How do I remove / uninstall ALL codecs?

Philocalist

I'm having problems on a Vista machine with several different 'media' - type players resident on it (typically, to handle files that Windows Media Player refuses)
My problems usually manifest themselves as a video file that plays OK, but without sound in WMP, yet will run OK through Nero Showtime / Cyberlink DVD etc.
I've been assuming that if a specific codec was resident on the PC, each player would access it if / when necessary ... but perhaps that is not the case here? .. or WMP would play every compatible file I chuck at it?
Unless someone has a better / easier alternative, I'm considering uninstalling ALL codecs, then reinstalling them as a totally fresh version, hopefully to try and resolve this issue.
Can anyone tell me a simple way to ensure I uninstall ALL codecs (so no remnants remain to potentially cause complication) ... or offer a better solution?
Thanks!

goretsky

Hello,

You may be able to find missing codecs for Windows Media Player at Microsoft's WMPlugins.Com web site. You can also use a program such as Marc Liron's Sherlock - the Codec Detective to troubleshoot codec-related issues. The FourCC site can be helpful in identifying files to determine what codecs were used to encode them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

For what seemed like ages, I didn't know a codec from a kumquat.

Then my Software Guru put me on to the "K-Lite Codec pack".
You can get the short version or the "FULL" version.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

More recently, I was having that problem with needing another program every time I wanted to view something.
That can and does get real old real quick.

So my final solution was to UN-Install all the off-beat players (Real Player and Quicktime) and install the "K-Lite Codec Pack" (the big one) and from then on, Windows Media Player plays everything. That's what I really wanted in the first place.

I've also installed that codec pack for many of my customers with great success. Give it a try..... if you don't like the results you get, you can un-install it like any other program.

Like many other programs, a codec pack will become out of date and should be updated often.

I try to download the latest version of the "K-Lite Codec Pack" about once a month, to stay up to date with the latest codecs.

Did I forget to mention.....IT's FREE!

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

louis-the-cat · Joined: May 13, 2006 Posts: 307

you might also try:

www.theorica.net/codecs.htm