Microsoft KB Archive/266983

= QuickTime movies do not play on some computers in PowerPoint 2000 =

Article ID: 266983

Article Last Modified on 9/10/2004

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q266983



IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



SYMPTOMS
When you run a presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 that contains one or more Apple QuickTime movies, they may not play at all, and they may appear as empty frames. If you try to play the movie while editing the slide, you receive the following truncated error message:

The specified file cannot be played on the specified MCI device. The file may be corrupt, not in the correct format, or no fil



CAUSE
Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 can only play back QuickTime movies (*.mov files) that use compression schemes which have corresponding Media Control Interface (MCI) compatible codecs.

A codec (Compressor/Decompressor) is an algorithm or scheme used to compress information when recording digital video or audio. For example, when you transmit video over the Internet, the video must be compressed on the sending end and decompressed on the receiving end. A codec can be chosen based upon desired compression, or desired quality.

When you play a QuickTime movie in PowerPoint, a Video for Windows decompressor decompresses the QuickTime movie. If the decompressor does not support the compression method used by the QuickTime movie, it cannot display the movie on the screen. Currently, Microsoft Windows Media only supports Apple QuickTime version 2 file compression format.

There are several third-party multimedia programs that install MCI compatible codecs that support QuickTime versions 3.x and 4.x formatted movies.

If one of these applications is installed on a computer, that computer will be able to play back the newer versions of QuickTime movies in PowerPoint 2000, but only on that computer.



Create a Hyperlink to the .mov File
When you create a hyperlink to a .mov file, the QuickTime player for Windows plays the file rather than Windows Media Player. It will be played in it's own Quicktime window and it will not play automatically.
 * 1) Create or select an object or text that you want to use as the source of a hyperlink.
 * 2) On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink.
 * 3) In the Link to area, click Existing File or Web Page.
 * 4) In the Browse For section, click File. Find the .mov file that you want to play and then click OK.
 * 5) Click OK.

During the slide show, all you need to do is click the linked object or text. If a valid player is available, it will start and play the Quicktime movie.

Convert Movies to a Compatible Format
NOTES:

The following procedures use QuickTime 4.0 Pro; the procedure for the basic version of QuickTime 4.0 is not documented here. This procedure is the same whether you are using QuickTime 4.0 Pro for Windows or for Macintosh. You can use other QuickTime editing programs in place of QuickTime 4.0 Pro. For information about how to do this, see your product's documentation.

Following is a list of standard codecs that are usually present on both Windows and QuickTime 4.0. Although other codecs may be available for selection, the following codecs can be used with little worry:

Standard Compression Formats
 * BMP
 * Cinepak
 * DV-NTSC
 * DV-PAL
 * Intel Indeo Video R3.2
 * Intel RAW
 * None

To convert movies to a compatible format, use either of the following methods:

Method 1: Convert QuickTime Movies to AVI Format

 * 1) Start QuickTime 4.0 Pro, and open the file that you want to convert.
 * 2) On the File menu, click Export.
 * 3) Set the Export file type to Movie to AVI.
 * 4) Click Options, and then click Settings.
 * 5) In the Compressor group, click the list of compressors and choose one from the preceding list. One of the more popular formats is Cinepak, but choose the one that you think works best for your movie.
 * 6) Make sure to change the extension on the file name to .avi, and then click Save.

Method 2: Recompress the QuickTime Movies with Compatible Codec

 * 1) Start QuickTime 4.0 Pro, and open the file that you want to convert.
 * 2) On the File menu, click Export.
 * 3) Set the Export file type to Movie to QuickTime Movie.
 * 4) Click Options, and then click Settings.
 * 5) In the Compressor group, click the list of compressors and choose one from the above list. One of the more popular formats is Cinepak, but choose the one that you think works best for your movie.
 * 6) Click Save.



MORE INFORMATION
Sometimes you can use Apple QuickTime Movie (*.mov) Files in PowerPoint presentations. To insert and play a QuickTime movie (*.mov) file in a PowerPoint presentation, the following conditions must be present on any computer that creates or inserts the .mov file in a PowerPoint presentation. These conditions must also be present on any computer that will play the .mov in a PowerPoint presentation. To insert a .mov file in a PowerPoint presentation, click Insert, click Movies and Sounds, click Movie from File, and then select the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file that you want to insert in your presentation.

The following three conditions must be present on the computer to insert or play, or both, a .mov file in a PowerPoint presentation. This section details the steps that you must follow make this occur.
 * The “mov” registry value must be present on the computer.
 * The video codec used to compress the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file must be present on the computer.
 * The codec used to compress the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file must be compatible with PowerPoint.

The following detailed instructions explain how to make these conditions present on your computer.  The following “mov” registry value must be present on the computer playing the movie:

 

Value: mov

Type: REG_SZ

Data: MPEGVideo

If this registry entry is not present, follow these steps to add the registry entry:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.  Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. Locate and then select the following key:

 

 Click Edit, click New, and then click String Value.</li> Type the following name for the new value:

mov </li> Press ENTER.</li> Right-click the new string value name, and then click Modify.</li> In the Value data box, type the following:

MPEGVideo </li> Click OK.</li> Exit Registry Editor.</li></ol> </li>  The video codec that was used to compress the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file must be present on the computer. Identify what codec the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file uses. To do this, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Determine Video Codec Using Media Player
To determine video codec by using Media Player, follow these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Open the .mov file in Microsoft Windows Media Player.</li> Click File, and then click Properties. The Video codec setting identifies which video codec was used to compress the movie.</li></ol>

If Method 1 does not work, or the video codec is identified as “Unknown”, try Method 2

Method 2: Determine Video Codec Using QuickTime Player
To determine video codec by using QuickTime Player, follow these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Download and install the free QuickTime Player from the following Apple Web site:

http:// www.apple.com/quicktime</li> Open the movie in QuickTime Player.</li> Click Window, and then click Show Movie Info. The Format setting identifies which video codec was used to compress the movie.</li></ol> </li>  Determine if the codec used by the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file is installed on the computer that will be used to display the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file in a PowerPoint presentation. To do this, follow these steps.

Microsoft Windows XP:
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Click Start, and then click Control Panel.</li> Click Sounds and Audio Devices.</li> Click the Hardware tab.</li> <li>Click Video Codecs in the Devices box, and then click Properties. This will open the Video Codec Properties dialog box.</li> <li>In the Video Codec Properties dialog box, click the Properties tab, and then identify if the codec is installed.</li></ol>

Microsoft Windows 2000:
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>Click Start, Settings, and then click Control Panel.</li> <li>Click Sounds and Multimedia.</li> <li>Click the Hardware tab.</li> <li>Click Video Codecs in the Devices box, and then click Properties. This will open the Video Codec Propertiesdialog box.</li> <li>In the Video Codec Properties dialog box, click the Properties tab, and then identify if the codec is installed.</li></ol> </li> <li>Confirm that the codec used to compress the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file is compatible with PowerPoint.

To test whether the movie codec is compatible with PowerPoint and whether the movie can be played in PowerPoint, test whether the movie can be played in Media Player (not Windows Media Player). Note that Media Player, Mplayer.exe or Mplay32.exe, depending on the operating system that is installed, is not the same program as the Windows Media Player. Media Player is included with various versions of the Microsoft Windows operating systems, and is an MCI-compliant device. However, Windows Media Player is a new technology that does not rely on MCI for its capabilities to play various forms of media, therefore Windows Media Player can play a wider range of video and audio formats than Media Player.

To verify if the movie is or is not compatible and if the movie can be inserted or played, or both, in PowerPoint, determine if the movie will play in Media Player (not Windows Media Player). To do this, follow these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>Click Start, and then click Run.</li> <li> In the Open box, type the appropriate command for your operating system.

Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me):
Type mplayer.exe

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP:
Type mplay32.exe </li> <li>Click OK to start Media Player.</li> <li>On the File menu, click Open.</li> <li>Select the QuickTime movie that you want to verify, and then click Open.

If the QuickTime movie is compatible, Media Player will open the movie and play it. If the movie opens and plays in Media Player (not Windows Media Player), but will not insert or play in PowerPoint, there may be a problem with PowerPoint or with the MCI settings.</li></ol> </li></ol>

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products. Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

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Keywords: kberrmsg kbtshoot kbframe kbprb kb3rdparty kbmm kbslideshow kbpending kbcorrupt KB266983

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