Cannot import due to codec issue

Question

I have windows movie maker version 6.1 i think but all i know is that its not the latest version and when ever i put in an AVI file it says "cannot be imported because the codec required to play the file is not installed on your computer. If you have already tried to download and install the codec, close and restart Windows Movie Maker, and then try to import the file again." but i have got the codec installed im really sure but i don't know how to check this. Also i have tried restarting the thing and it still doesn't work. also i don't know where to get the codec from and what other file types would work. I am in desperate need of help so thank you if you answer back! :D

Previous title - Codecs

Answer 1

Since Windows Movie Maker 2.1 is a really old Windows XP version (albeit running on Windows 7 somehow, in your case), it doesn't have support for many codecs.  In particular, it appears it doesn't like your .avi files.  I would suggest a few things:

1. Use Windows Essentials (Movie Maker 2012) instead, which is designed for Windows 7.  You mentioned you installed it and encountered crashing, so try step #2.
2. Update your video graphics driver.  Run dxdiag and go to the Display tab.  Once you know the manufacturer of your graphics chip/card, go to their website (e.g. Intel, AMD or NVIDIA) and find a driver update utility.  After running, see if Movie Maker 2012 will launch correctly.  If it does, but you still have problems with the .avi files, see #3.
3. Consider converting any problem files (i.e. the .avi files) to .wmv format.  I've used Freemake Video Converter for tasks like this.  If you do install Freemake, be sure to choose Custom Install so you can uncheck any add-ons you don't want.

If you still find you are having problems with Movie Maker 2012 after that, post back with more details on the exact error message and error codes.  Also, if you want to use a "classic" version of Movie Maker for some reason, I'd recommend uninstalling Windows Movie Maker 2.1 and instead installing Windows Movie Maker 6.0.

Answer 2

First off im on windows 7 and when i go to the website to download the new one i click the movie maker button and it takes me to a page with a download for windows essentials when thats installed if i try to open anything it just crashes, second, it says it says 6.1 (build 7600) so is it possible that the (7600) makes any difference?

Thanks for the help

Answer 3

Thanks for the help i had tried to get a newer version but it keeps crashing when i open it. And also i did convert the AVI files into WMV files but there was no video and if i watched the original there is video and i am version  2.1.2046.0 Thanks for helping me out though. 

====================================

What app did you use to convert the .avi file to .wmv?

Movie Maker 2.1.2046.0 is the Windows XP version...

which version of windows are you running? XP? Is it

possible that it says 5.1 instead of 6.1?

Is the following screenshot like yours?

Answer 4

Thanks for the help i had tried to get a newer version but it keeps crashing when i open it. And also i did convert the AVI files into WMV files but there was no video and if i watched the original there is video and i am version  2.1.2046.0 Thanks for helping me out though.

Answer 5

I have windows movie maker version 6.1 i think but all i know is that its not the latest version and when ever i put in an AVI file it says "cannot be imported because the codec required to play the file is not installed on your computer. If you have already tried to download and install the codec, close and restart Windows Movie Maker, and then try to import the file again." but i have got the codec installed im really sure but i don't know how to check this. Also i have tried restarting the thing and it still doesn't work. also i don't know where to get the codec from and what other file types would work. I am in desperate need of help so thank you if you answer back! :D

=================================

There is no Movie Maker 6.1, that would be your

Windows Version. Windows 7 is version 6.1.

See the following link for info on finding the MM

Version Number:

windows movie maker Version ???

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/forum/moviemaker-av/windows-movie-maker-version/ed0427da-55dd-4d27-b19c-abe2b32c7ec1

To install the latest version of Movie Maker for

your system...see the following article:

(FWIW...it's always a good idea to create a System

Restore point before installing software or updates)

Get Movie Maker

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-movie-maker-download

Anyway...there are many types of .AVI files and

many if not most are problematic in all versions

of Movie Maker. Even if you manage to import

and edit them...issues may develop when trying

to encode as a movie file.

Best bet IMHO would be to convert the .AVI file

to the ,WMV format before importing into Movie

Maker.

There are many converters available on the net...

some free, some retail, some better than others...

the following freeware  is just one example that

works well for me.

(FWIW...it's always a good idea to create a System

Restore point before installing software or updates)

Freemake Free Video Converter (freeware)

http://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/

(Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8)

(***Choose the Custom installation and carefully

read *all* the install screens...there may be some

items you want to uncheck***)

If a green Install button appears when you launch

Freemake...you can ignore it and it should disappear

when you import files.

To download the full version instead of using the

web installer...see the following:

Freemake Apps - Offline version

http://www.freemake.com/offline/offline_all/

(If you want to install Freemake freeware

to your PC without the Internet connection,

download these files)

When you have Freemake installed...open Freemake

and drag/drop your video files on the main screen.

Or...Left click the Video button and Browse to the

folder your video files are saved in.

Select (highlight) the files you wish to import into

Freemake and left click the "Open" button.

When your video files are imported into Freemake,

Left click the WMV icon at the bottom of the screen.

The "WMV Output Parameters" screen will open. 

Choose a "Save To" folder so you can find the

converted files.

Left click the "Convert" button and wait for the files

to be converted.

Good luck.....