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Geeky way to avoid codec problems

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Posted: 5/6/2005 3:28 AM

Post subject: Geeky way to avoid codec problems

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AceOfShades

Joined: 11/30/2004
Posts: 83
Location: Basement

I've noticed a bit of complaining with regards to codecs for some movies (including the latest Sonic 3 video). I'd like to point out a slightly geeky but still easy way to solve this. GeeXboX is a Linux live CD that essentially turns your computer into a multimedia system. Do note: Live CD. Nothing is installed on your system, so Windows users needn't worry. I don't mean to advertise, and I have nothing to do with the project other than as a user. I simply point it out. You boot from the Geexbox CD (really fast booting) and instantly your computer can play virtually any video file. The default disc image doesn't include support for WMP9 or Real Player, though you can add those to your own disc with a bit of geeky workage. Or I could even supply the ISO of my own copy to save people the trouble. It also plays audio files (probably any kind, but I've only tried with MP3s), audio CDs, video CDs, DVDs, or from a TV tuner card if you have one. It reads from any drive in your system or can even access open network shares. Really handy. And as I said, I have yet to try a video file that doesn't work. 'Course if you like to do other things while watching the videos then this is useless to you.

Posted: 5/6/2005 3:38 AM

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BoltR

Former player

Joined: 8/12/2004
Posts: 651
Location: Alberta, Canada

Too bad that wouldn't work. That live CD uses mplayer 1.0pre6, and one of the Castlevania COTN runs crashes in 1.0pre6. Har, you lose at the game of geek!

Posted: 5/6/2005 4:34 AM

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AceOfShades

Joined: 11/30/2004
Posts: 83
Location: Basement

That so? I have an older version, so I've found no problems, but perhaps after I finish moving I'll try out the latest one and see for myself just how it works (or doesn't).

Posted: 5/6/2005 1:44 PM

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Bladegash

Former player

Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 484
Location:

Circle of the Night?

Posted: 5/6/2005 6:10 PM
(Edited: 5/12/2005 10:55 PM)

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Blublu

Player (68)

Joined: 3/11/2004
Posts: 1058
Location: Reykjavík, Ísland

I don't know about anyone else, but rebooting in order to watch a 20-minute movie doesn't work for me. If you're on Windows, just get a nifty program called Gspot. It tells you what codec the particular movie is using. Then use Google to find the codec. NEVER use one of those "every codec in the entire world plus some more!!1" packages. They are pure evil. (edit: ffdshow is probably an exception)

Posted: 5/12/2005 4:49 PM

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AceOfShades

Joined: 11/30/2004
Posts: 83
Location: Basement

I guess that makes sense. I just happen to have two computers: one to download stuff and the other to play it all through LAN. For that matter the second computer does nothing but play media files and acts as the TV I don't have. Anyway I thought it'd be interesting to point out for those who can find a use for it.

Posted: 5/12/2005 6:32 PM

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