (in Windows7) it produces a smaller, but normal looking, window in
which the video then appears and plays OK, doing the same in WMP 9 (on the
laptop running XP) produces what can only be described as a horrible piece
of futuristic looking space age junk, which is circular with buttons around
the outside and has a tiny misshapen winged thing protruding from the right
hand side, in which the .wmd file will also display and play OK.. The words
'frigging' and 'abomination' readily spring to mind :o)

>
>

"Ivan" <ivan'H'older******.com> wrote in message
news:oqlcn.38248$Ym4.28497@text.news.virginmedia.c om...
>
>
> "Roland Schweiger" <roland_schweiger@web.de> wrote in message
> news:hksks1$lnl$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> "Ivan"
>>> Live Movie Maker') which play perfectly.. that is on every other player
>>> (such as VLC) but unfortunately not on Windows Media Player, the files
>>> will
>>> only play back with sound and a black screen,
>>
>> As so often, this can have multiple reasons and most likely the problem
>> comes from a wrong codec.
>> Windows7's media player (and Media Center) actually bring with them a
>> good set of codecs.
>> If i remember correctly, the file ending .wmv is (similar to .avi) some
>> kind of container format and it can contain many different types of
>> video. Did you give some kind of "digital rights" in the ASF container,
>> at the point where you converted your videos to .wmv?
>>
>>
>>
>
> Thanks Roland, but I think I've managed to suss out what was wrong, after
> a lot of messing around I found that by clicking on 'skin' in the view
> menu in WMP 11 (in Windows7) it produces a smaller, but normal looking,
> window in which the video then appears and plays OK, doing the same in WMP
> 9 (on the laptop running XP) produces what can only be described as a
> horrible piece of futuristic looking space age junk, which is circular
> with buttons around the outside and has a tiny misshapen winged thing
> protruding from the right hand side, in which the .wmd file will also
> display and play OK.. The words 'frigging' and 'abomination' readily
> spring to mind :o)
>
That just one of a chose of skins. I would change it to Classic Using View
skin chooser

"Trev" <trev_uk********.com invalid> wrote in message
news:O9mdnRf5A-NbYuzWnZ2dnUVZ7rqdnZ2d@pipex.net...
>
> "Ivan" <ivan'H'older******.com> wrote in message
> news:oqlcn.38248$Ym4.28497@text.news.virginmedia.c om...
>>
>>
>> "Roland Schweiger" <roland_schweiger@web.de> wrote in message
>> news:hksks1$lnl$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> "Ivan"
>>>> Live Movie Maker') which play perfectly.. that is on every other player
>>>> (such as VLC) but unfortunately not on Windows Media Player, the files
>>>> will
>>>> only play back with sound and a black screen,
>>>
>>> As so often, this can have multiple reasons and most likely the problem
>>> comes from a wrong codec.
>>> Windows7's media player (and Media Center) actually bring with them a
>>> good set of codecs.
>>> If i remember correctly, the file ending .wmv is (similar to .avi) some
>>> kind of container format and it can contain many different types of
>>> video. Did you give some kind of "digital rights" in the ASF container,
>>> at the point where you converted your videos to .wmv?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Thanks Roland, but I think I've managed to suss out what was wrong, after
>> a lot of messing around I found that by clicking on 'skin' in the view
>> menu in WMP 11 (in Windows7) it produces a smaller, but normal looking,
>> window in which the video then appears and plays OK, doing the same in
>> WMP 9 (on the laptop running XP) produces what can only be described as a
>> horrible piece of futuristic looking space age junk, which is circular
>> with buttons around the outside and has a tiny misshapen winged thing
>> protruding from the right hand side, in which the .wmd file will also
>> display and play OK.. The words 'frigging' and 'abomination' readily
>> spring to mind :o)
>>
> That just one of a chose of skins. I would change it to Classic Using View
> skin chooser

Unfortunately that particular configuration appears to be the only
alternative option in the drop down box (WMP 9) although really my main
gripe is why should one have to alter the skin size to get it to play,
perhaps someone out there knows?