If you use Cyberlink's PowerDVD software and have AVI playback issues, run the command below to disable a codec installed by that program. copy/paste the appropriate command below into a command prompt window initiated using 'run as administrator'

on 32bit machines, regsvr32.exe /u /s "%programfiles%\CyberLink\PowerDVD\VideoFilter\DXdec.ax"

on 64bit machines, regsvr32.exe /u /s "%programfiles(x86)%\CyberLink\PowerDVD\VideoFilter\DXdec.ax"


Audio output and Speaker setup

The codec packs contains a Settings Application to use in conjunction with your windows media center setup which will enable each user to choose different splitters and decoders for specific filetypes. The application will also allow you to choose from 10 different speaker configurations from 'same as input' and all the way up to full 7.1 channel output for anolog connections.

To use SPDIF/HDMI output - Go into Control Panel\Sound and select the correct output mode
Next, configure your output modes. follow Sound\SPDIF\Properties\Advanced\Exclusive Mode
depending on your sound device, the path may be a bit different but similar
to find and CHECK the box [x] for the following 2 items
'allow applications to take exclusive control of this device'
'give exclusive mode applications priority'

Within Media Center; Go to Tasks, General, Windows Media Center Setup, Setup Your Speakers.
Run that wizard, choose your digital connection type and specify your speaker setup.

Then use the settings application to setup bitstreaming options on the Audio TAB.

Concerning S/PDIF, digital, optical and HDMI: To enable bitstreaming of HD Audio you must setup the Audio TAB for bitstreaming. At no time should anyone have a need to click the leftside of the Audio TAB manually; it uses system detection with auto configuration.

Are you experiencing choppy or stuttering sound?

Go into the Control Panel and open the Sound applet
Select your output device in the list that appears
NOTE: the default output device is commonly labeled Speakers
Right click on the device and from the context menu click Properties.
Click on the Enhancements TAB.
Then CHECK the box [x] for Disable all enhancements.

Specific playback issues with Vista Media Center

- To playback ASF files in the Windows players change the file extension to ASX.
- To playback VOB files in the Windows players change the file extension to MPG.
- If a WAV file is only producing noise, add .DTS to the end of the filename.

Adding files to the Windows Media Player Playlist

On the Help TAB of the 32bit Settings Application is a button to allow you to choose Windows Media Player Filetype Associations. Once you have used this button, you can Enqueue newly associated files to the Windows Media Player Playlist as depicted below. If for some reason this doesn't work for you, go back to the associations button, click No twice, consecutively, then select Yes. No reboot is required.

 
This will also work for audio files such as FLAC, APE or musepack.

If you have a troublesome video that so far nothing has worked to allow playback, I suggest you try ffplay. Extract the player onto your desktop and drag n drop your video file onto the player. good-luck.

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