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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 3.5 includes some minor bug fixes and fixed false positive ad-aware alert.
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All versions:
3.4 starsout of 555 votes
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Current version:
3.1 starsout of 20 votes
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My rating:
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"Harder to use than Window Media Player"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
Free ' ! ' ?
Cons
I never got to see the benefit, since it failed to operate after I went to my Library, or should I say It failed to play my request!
Summary
Window Media Player is find, the software might not understand all the different codes that entertainment is save as but then there ways around that without another software
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"Auto-attached "Bing" Seachbar & God-knows-what-else"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
Just downloaded it....the codecs appear to be okay (though I just tested a few)
Cons
I have Firefox and this codec program (a) automatically redirected Firefox to Bing.com (setting it as my Home Page) and (b) it had stripped the Firefox search bars and replaced it with Bing crap.
AVG Free anti-spy warned me.
Creepy and insidious.Summary
Do your research on other codec packages and make sure to create a Restore Point before downloading this thing. It might be malware.
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"works great"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
easy to set up
Cons
none none none
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"Works OK for my needs, but messed with my browsers"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
I am able to watch the DVDs I want to watch.
Cons
It changed my firefox and IE homepage, search engine, and keyword URL from Google to Bing. I consider that malware.
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"Absolutly Worthless"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
Ummm. Nothing.
Cons
Most wont download, if it does it wont unpack/install. Try a netflix DVD in your computer and you will get extremly shrill screach with the added plus of sped up viewing on top of the bonus of pixelating! What a deal!
Summary
Don't bother and no, they are not interested in fixing this. I have been through many consecutive versions.
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"It's all good."
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
a lot of things.
Cons
nothing that I know of.
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"Works w/ purchased DVD's not movies downloaded off TV."
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
Easy download works well with purchased movies.
Cons
Doesn't work with movies I downloaded on a blank DVD. I use Sony DVD+R if that makes a difference. Anyone have any any advice before I delete it, that would be nice. Got a toolbar I didn't want but it was easy to delete.
Summary
I don't download music so can't tell if it works with that. If I can get it working with movies that I download then it is a good program.
Get an error loading message when click on "video for windows configuration". "ERROR LOADING ff_vfw.dll"
Updated on Jun 25, 2011 -
"Just worked first time"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
Fixed ALL my CODEC problems. I use Windows Media Player. It kept complaining that codecs were missing. (AVI , DivX , MOV videos ). Installed WECP - problem solved.
Cons
No problems whatsoever - great product
Summary
What can I say - solved problems playing videos - fixed. Been working OK for over 2 weeks now. Excellent.
Home of WECP is http://www.mediacodec.org/ .
Hurrah! Thank you CNET and mediacodec.org -
"not so great"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
it downloads easy
Cons
device still shows needs the codec pack to play.
Summary
media player still wont play the dvd's
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"Makes everything work"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 3.5b
Pros
By installing this i was able to watch all the videos i've downloaded
Cons
None......
Summary
Works, and free, what else do I need :P
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