Microsoft KB Archive/884769

= When you try to play content that you do not have the codec for, you do not receive a message to automatically install the codec in Windows Media Player 9 Series =

Article ID: 884769

Article Last Modified on 8/5/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series

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Important This article contains information that shows you how to help lower security settings or how to turn off security features on a computer. You can make these changes to work around a specific problem. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this workaround in your particular environment. If you implement this workaround, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect your system.



SYMPTOMS
When you try to play content that you do not have the codec for, you do not receive a message to automatically install the codec, and the content does not play. When this behavior occurs, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

The audio codec identified by the format tag 45 is required to play this file. To determine if this codec is available to download from the Web, click Web Help.



CAUSE
Depending on the type of content that you are trying to play, either the content uses a third-party codec or the codec does not exist on the Microsoft codec servers. Microsoft no longer signs the .cab codec install package files for third-party codecs. A list of the .cab codec install package files appears in the &quot;More Information&quot; section.



RESOLUTION
We recommend that the content provider who encoded the content by using these codecs either re-encode the content or convert the content by using the latest codecs. The latest versions of the Microsoft Windows Media Encoder support batch modes that can be used to easily convert many content files at the same time. For more information, see the Windows Media Encoder Help documentation.



WORKAROUND
Warning This workaround may make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

To work around this behavior when you are trying to play back content, temporarily set the Microsoft Internet Explorer Download unsigned ActiveX controls security setting to prompt. This setting will let you install the codec.

For more information about how to set security zones for Internet Explorer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

174360 How to use security zones in Internet Explorer



MORE INFORMATION
The following codecs are no longer signed. These codecs are available on the codec server.
 * Sharp G.726 Audio Codec
 * Voxware MetaSound
 * Voxware MetaVoice
 * Sipro Lab Audio Telecom CODEC (ACELP.net)

As of the time that this article was published, the following decoders were signed and were available on the codec server:
 * Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec v1
 * Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec v2
 * Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec v3
 * Microsoft ISO MPEG4 v1.0
 * Microsoft ISO MPEG4 v1.1
 * Microsoft Windows Media Video v7
 * Microsoft Windows Media Video v8
 * Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 (DMO)
 * Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 (VCM)
 * Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile
 * Microsoft Windows Media Audio 9 Professional
 * Microsoft Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless
 * Microsoft Windows Media Voice 9
 * Microsoft Windows Media Voice 9 (DSHOW)
 * Microsoft Windows Media Video Image 9
 * Microsoft Windows Media Screen 9



STATUS
This behavior is by design.

Microsoft will be removing the unsigned codecs from the codec server.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Additional query words: unsigned cabs &quot;codec server&quot; WMP

Keywords: kbprb KB884769

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