AVI (file->properties->summary)?

rubyeye · Post by **rubyeye** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:58 pm

This is kind of a general desktop operations question, specifically regarding video files. Perhaps someone here could help me.

Before I had to get my computer fixed (again), I used to be able to right-click and read the summary properties of my .avi files which detailed important things like the compression codec used, the kind of audio file attached, length of play time, and other stats.

After I got it back, I noticed I'm not able to access any details about my video files through the normal right-click, properties, summary tab. Instead it reads:

Summary properties are unavailable for the selected source(s).

Is there something I have to activate in order to regain this normal function, or have I simply lost it due to some inexplicable thing the Coputer Techs might have done? Is there some kind of third-party program I can use instead to view file stats like I described above?

Thanks if you can help.

Krisqo · Post by **Krisqo** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:11 pm

I usually get that message when I have a corrupt file, like a failed export from Premiere. I'm sure you checked to see if the video played, right?

Keeper of Hellfire · Post by **Keeper of Hellfire** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:36 am

A third party programm which provides you all the information of the properties summary tab and much more (like which codecs are installed to decode the file) is GSpot.

AMV_4000 · Post by **AMV_4000** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:51 am

I've run into the same problem, on my the video plays fine, but sometimes it just cant display the properties for me... i honestly dunno... at first i thought it was just specific codecs *i can see the properties for some videos on my laptop but cant for the same video on my desktop, both play the video fine though... and whats even stranger i can go in the network to my desktop and right click the same video and get the properties, but i cant for my desktop.... its not for all videos though, just some*
i honestly just find out the resolution through Vdub, and i dun really worry too much about the codec... as for bitrate.. Windows ALWAYS lies to me about the bitrate on my videos... I'll encode to xvid using lets say 4000 kbps, and it comes out saying its around 700 kbps...
all i have to ask is this...

Mac>PC??

ZOMG!

Qyot27 · Post by **Qyot27** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:02 am

AMV_4000 wrote:as for bitrate.. Windows ALWAYS lies to me about the bitrate on my videos... I'll encode to xvid using lets say 4000 kbps, and it comes out saying its around 700 kbps...

That's because Windows shows kilobytes per second (kBps) rather than kilobits per second (kbps) like most other encoding software does. Multiply it by 8 to get the kilobit value, which would come out to ~5600kbps.

rubyeye · Post by **rubyeye** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:18 am

Krisqo wrote:I usually get that message when I have a corrupt file, like a failed export from Premiere. I'm sure you checked to see if the video played, right?

All videos files are functional and play in every application. Summary Properties are Unavailable for all avi video files, including new ones downloaded off the internet and old ones stored on CD. The problem has to be with the Windows XP operating system. Quite possibly due to the upgrade to Service Pack 2 (I knew it was buggy) - I've avoided it for years but the techs installed it.

Keeper of Hellfire wrote:A third party programm which provides you all the information of the properties summary tab and much more (like which codecs are installed to decode the file) is GSpot.

Thanks. I'll look into that. I thought there was another similar kind specific to read AVI files, but I could be wrong.

If anybody else could shed some light into this problem, I'd be very curious. Or if you know of any other third party programs I could check out, I'd appreciate it.

Qyot27 · Post by **Qyot27** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:48 am

rubyeye wrote:Quite possibly due to the upgrade to Service Pack 2 (I knew it was buggy) - I've avoided it for years but the techs installed it.

I actually was going to ask this. More than likely that'd be my guess - that SP2, or the way it got put in - is the source of the problem.

It should be possible (if you want to test this) to uninstall SP2, see if your Summary shows back up, and if it doesn't and you'd rather have SP2 back you can always get it from Microsoft again.

RaveDave · Post by **RaveDave** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:47 pm

I had the same problem on my computer, i installed this program and then used the restore command and it fixed the problem. Hope this helps

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Win ... VI_Fix.htm

AMV_4000 · Post by **AMV_4000** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:21 pm

Qyot27 wrote:
AMV_4000 wrote:as for bitrate.. Windows ALWAYS lies to me about the bitrate on my videos... I'll encode to xvid using lets say 4000 kbps, and it comes out saying its around 700 kbps...
That's because Windows shows kilobytes per second (kBps) rather than kilobits per second (kbps) like most other encoding software does. Multiply it by 8 to get the kilobit value, which would come out to ~5600kbps.

orly?

thx for that, i guess i learn something new every day...

Communist_Hitler · Post by **Communist_Hitler** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:37 am

I think MediaInfo is better than GSpot, because it also conveys information about the compression library used, resolution, and separate audio and video bitrates, as well as subitle files and other attatchments. It works through right-clicking too. (Yet, I have both)