Windows 7 Codec Setup

S

SC385

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jun 14, 2004
Messages
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Well it seems w1retap has been banned and will not be updating his codec setup guide. While this is not a word for word copy of w1retap's guide these are the steps I followed to setup my Windows 7 HTPCs based on his guide.

This guide is meant for use with Windows 7 32bit.

VIDEO
Windows 7 already includes codec support for most video codecs you will come across and the codecs below will help you get the most out of your HTPC's hardware.
NVIDIA
The best method for nVidia users is CoreCodec's CoreAVC w/ CUDA. CUDA allows for improved hardware acceleration of HD media including media that is not supported by other codecs. This method is not free and costs $15 but the extra support is worth it for nVidia users.

Haali' Media Splitter is included with CoreAVC and will install after CoreAVC.

This is how your settings should look.
CoreAVC.PNG
Click to expand...

ATI, INTEL, NVIDIA (WITHOUT CUDA SUPPORT)
The best option for ATI and Intel users is to use the standalone Media Player Classic Home Cinema codecs. I don't remember the russian website were w1retap originally linked them so I have uploaded them to my dropbox.

MPCvideoDec.ax Filter

Unzip the folder to somewhere easy to remember such as C:\Filters

Under "Start --> Accessories" Right-Click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."
Now type "regsvr32 C:\filters\MPCvideoDec.ax" without the quotes and you should get a message saying that it was registered successfully.

Now download and install Haali Media Spiltter for MKV support.
Click to expand...
Now you want to use the Windows 7 Directshow Filter Changer to select the new filters that you have selected

This is how mine looks using CoreAVC:
Win7DSFilterTweaker.PNG
Click to expand...

AUDIO
FFDshow
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow-tryout/

When installing FFDshow make sure to DISABLE ALL VIDEO CODECS. I can't emphasize this enough as it will create confilicts with the built in Media Foundation codecs and the ones we are installing here.

When setting up your audio codecs you should make sure they are set as follows
Audio1.PNG

Audio2.PNG

*Remember to set ALL of your video codecs in FFDshow to DISABLED.

SPDIF and HDMI Audio Out
Windows 7 already supports DTS and Dolby Digital output for decoding on your receiver without installing additional codecs. If you plan on using your receiver for decoding then make sure those codecs are disabled in ffdshow and are enabled in your Windows "Digital Audio Properties."
Click to expand...


If you remember anything that I have left out or that needs to be add/modified please let me know so that it can be fixed.
 
Last edited:
SC385 said:
Well it seems w1retap has been banned and will not be updating his codec setup guide.
Click to expand...

How'd you find out that w1retap was banned? There's no "banned" title next to his name as they usually do to other [H] members that get banned.
 
criccio posted it in w1retaps thread and made it seem like he would not be coming back.
 
IDK if there are yet honestly. The one that was ripped from the HDBits site and put up on the other forum (before it got taken down) was a direct word-for-word transcription. But you're right, as far as we should be concerned this should be good enough to get the job done.
 
Great guide, glad to see it was saved.. sorta... few important things i'd like to see added:

MKV Support within MCE. I'mn on 64 bit but heres what I did... run these registry files:

Step 1.

Download Gabest’s Matroska Splitters. There is a version of Gabest’s with an installer for x86 here and x64 here. To install simply extract to your C:\ root drive and right-click to run “gabest_splitter_enable.cmd” as administrator. You should receive one confirmation on x86 and two for x64 versions. To uninstall simply run “gabest_splitter_remove.cmd” as administrator.

x86: http://www.hack7mc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=12
x64: http://www.hack7mc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=11

Hint: After you install it, DONT remove it... it actually installs a system service and will run the file upon reboot

Step 2:

Enable viewing of MKV files in Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center by downloading either the x86 registry file or x64 registry file and double-click to add it to your registry. Allow it to be added when prompted. Restart your machine.

x86: http://www.hack7mc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=18
x64: http://www.hack7mc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=17
 
Here is the Haali x64 MKV splitter if you prefer it over Gabest.
http://haali.net/mkv/mkx.y.9.exe

Here is a script that will make WMP x64 the default player
http://www.chris123nt.com/downloads/WMP64.zip

With these two things I didn't have to fiddle around with any 32bit codecs or registry entries to preview or play MKV files in 7MC.

There is also a DivX MKV splitter for x64 but when I used it I was having issues with AC3/DTS playback. If you want to follow the development or mess around to try and get it working, here is the link: http://labs.divx.com/mkvwin7preview
 
I saved the entire thread (from google cache) right after the original was edited.

Unfortunately, I do not know the legalities of releasing this back to [H]. I wouldn't want to piss off the wrong people.Perhaps someone could get a mod to PM me and let me know.
 
whats the advantage of this over k-lite mega? i havent had any problems with 1080p mkvs, .ra, wmvs, etc with W7 64 in 6 months of use
 
K-lite and other codec packs install all kinds of shit that isn't needed and usually ends up causing more harm then good.

Windows 7 has everything it needs to play back anything you want except an MKV splitter and some audio types such as DTS, TrueHD, etc and that's what FFDshow is for. The reason we recommend CoreAVC or the MPC codec is because the built in h264 codec is a little buggy and the ones recommended are more reliable.
 
have u used k-lite in the last 5 years? it fixes broken codecs and registry keys. im not against configuring essentials, but k-lite isnt a normal codec pack...
 
Somnambulator said:
have u used k-lite in the last 5 years? it fixes broken codecs and registry keys. im not against configuring essentials, but k-lite isnt a normal codec pack...
Click to expand...
In light of all of the recent troubleshooting threads here in the past year or so, none of the regulars here would touch it with a ten foot pole, nor any of the other jumbo codec packs.

It just isn't needed when everything is configured correctly, though i notice many people reach for the crutch it offers when seeking a band-aid solution, but then it often creates other problems down the road.
 
Bump? Can we sticky this, just had to search for my post in here to help another user with an MKV issue...
 
Hi. I know this is a pretty old thread, but want to know if these steps are still needed. Perhaps there has been some advancement since Sept 2009?

My goal is to play MKV, AVI and ripped Video_TS files. I am using

-Win7 x64 with Windows Media Center
-Media Center Master and Media Browser plugins
-Video card is basic NVDIA HDMI card that passed check for CableCard use

So far, I have gathered from this thread that I need to:
1. Install Gabest’s Matroska Splitters x64 or Haali x64 MKV splitter
2. Set Windows Media Player x64 as default player

what am I missing?

Thanks!
 
I run into 2 issues using K-Lite.

Note: I have Win7 x64 and Media Browser

Issue 1: Using only K-Lite x86. I am able to play some MKV files in WMC. There are a few MKV files that will not play. Error message states, Cannot find file.

Issue 2: Using K-lite x86 and K-lite x64. I installed both versions: x86 then x64. All MKV files play in WMC, but some of my MKVs play immediately and a few that takes about 5 mins to start playing. The ones that resulted in "Cannot find file" using x86, will now take 5 mins or more to start playing. All I get is a black screen until the video starts to play.

I figured that I need to move away from K-Lite and control what is installed onto my WMC machine. Any advice?
 
I have a couple of HTPCs that I use regularly. Both are running Win7 x64. I use them exclusively for running Media Browser and playing .MKVs, with a few AVI and TS files thrown in occasionally. I do not do any Blu Ray on them now, I still use a standalone Sony player for that. I don't currently use any codec packs either, although I tried just about everything at least once while Win7 was in beta. The Win7 Media Foundation codecs do a fine job out of the box for everything but .MKV. To get them working in 7MC with Media Browser I did 3 things:

1. Install x64 version of Haali.
2. Install x64 version of AC3Filter.
3. Ran the MKV x64 registry hack from Hack7mc.com.

That's it. Everything has been running smoothly with zero problems or issues. I've also never had the need to use or install any third party external players like MPC-HC or TMT3. And my main HTPC that I use 90% of the time is a Dell Zino with pretty modest specs, an AMD 3250e CPU with a 3200 HD GPU. The one caveat for this is that I added these 3 things to a clean install of Win7. Using them after you have already used a codec pack may or may not work, depending on how well the codec pack cleans up after itself in the registry.

Here are the link I used for the 3 files:

Haali x64: http://www.hack7mc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=8

AC3Filter x64: http://ac3filter.googlecode.com/files/ac3filter_1_63b.exe

7MC x64 reg hack: http://www.hack7mc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=17

Hack7mc.com has an article on their front page with more details.

http://www.hack7mc.com/
 
DDR4040 said:
I have a couple of HTPCs that I use regularly. Both are running Win7 x64. I use them exclusively for running Media Browser and playing .MKVs, with a few AVI and TS files thrown in occasionally. I do not do any Blu Ray on them now, I still use a standalone Sony player for that. I don't currently use any codec packs either, although I tried just about everything at least once while Win7 was in beta. The Win7 Media Foundation codecs do a fine job out of the box for everything but .MKV. To get them working in 7MC with Media Browser I did 3 things:

1. Install x64 version of Haali.
2. Install x64 version of AC3Filter.
3. Ran the MKV x64 registry hack from Hack7mc.com.

That's it. Everything has been running smoothly with zero problems or issues. I've also never had the need to use or install any third party external players like MPC-HC or TMT3. And my main HTPC that I use 90% of the time is a Dell Zino with pretty modest specs, an AMD 3250e CPU with a 3200 HD GPU. The one caveat for this is that I added these 3 things to a clean install of Win7. Using them after you have already used a codec pack may or may not work, depending on how well the codec pack cleans up after itself in the registry.

Here are the link I used for the 3 files:

Haali x64: http://www.hack7mc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=8

AC3Filter x64: http://ac3filter.googlecode.com/files/ac3filter_1_63b.exe

7MC x64 reg hack: http://www.hack7mc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=17

Hack7mc.com has an article on their front page with more details.

http://www.hack7mc.com/
Click to expand...

I didnt need the registry hack, just haali and ac3filter :)
 
86 5.0L said:
I didnt need the registry hack, just haali and ac3filter :)
Click to expand...

I installed it before I even setup MC, so you're right, it probably isn't necessary, but it doesn't hurt anything either. I just use it now out of habit and superstition :)
 
This is good stuff! I will reinstall Win7 x64 OS this Thur and start over to ensure it's 3rd codec free. Then I will use the 3 steps here. I will report back later this week. Thanks!
 
its very refreshing using an OS so solidly built, requires a change of habits from those dark XP days
 
I have tried this and that and still cant get several files to play within WMC. Even though this guide is for Windows 7 most of the tweaks and files should work just fine. I have gone from only being able to play about 10% of my files to about 80%.
Sure is alot of work getting WMC to play files the WMP plays just fine. I know that WMP is 32bit and WMC is 64 but still.
I am considering reinstalling Windows even though I am not having any issues but I am betting that I have really screwed up my codecs from trying this and that to get it to work. just wish it wasn't so damn hard to get this working as it should.
 
I've tried every method and codec pack over the past year with 7 x64 and this seems to be the easiest and most consistent method of getting proper playback for about any file type and a bonus of DXVA across the board (used this method on nvidia, ati and intel chips)

Google search for mpchc_x64_v1.2.908.0_MatroskaSplitter and mpchc_x64_v1.2.908.0_MPCVideoDec. unzip each and put both .ax files into a folder you will remember and keep (i make a folder named codecs in the C: root).

Next open a CMD window.

Do a cd \ to get to C:

Type c:\windows\syswow64\regsvr32.exe c:\codecs\matroskasplitter.ax then enter (you should get a pop up saying the codec was registered) Do the same for the mpcvideodec.ax codec

Install the latest version of FFDshow x64 (make sure you uncheck all file types you do not wish FFDshow to decode) I use this primarily for audio since it can natively pass through DTS-MA.

Install WIN7DSfiltertweaker and make sure media player classic is being used for MKV and VC1, I disable both DMO x64 and Media Foundation x64 so there is no conflict with microsofts codecs trying to interfere with DXVA.

Restart and you should be able to play any file type with DXVA in media center even with subtitles. If you're still having issues with some files, use graphstudio 64 to pinpoint where things are going wrong.

Good Luck!
 
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