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Q193656: "The File Format Is Invalid" Playing Large AVI File

Article: Q193656
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg kbtool osr2 win95
Last Modified: 13-JUN-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release, versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.5 
- Microsoft Windows 98 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you try to play a large audio-video interleave (AVI) file, you may receive
the following error message:

  The file format is invalid.

CAUSE
=====

This error message can occur when you try to play an AVI file that is larger
than 2 gigabytes (GB) in size. Limitations exist with Microsoft Video for
Windows solutions that limit AVI files to the same maximum file size as the
FAT16 file system, which is 2 GB minus 1 byte.

On computers using the FAT32 file system, the maximum file size is 4 GB minus 2
bytes, which is larger than Video for Windows is designed to handle. AVI files
created by Video for Windows that exceed 2 GB in size appear invalid or damaged
to AVI file players.

RESOLUTION
==========

When you are using Video for Windows-based programs, limit the size of AVI files
that you create to less than 2 GB.

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

Programs using Microsoft DirectShow can create AVI files that exceed 2 GB in
size on computers using the FAT32 or NTFS file system.

Additional query words: corrupted

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Keywords          : kberrmsg kbtool osr2 win95 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbWin98search kbOPKSearch kbWin98 kbWin95OPKOSR25 kbWin95OPKOSR210
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Issue type        : kbprb

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