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Q92756: Media Player: Basic AVI Playback Troubleshooting

Article: Q92756
Product(s): Miscellaneous Windows Products
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 11-SEP-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Sound System, versions 1.0, 1.0a 
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SUMMARY
=======

When playing an AVI file from Microsoft Video for Window's Media Player, the
file may not run smoothly due to the "dropping" of frames during file playback.
The dropping of frames occurs when the time required for a frame's data to
stream through the processor exceeds the "real" time the frame represents during
playback. Media Player attempts to compensate for this time difference by
dropping frames to "catch-up" to the appropriate "real time" position.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The following procedures may enhance the performance when playing AVI files from
Media Player:

- If the AVI file is located on a CD, be sure the CD-ROM drive is MPC compliant
  and can sustain a minimum data transfer rate of 150 K/Sec. The CD-ROM that is
  provided with Video for Windows contains many AVI files that should play back
  without problems without being copied to the hard drive for playback. If
  playback from the CD-ROM drops frames, while the same file played back from a
  hard-drive does not drop frames, chances are that CD-ROM or something in the
  hardware or software configuration of the computer that is preventing the
  system from delivering data at the minimum required data transfer rate.

- If the AVI file is located on a hard drive, be sure the AVI file is stored in
  a continuous region by running any of several hard disk optimization
  utilities available. This enhances playback by reducing the seek time
  required to access the file.

- Select the Don't Buffer Offscreen option from the Configure Command on the
  Device Menu in Media Player. This option provides a slightly higher playback
  rate by omitting updates to an off-screen buffer, thus decreasing the
  likelihood of dropping frames during playback.

- Clear the Skip Video Frames If Behind option from the Configure Command on
  the Device Menu in Media Player. Turning this option off prioritizes the
  video track of an AVI file over the audio, allowing Media Player to display
  all frames in an AVI file and pause the audio track as needed.

Additional query words: tshoot 1.00

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinSoundSysSearch kbWinSoundSys100 kbWinSoundSys100a

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