Knowledge Base

HOW TO: Add and Remove Codecs in Windows 2000

Article ID: 307301

Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition

This article was previously published under Q307301

In This Task

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

This article describes how to remove or add compressor/decompressor files (codecs) and drivers that enable sound and other multimedia devices in Windows 2000.

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Remove Codecs and MCI Drivers

To remove codecs and device drivers and other drivers while in Safe mode:

Restart your computer in Safe mode:
1. Restart your computer.
2. Press the F8 key before Windows starts.
3. On the Windows 2000 Advanced Options menu, use the ARROW keys to select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, and then press ENTER.
4. If you have a dual-boot or multi-boot computer, select Microsoft Windows 2000, and then press ENTER.
5. Log on to your computer.
Remove the codec or multimedia driver while in Safe mode:
1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Sounds and Multimedia.
3. In the Sounds and Multimedia Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab. Double-click the codec that you want to remove.
4. In the Audio Codecs Properties dialog box, click the Properties tab.
5. Click the codec that you want to remove, and then click Remove.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen to completely remove the codec.
7. When you are prompted to do so, restart your computer.

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Reinstall Codecs and MCI Drivers

Codecs are typically installed during the installation of a program. If codecs or drivers are supplied by a third-party software manufacturer, see the product documentation for information about how to install the codec or driver.

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Troubleshoot

Not all multimedia codecs and drivers can be removed from the system. Windows 2000 requires some codecs, so you cannot remove these codecs.

221831 Err Msg: Unable to Download the Appropriate Decompressor