"This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Microsoft Windows specific usage questions
Forum rules
Please post only Windows specific questions in this forum category. If you don't know where to post, please read the different forums' rules. Thanks.
fluffyarse
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 1
Joined: 19 Nov 2008 01:15

"This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Postby fluffyarse » 19 Nov 2008 01:51

Hello,
I am getting "This AVI file is broken" message on several files.

But GSPOT codec tool doesn't think the file is broken.
AVICODEC program doesn't thinbk the AVI file is broken.
Media player classic doesn't think the AVI file is broken.
VLC actually does play the file and seeking isn't slow at all.

So what is going on here? I have several files which give this warning.
Are the files "broken" or aren't they? What is meant by broken anyway?

While I'm here, a question that's been bugging me for about a decade now, when multiple codecs are installed on a system which are capable of playing a particular file, how does one choose which codec to use? I have never found any setting in windows or in any media player I have ever used to do this, and have found that changing which codec is used to play a file is a ridiculessly cumbersome process- turning off the codecs bundled within the player, disabling decoding in ffdshow and then finding that some of the remaining codecs are chosen before others and finding that I have to uninstall one codec just to use an alternative.

Is there a straight-forward way to simply choose which codec to use? Why do media players not offer the user the option of choosing which codec is used to play a file? I am dying to know. I have searched the internet many times trying to make sense of the way codecs are implimented and have only found that it doesn't make sense.

Thanks for any help.

adamjohn89
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 19 Nov 2008 07:11
VLC version: 0.9.6
Operating System: Windows
Location: Illinois
Contact:

Re: "This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Postby adamjohn89 » 19 Nov 2008 07:20

I had the same problem. All you have to do is go to "Tools" then Preferences, and click the Input and Codec Settings menu and in this menu there is a "repair AVI files". In the drop down menu/box click "Always Fix" and that's all it took for me. But if your video is still not playing it could be something else. Honestly, I can't imagine what it would be though. It seems to me that VLC can play almost anything you throw at it. I am so satisfied that I can play my DVD movies on it now. Let me know if that works.

Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 37523
Joined: 22 Jul 2005 15:29
VLC version: 4.0.0-git
Operating System: Linux, Windows, Mac
Location: Cone, France
Contact:

Re: "This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Postby Jean-Baptiste Kempf » 19 Nov 2008 09:45

When it is broken, it means that VLC cannot seek through it.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf
http://www.jbkempf.com/ - http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/category/Videolan
VLC media player developer, VideoLAN President and Sites administrator
If you want an answer to your question, just be specific and precise. Don't use Private Messages.

smurfmachine
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 60
Joined: 19 Oct 2008 15:47

Re: "This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Postby smurfmachine » 19 Nov 2008 19:50

I had the same problem. All you have to do is go to "Tools" then Preferences, and click the Input and Codec Settings menu and in this menu there is a "repair AVI files". In the drop down menu/box click "Always Fix" and that's all it took for me. But if your video is still not playing it could be something else. Honestly, I can't imagine what it would be though. It seems to me that VLC can play almost anything you throw at it. I am so satisfied that I can play my DVD movies on it now. Let me know if that works.
no such option exists.
what version are you using because I checked every submenu within input/codec settings.
i'm stuffed if i can find it on 0.9.2.
exactly WHERE on the submenu's is it please?

adamjohn89
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 19 Nov 2008 07:11
VLC version: 0.9.6
Operating System: Windows
Location: Illinois
Contact:

Re: "This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Postby adamjohn89 » 20 Nov 2008 19:50

I am using 0.9.6. So maybe you should think about upgrading. The message will probably still pop up for you. But at least you will no how to fix it.

VLC_help
Mega Cone Master
Mega Cone Master
Posts: 25661
Joined: 13 Sep 2006 14:16

Re: "This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Postby VLC_help » 21 Nov 2008 19:45

http://wiki.videolan.org/WindowsFAQ-0.9 ... _action.3F
all 0.9x release should have same config dialogs.

jimmyscab
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 25
Joined: 30 Dec 2006 00:34

Re: "This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Postby jimmyscab » 10 Dec 2008 10:29

The Always fix option works for my broken videos. However how do I fix them permanently?


mrinvader
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 12 Feb 2009 03:38

Re: "This AVI file is broken" message when it isn't

Postby mrinvader » 12 Feb 2009 07:08

due to the bb software bootin me out while i ran thru the process, heres a screengrab that will fix this nag.

STFU VLC :) but you know we love you anyway:)

click original size at top of page

http://www.esnips.com/doc/b6245ee5-3a54 ... en-message


Return to “VLC media player for Windows Troubleshooting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests