CNET Editors' review
Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack provides a set of software codecs for viewing and listening to many forms of media in Windows Media Player. While this program merely enhances a media player, it does a fine job of accommodating many different and unusual types of videos and music.
The program's interface is simple to operate, since it maintains the classic media player layout. Its commands are easy to understand and navigate. This codec pack makes it a bit difficult to measure any improvements to Windows Media Player since it's not a player itself but rather a set of add-ons to your current audiovisual software. However, it adds the capability to watch and listen to a bevy of file formats, from DVDs and CDs to video files downloaded from the Internet. Everything played well, and we never found any glitches during our testing. Using this as a basis, we'd say the program was pretty successful. It also offered an interesting subtitle database feature that lets you input subtitles on programs. This wasn't as necessary for DVDs, which normally come with their own subtitles, but it's a thoughtful and useful addition. While we had a difficult time gauging just what this collection of codecs adds to the original media player, we were confident we could watch or listen to practically anything after downloading and installing it.
Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack is freeware. It lets you view many different media types on your player, and we recommend it.
Publisher's Description
From MediaCodec:
Windows Essentials Codec Pack is a collection of audio and video DirectShow codecs and filters. With Windows Essentials Codec Pack you should be able to play 99% of all movies and music files that you download off the Internet, stay up to date with the latest codecs with the Audio/Video Codec Update Service, and eliminate the many conflicts and errors caused by using multiple codecs to decode the same file types. Windows Essentials Codec Pack is designed as a user-friendly near complete solution for all your video and audio needs, with it you can play audio CDs, DVDs, (S)VCDs, and XCDs on the fly, and it adds support for 3GP, AAC, AC3, APE, AVI, DivX, 3ivx, DAT, h.264, x264, Nero Digital, DTS, FLV, FLAC, HD-MOV, MPEG-1/2, M4A, MP3, MP4, MO3, MOD, MKV, OFR, TTA, OGG/OGM, S3M, Vorbis, VOB, XviD, XM, WV, and UMX formats so you could play any video/audio file with your favorite DirectShow media player or with the (included) Media Player Classic.
What's new in this version: Version 3.6 includes updated drivers and direct show filters.
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 498 votes
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Current version:
2.9 starsout of 31 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Download came with trojan horse"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
Wasn't able to install this software
Cons
Unable to complete the install because my Norton Antivirus software detected a trojan horse and canceled the installation.
Summary
I've never had any issues with anything downloaded from CNET.com, but this time the download included a trojan horse!
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"Adds most codecs anyone might want."
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
Easy to install, no trojans or hacks that I have found.
Cons
I cannot think of any.
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"Virus included"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
Unknown, did not finish install
Cons
Trojan attached
Summary
Try another
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"Must have."
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
almost all codecs you will ever need
Cons
installation should be less confusing offering simpler options
Summary
I install this everytime I encounter a PC without necessary codecs, I install this program.
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"Virus Alert"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
Unable to test.
Cons
I tried to download the file on two separate computers - one with Symantec Internet Security and the other with McAfee. Both computers blocked the download due to presence of Trojan.ADH virus.
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"Don't install this codec pack."
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
None. Installation was stopped by virus checker.
Cons
This file is infected with Trojan.ADH.2. It is a high risk security threat.
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"screen image backwards"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
none that i can see
Cons
every thing was shown backwards
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"It works 4 me"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
easy to use and the new version appears to be sharper and cleaner.
Cons
AT first when I upgraded the new version my computer had crashing px, I deleted the producted. I found out that it was in conflict with another freeware product (UM) Ideleted that and reloaded. ok now
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"Threw in Trash Bin"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
Did not get to see any pros
Cons
Ended in Error message - did not complete the installation process.
Summary
waste of time.
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"CONTAINS TROJAN! AVOID!"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.6
Pros
no pros here!
Cons
Norton Security Suite detected Trojan.ADH.2 in WECPSetup32.exe and prevented installation.
Summary
How did this junk find it's way onto CNET?
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