Viewing divX and WMV Movies in Windows, MacOSX, and Linux Platforms
Viewing the movies movie.avi and movie.wmv may need special software
on most computer platforms.
movie.avi may need the DivX codec installed
for it to work on some platforms.
movie.wmv needs software installed
that plays windows media files (codec wvm3 or other).
If one of the movies doesn't play in your browser, read the following instructions.
The first step is to download and install the software for the machine you are using.
The next step is to setup your web browser to use these downloads for that type of file.
Once these are installed you will be able to play many more types of movies on
your computer.
Installing the software:
- For Windows
movie.wmv will play in Windows Media Player
movie.avi will need the divX codec installed to play.
QuickTime will not play either of them.
Go to http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/ click on free download.
This will install the divX codec in "Windows Media Player", as well as
"Divx Player". Either player can then be used to play the movie.
- For MacOS
movie.wmv will need the "Window Media Components for Quicktime"
or the "Window Media Player' for MacOSX.
movie.avi may need the divX codec to play the movie.
Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/wmcomponents.mspx
to download the "Window Media Components for Quicktime". Install it and then
make sure Quicktime has been shut down. Relaunch Quicktime and the
movie.wmv will play.
Alternatively, download the "Windows Media Player 9.0 for MacOSX:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html and
install it. Then the movie.wmv will play.
Download the divX codec for MacOS: http://www.divx.com/divx/mac/ and
install it. Then movie.avi will play in Quicktime or on
the divX player.
- For Linux
movie.avi may play on one or all of the movie players - eg: mplayer, Xine,
VLC - otherwise download the new mplayer as explained below and use it.
movie.wmv will need the latest version of mplayer installed to work.
If the installed version of mplayer does not play the file, download the "MPlayer v1.0rc1" source file from http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/dload.html (You can
download a newer version from the site , if it's available)
Uncompress and untar it: bunzip2 MPlayer-1.0rc1.tar.bz2; tar xpf MPlayer-1.0rc1.tar
Compile and install it in a directory in your home directory (say local -
ie:/home/login/local.:
cd MPlayer-1.0rc1
type: uname -p to find what type of machine you have 32-bit (i686) or
64-bit (x86_64).
Command for 32-bit machine: ./configure --prefix=/home/login/local
Command for 64-bit machine: ./configure -cc="gcc -m64" --as="as --64" --prefix=/home/login/local
make
make install
The movie can then be run as:
/home/login/local/bin/mplayer rotbug5.wmv
If you rather not compile the mplayer yourself:
Click here to download the compiled 32-bit mplayer renamed wmvplayer32
Click here to download the compiled 64-bit mplayer renamed wmvplayer64
After downloading file type: chmod a+x wmvplayer32 (or wmvplayer64) to make it executable.
Setting up your web browser to view the movies:
- For Windows
The movies will give you the option to open them with "Windows Media Player".
They will now play with this player.
- For MacOS
In Safari: the movies will now play
In Firefox: You may have to tell it to always play the file with Quicktime.
- for Linux
movie.avi may play with the default mplayer, movie.wmv
will not.
In Firefox: Go to Edit, Preferences, Content, Manage.
There will be a list of download options. WMV is not on the list.
Select AVI "Microsoft Movie", then click "Change Action".
Then select "Open with this application" and browse to select
/home/login/local/bin/mplayer.
When you next try to play the movie.wmv movie, it will ask you
which player you want to use, select /home/login/local/bin/mplayer.
After this the movie and all similar movies will play in the browser.