OT: Computer Question for the experts out there.....

[Rick in Oregon]

Being somewhat of a computer dummy, can anyone answer this for me?

I get emails with video attachments called "wmv". When I try to open to view, my system tells me there is no file association for that file. How the heck do you get your puter to create this file association so as to see these videos?

Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.

[acloco]

Is your PC equipped with Quicktime or similar video player?

[BillC]

Rick, check your PMs.

Bill.

[Lenard]

Rick, did the computer ask you if you wanted to download any particular program to deal with wmv? that is what usually happens. Then after the download, you can watch the video. Just follow directions. In fact it should be a part of windows unless you are using a Mac.

Lenard

[surfclod]

Probably need to update codecs for the media player.

I can usually figure out my own rig when I need to (I used to compete in online games like TF2) but I don't really feel confident enough to do a walk through.

Depending on internet security settings you may need to update the codecs manually, of course this is for a Windows system.

I have no experience with a Mac

[Rick in Oregon]

No PM's have come through.

Using a PC, and when I click on the .wmv email, my system tells me there is no file association for that message type, and no instructions to do same come through. Sorry, don't know what a codec is either....told you I was a dummy.

I've got Windows Media Player and Qucktime loaded, so can't figure it out.......anyone?

Thanks.

[BillC]

Check your PMs again. It took me a little longer than I thought it would.
I wrote you a 'step by step' guide. I also included my phone number if you have problems.

Bill.

[Rick in Oregon]

PM received....thanks much Bill, it is most appreciated!

[Bergcrane2]

Is it all better now Rick?

[Rick in Oregon]

Berg: Yep, good to go now. Bill C. got me up and running.

Thanks.

[Silverfox]

Well, BillC, why not post that nice little step-by-step instruction sheet for all us dummies to see?????

Thank you!!!

[Bergcrane2]

Well, BillC, why not post that nice little step-by-step instruction sheet for all us dummies to see?????

Thank you!!!

Silver- If you have Windows Media Player, just try updating it. It's a new codec from Windows.
"Software that can play WMV files include Windows Media Player, ALLPlayer, The KMPlayer, PowerDVD, RealPlayer, MPlayer, VLC Media Player, Zoom Player and Media Player Classic. The Microsoft Zune media management software supports the WMV codec, but uses a Zune-specific variation of Windows Media DRM which is used by PlaysForSure. Many third-party players exist for various platforms such as Linux that use the FFmpeg implementation of the WMV codecs."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Video

[BillC]

Well, BillC, why not post that nice little step-by-step instruction sheet for all us dummies to see?????

Thank you!!!

My pleasure Sir.

As I sent it to Rick:

For XP

Left click on "Start" (bottom left corner of your screen)
Go up to "Settings" and slide to the right to "Control Panel"
When your Control Panel window opens, double click on "Folder Options"
Near top of the little window that opens is a tab marked "File Types" click on that tab
Once you have clicked on "File Types", you will probably see a flashlight sweeping from right to left.
Just be patient and the flashlight will go away and be replaced by a list.
Scroll down till you see "WMV" in the left side of the window. Left click one time on "WMV"
Just below center on the right hand side of that window is a button called "Change" Left click one time on that button and another window will open.
Scroll down till you see "Windows Media Player" and click on it one time.
Check the little box next to "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file"
Click on the button marked "OK" and the window will close.
Click on the "Close" button in the window that is remaining open, then just click the rest of the windows shut with the little "X" button in the top, right hand corner.

You are done and your .wmv files will now play in Windows Media Viewer.

Additional information I didn't send to Rick:

This process will work with any type of file, as long as you know what program on your computer will open which type of file. I.e. You have a file with a .rtf file extension. You would follow the same process, selecting "rtf" file type, then selecting Microsoft Word as the application.

As has been mentioned, codecs (an abbreviation for compressor/decompressor) may be needed for certain file types to play in Windows Media Player. That is a whole different topic in itself.

I am not an expert, but I custom build and maintain my own computers, as well as fix them when they break. Currently, I am typing on a machine I built that has a "Quad" processor. This is a standard sized processor that actually has four processors inside. I am running it so far beyond the specification that I have water cooling on it with a radiator outside the case with forced air cooling on the radiator.
I would rather have a computer waiting on me than me waiting on a computer.

Bill.

[Silverfox]

Bergcrane2 and BillC--I want to say a big THANK YOU!!! to you two gentlemen for taking the time to post that information!

[Bergcrane2]

Silverfox- No problemo!
BillC- I built my last 2 machines myself also. My next one will be a rockin' quad core.