Windows Media Player cannot play the file

Asked By Azul42 0 points N/A Posted on - 08/22/2011

My Windows Media Player cannot play the file. It displays the following error, “The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file” error.

How do you solve this problem?

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• Question Category: Windows Vista

Best Answer by Maddy U

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Answered By dennispurvis 0 points N/A #117169

Windows Media Player cannot play the file

Hi!

Can I ask what type of file you wish to play? Usually that error happens when the file you are trying to play is not playable because of the absence of the codec, that would enable to play the file.

Try to download the codec that would correspond the file. Or try to go to the options on the windows media player and look for file types option and select the all files option, maybe it will help. Or rather try other media players like the VLC, Gom Player.

This works for me, if I can't have it play on Windows Media Player.

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• Posted on - 08/22/2011
• Question Category: Windows Vista

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Answered By Maddy U 0 points N/A #117172

Windows Media Player cannot play the file

Hi,

In order to check this issue, you have to understand that the file format you are trying to use is really supported by Windows Media Player or not.

In order to check / verify, a list of file formats is provided below for Ref:

• WMF file name extensions .asf, .asx, .avi, .wav, .wax, .wma, .wm, .wmv
• MPEG file name extensions .m3u, .mp2v, .mpg, .mpeg, .mlv, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .mpe, .mpv2
• MIDI File name extensions .mid, midi, .rmi
• Apple QuickTime, Macintosh AIFF Resource File name extensions: .qt, .aif, .aifc, .aiff, .mov
• Unix File name extensions .au, .snd

Check if the files you are trying to play with Media Player are with the above extensions.

If you cannot see the extensions, do the following:: Open my computer, go to organize, click on the folder and search options, on the main tab click on view, and uncheck “ hide extensions for known file types”

Also always use the latest Media Player version, which can be downloaded from the link.

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• Posted on - 08/24/2011
• Question Category: Windows Vista

Answered By Brian Green 0 points N/A #117167

Windows Media Player cannot play the file

The solution is actually very easy. It’s a codec error. All you have to do is, download a media player that plays almost all codecs.

Here’s a list of some of the best media player.

1. VLC Media Player
2. KM Player
3. Winamp
4. Media Player Classic
5. Gom Player

• These software are free, so don’t worry downloading it.
• You can also install a Codec Pack.

1. K-Lite
2. CCCP

• These are also free so try them. This will definitely solve your problem.

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• Posted on - 08/25/2011
• Question Category: Windows Vista