Microsoft KB Archive/219047

= Black Window or Error Message When You Play Video Clip =

Article ID: 219047

Article Last Modified on 1/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 96 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 97 Deluxe Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 98 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition
 * Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition
 * Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores in the Age of Dinosaurs
 * Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body for Macintosh
 * Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores Inside the Earth
 * Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Ocean
 * Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest
 * Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System
 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99 Concise Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99 Deluxe Edition

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This article was previously published under Q219047



SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to play a video clip in one of the programs listed at the beginning of this article, you may experience any of the following symptoms: Nothing may happen.

A black window may be displayed.

A white window may be displayed.

You may receive one of the following error messages:  

MMSYSTEM296: The file cannot be played on the specified MCI device. The file may be corrupt, or not in the correct format.

Video not available.





CAUSE
This behavior can occur if either of the following conditions are true:


 * Audio-Video Interleave (.avi) files are no longer associated with any media player installed on your computer.


 * The Microsoft AVI File support libraries are missing or damaged.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, associate audio-video interleave (.avi) files with the Microsoft AVI File support libraries. To do this, download and run the Mmsys296.exe file from the Microsoft Download Center.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Mmsys296.exe

Release Date: Feb-25-1999

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

If the issue continues to occur, extract the Avifil32.dll and Avifile.dll files from your Microsoft Windows CD-ROM or disks to the following folder



where  is the drive letter of the hard disk on which Windows is installed and   is the folder in which Windows is installed.

For more information about how to extract files from your Windows CD-ROM or disks, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files



MORE INFORMATION
You may be able to play the video clip in Windows Media Player outside of the program if you double-click the file. However, if you right-click the file, click Properties, and then click the Preview tab, you receive the MMSYSTEM296 error message described previously in this article when you attempt to play the video clip.

In addition, the fields on the Details tab contain the contents listed in the following table.

NOTE: The Audio Format field may also be empty if the video clip does not contain a sound track.

Additional query words: 1.00 msgame mskids golf98 golf99 schoolbus msb screen blank hangs

Keywords: kbdisplay kbenv kberrmsg kbfile kbprb KB219047

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