Why won't Movie Maker automatically download CODECs for me?

What happens when you try to use files not made with Mixcraft?
EG the sample audio files in windows?

Do these files play ok in WMP?

Hello Brian,

 

Welcome to Microsoft Community forum. Let me help you with that. In addition to skier-hughes' post, ensure that you have the proper codecs to play your videos and audio files.Audio and Video require codecs to play the file and it’s important to have the right codecs installed or updated in your PC.

• You may try fixing bad codecs by referring to this link: Microsoft FixIt tool
• Media info will be able to identify any issues with missing or faulty codecs and whether it’s already installed in your computer or not. Get here.

Note: If can't find the codec, you may convert the video to a supported format (eg. wmv) and then add it to your Windows Live Movie Maker project.

 

Good luck and let me know how it turns out for you.

 

Thank you!

Thanks, Skier & Helene:

Things have deteriorated, I'm afraid.  I downloaded a pack of CODECS. But I still got the same error messages  after doing so (plus the download program switched my search toolbar to Yahoo!)

Something weird is going on, because when I try mp3's that I bought online (rather than one's that Ic created in MixCraft), i get a message saying that the file appears to be damaged or invalid.

Miscraft says that is has "LAME provided by Ogg Vorbis" -- I guess I'll try the "fix-it" tool next.

Thanks for your help.

You can be heading down a really slippery slope when you download codec packs from the internet.  Codec packs have historically been a method for nefarious people to add malware to your system, to change your browser settings, etc., so I would be very careful before doing so.  In the best case it fixes your issue.  But in the worst case it leaves your computer with a bunch of codecs all competing to be the one to decode a certain file.  You can actually break working videos and music (as you have discovered).

 

I would suggest at this point that you may want to do a System Restore back to before you did the download of the codec pack(s).  Additionally, I'm not sure where you got a 2.1 to be installed on Windows 7, but there is no Microsoft sanctioned installer for putting the old XP version on Windows 7.  The preferred path is to install the latest Movie Maker 2012 that is part of Windows Essentials.  If you want a classic version, you should either look at WMM 2.6 or WMM 6.0 instead of WMM 2.1.

 

As for video and music files that are having problem in Movie Maker, I prefer to convert the files to known file types rather than fiddling with codecs, filters, etc.  If you convert all your video to .wmv (using something like Freemake Video Converter) you have a better chance of being able to edit in Movie Maker.

I second considerate_guy's suggestion of using system restore to remove the codec pack.
I might even suggest using it to go back to before the installation of Movie Maker.
If all worked prior to this install, it could be that the programme had malware in it and has caused the problems.

I appreciate everybody's input. 

I should point out first that I already knew from past experience that CODEC is a nightmare -- and the downloads are risky. That's why I winced when Movie Maker wouldn't accept my audio files for want of a correct LAME-- but after that, I figured that the only option left me was to go out and search for the correct lame, which I thought meant getting a new CODEC package.  In other words, I'm aware of no other way to proceed than to start poking about for risky downloads.

I should also point out that Movie Maker was already failing to accept my audio files BEFORE I downloaded the CODEC Pack so although the CODEC pack didn't help, it didn't cause my problems in the first place -- I downloaded the CODEC pack, in fact, specifically because Movie Maker couldn't use my audio files.  The CODEC that I have in Mixcraft is probably old but it works for me.  Also, the CODEC does not seem to be the only problem here because Movie Maker won't accept ANY audio files from me, even mp3s that I have bought online.

Although Mixcraft has a WMA export option, it is "grayed out" right now and seems to become available only when I am exporting video -- and what I'm trying to do is export audio.

Also, I had the option of either downloading Windows Essential entirely or just parts of it, such as Movie Maker.  Since all I wanted was Movie Maker, that is all I downloaded -- however, based on comments above, it sounds like I should have downloaded all of Windows Essential just to get Movie Maker to work properly.

[Sigh]

Thanks for your continued ideas.  It sounds like I should probably go back and download Windows Essential -- because I recall that five years ago, I was able to use Movie Maker -- but at the time, I did have Windows Essential installed.

That's not an ideal answer for me, however, because I really did not want Windows Essential, just Movie Maker, but I'd prefer to have both together than to have neither.

Codecs can be found on their own from the maker of the codec, sometimes it can be a long haul to find them. Identifying the exact codec required first can often be the hardest bit.

Are you saying you've not used Movie Maker for years so you are unsure when this problem materialised?

Have you ensured you have the latest audio driver for your sound card from it's manufacturer installed?

I don't know if I have the latest audio driver for my sound card.  I guess that's the next thing I'll check. 

This is getting a trifle frustrating, because now I have even used a conversion program to turn the mp3 into a wmv file -- and Movie Maker STILL tells me I don't have the correct CODEC.

As for when this problem materialized, I never consider there to be a problem until I tried to use Movie Maker.  I had never, on any interface or software, had trouble playing mp3's.  So as far as I know, the problem just appeared.  Movie Maker apparently has some requirement that no one else has had.

I don't understand why the software is not searching for the CODEC itself since I have the box checked for it to download any missing CODEC.

Plus, if in theory the software is able to download the CODEC, why can't it at least tell me what specific CODEC i NEED to download?

Hi Brian,

 

I understand your frustration.... Microsoft software, Microsoft codec searching and auto-downloading, along with Microsoft Community forums, are Microsoft-based and typically don't reach over or point to products from other companies. Many to most codecs are from those others.

 

When it comes to other-than-Microsoft software or codecs, follow the suggestions of MVPs such as skier-hughes, as they provide a combo of Microsoft and non-Microsoft solutions.

 

Unfortunately, when it comes to codec issues, there often isn't an easy or straight-forward solution.

Just trying to pin point the exact issue.

ONLY Movie Maker has an issue with audio.

No other programme has an issue CURRENTLY with Audio.

If so, it sounds like your movie maker installation is corrupt and I'd suggest removing it and reinstalling as my next option.