Codec Issues (No sound, no video)

Some people may have experienced certain problems after downloading a movie. This may include no sound (the most common problem), or even no video.

The majority of the time, this is down to codec issues.

I could just stop here and recommend VLC Player, but I understand that not everyone wants to change players.

It's also possible to get GSpot. This will allow you to find out which codecs you need, so you don't install a bunch that you'll never use.

However, my solution:
Get the K-Lite Codec Pack (Standard) here
or
Get the K-Lite Codec Pack (Standard) or here

This will sort out most, if not all, your codec issues. It will also allow you to play subtitles with ease, in players including Windows Media Player. (Note: The Standard version should be fine for most)

GSpot is included with the K-Lite Codec Pack.

NB: Be extremely careful when installing codecs on top of the K-Lite Codec Pack. Having multiple instances of the same codec can cause serious conflicts.

Here's a walkthrough for installation:

1. Download and Open the Standard pack from here

The K-Lite Codec Pack will warn you if it finds other codecs on your computer. Go ahead and remove them (because the pack will reinstall the latest versions in an organised and connected way).



2. Click Next a few times and choose where to install. The default is usually fine for most.



3. The next set of options will allow you to choose which components to install. All of them are selected by default. I recommend leaving it like this, unless you know what you're doing. An important component is the very last option. This will alert you when there are problems with your codecs.



4. You will be presented with "Additional Tasks" options. If you do not[/i] want to make Media Player Classic the default for a number of file types, be sure to uncheck the boxes. MPC looks like a very old Windows Media Player. You may like it, you may not.

It's probably best to leave the rest of the options untouched unless you know what you're doing.



5. Finalise the installation

6. Try playing your movie again - hopefully all is well.

7. If you want subtitles, make sure the substitle files are in the same folder as the movie itself, and then open the video in, for example, Windows Media Player. In the System Tray, you should get a new icon that will allow you to turn the subtitles on/off, change the language (if possible) etc.[/img]