Vista media center cannot find avi files any more

[djynja]

My Vista Windows Media Center gives the error that there are no files when I browse to the relevant directory, even though they're there in Explorer.  The files are avi movie files, and have worked before.   They will still play in WMP and Real.  I've removed and readded the directory to watch with no change, and it can still read other media files (jpgs, mp3s etc) on the same drive and see the directory structure for the avi files. 

Can anyone help please?  Thanks very much

[blew888]

You can try to repair WIndows Media Center.  There is an article on how:

http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2007/03/16/how-to-repair-media-center-files-and-registry-entr...

[djynja]

Hi Thanks for replying!  I'd been on this site but the scannow hadn't reported any problems :-(  I've run sfc with other options too but it's not reporting a problem. I've had a wander through the registry and it says avi files in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, though they default to Real (which they always have), still have WMP11 in the OpenwithProgIDs.  I'm at a bit of a loss, really. 

[Mister_Do]

Hi djynja,

I just did some quick googling and found this site that explains how to get AVI as well as other file formats to play in Vista Media Center. I haven't tried it personally, but looking it over it looks like it should work.

http://www.onetipaday.com/2007/05/28/how-to-play-xvid-and-avi-files-with-vista-media-center/

Let us know how it goes.

[djynja]

Thanks for this.  I did try installing it but it hasn't made any difference.  The odd thing is that all the files were working, and they mysteriously stopped working, either after I updated Real (which had been flaky) or after I installed my BluRay drive.  I've checked the registry for these events and can't see anything that might conflict, but I don't have an expert eye in these circumstances.

[blew888]

In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, do you have .avi has a key?

[djynja]

Hello - no I can't find anything that looks like a key for avi - I take it you mean the 'shared' subdirectory under the OpenWithProgIds so that it's not overwritten when other components are installed?  If that's not what you mean can you please let me know!  Thanks