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

[fluffyarse]

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]

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]

When it is broken, it means that VLC cannot seek through it.

[smurfmachine]

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]

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]

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

[jimmyscab]

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

[VLC_help]

http://wiki.videolan.org/WindowsFAQ-0.9 ... anently.3F

[mrinvader]

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