Re: Missing Codec?

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance



I'm glad to hear that, at least! To me, that points to an issue on the particular system. It's not a problem with the music files, so that's at least some good news.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx


"perihelio" <pinger@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:OgQ8wWtcKHA.800@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Echo:

I inserted a cd which has one of my PowerPoint shows thereon into my laptop. It ran perfectly including the music files.

I created a NEW PP show on the laptop, inserted the same .mp3 files that I have been using in shows on my desktop computer and the shows play perfectly, including the music files.

Thanks.


"Echo S" <msnewsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:O3gR49ocKHA.4724@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Whether they play in Windows Media Player is pretty much irrelevant. You need the codecs and other stuff, but mplay32.exe is the key.

I don't think it's actually PPT that's messed up -- I think it's the MCI Media Player that's messed up. I know that really just sounds like semantics since the goal is to get the sounds to play in PPT.

If you used RM or WMP to rip the MP3s from your CD, it could still be a DRM issue. Same with the MP3s that come from "various places on the web." But the errors you're getting with mplay32.exe lead me to believe it's something screwy with the MCI Media Player on your system. I'm guessing some multimedia software mucked something up.

I guess the ultimate test would be to try to insert the MP3s into a new, blank presentation on another computer.

Unfortunately, I don't have any answers for you because I don't know how to repair the MCI Media Player. I guess at this point it's time to call MS Product Support.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx


"perihelio" <pinger@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:uDYORZicKHA.4880@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When I open Windows Media Player from my desk top icon, it will play any of my music files including .mp3, .wma, and .wav.perfectly. It looks like the executable that is run when opened like that is wmplayer.exe.



Yes, .wav & .wma files will play with mplay32.exe. Just not the .mp3's.



Per your suggestion below, I deleted both Real Player and Windows media player and re-installed only Windows Media Player. No change.



The files have come from various sources including my own CDs and the WWW. Do note, however, that the files have been playing in some of these .ppt shows since 2001 and became inoperable at some unknown time in the past two weeks or so.



As it stands now, PowerPoint is belly up since I can neither play old shows nor add music to newly created ones.



Thank you.







"Echo S" <msnewsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:%23YJdnKgcKHA.1592@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PowerPoint uses the MCI Media Player (mplay32.exe) to play media files. If the file won't play in mplay32.exe, then it's not going to play in PPT.

You said other types of files will play in the MCI Media Player, right? My guess is that Real Player mucked up the system somehow -- but I'm not sure how to fix it. I'd probably uninstall Real Player and reinstall Windows Media Player. If I could reinstall the MCI Media Player, I'd do that, but I don't know if there's a way to do it other than a system restore or Windows reinstall.

I suppose it could be DRM (digital rights management) issues with the files in question. Where did the MP3 files come from?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx


"perihelio" <pinger@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:OpuamHecKHA.5796@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Michael:



"No go" on your last suggestion. Thank you for sticking with me on this. Let me recap what had occurred thus far:



My original problem:

?In my existing PowerPoint 2007 .ppt presentations, .mp3 music files will not play from within the program

?the location of the sound files have not changed since time of creation

?the files WILL PLAY outside of the PowerPoint program

?.wav files DO PLAY within the PP program.



What's been done to try to fix the problem:

?I deleted and reinserted .mp3 files which still DID NOT PLAY.

?I uninstalled then reinstalled Windows Media Player with NO CHANGE

?I created a new test show and inserted .mp3 files. They DID NOT PLAY in running the show or in Preview. In that situation I got this error message....."MCI Error-The specified file cannot be played on the specified MCI device. The file may be corrupt, not in the correct format, or no FIL".

?I went into Media Player, Tools, Options, File Types, .mp3 is one of the file
types checked to use WMP as the default player. Like I said, though, in the general environment, WMP works fine on an .mp3.

?The .mp3 files do not play using mplay32.exe. Other file types do. I get a warning..."A problem occurred in initializing MCI"

?I found mplay32.exe in C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386. I copied it to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32. It was the same creation date, time and size

?I did a search for mplay32 exe. And found and earlier version. I copied it to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32.

?No change in the end. Still get the error message: ..."A problem occurred in initializing MCI"

?I inserted a PowerPoint Show that I have on a CD in my drive. The show ran..WITHOUT SOUND!

?I attempted to do a System Restore for a few available dates and inexplicably, System Restore doesn't fly(!!!) After reboot I get a message that the system has not been changed.



It seems like the only problem is something within MY PowerPoint as WMP works fine stand-alone.



Thanks.









"Michael Koerner" <iamnot@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:eZaTS2ccKHA.5156@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The player file may have been corrupted. I found this using Google and
inserting your error message.

You may have a backup on your system, look in
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386. Copy the file to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

--
Michael Koerner
MS MVP - PowerPoint


"perihelio" <pinger@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OMex%23nccKHA.1640@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
No. The .mp3 files do not play using mplay32.exe. Other file types do.
I get a warning..."A problem occurred in initializing MCI"




"Michael Koerner" <iamnot@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23v2irfbcKHA.5156@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There is no setting within PowerPoint to make this change. You are doing
it
correctly I just wanted to make sure that nothing was staying attached to
your audio files.

Can you play your files using mplay32.exe? You may also want to check here
for a solution http://www.playsforcertain.com/


--
Michael Koerner
MS MVP - PowerPoint


"perihelio" <pinger@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eHs%23HsVcKHA.4780@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Michael:

Within Media Player, Tools, Options, File Types, .mp3 is one of the file
types checked to use WMP as the default player. I'm not aware of a setting
inside PowerPoint 2007. There may be one there that I can't find, so
please
let me know.

I created a new PowerPoint show as a test and when I insert an .mp3 I get
the same error message as stated earlier......"MCI Error-The
specified file can not be played on the specified MCI device. The file
may
be corrupt, not in the correct format, or no FIL".

I HAVE tried reinserting in existing shows with no change.

I'm not a PowerPoint expert for sure, but I've been working with it for
seven or eight years and am really stumped on this one.



"Michael Koerner" <iamnot@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eIVgaBScKHA.1652@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
If you have Real Player on your system it might be that the mp3 files in
your presentation got associated with Real Player. I would make sure that
the file association for mp3 files is Windows Media Player and go as far
as
re inserting them into your presentation

--
Michael Koerner
MS MVP - PowerPoint


"perihelio" <pinger@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Obtmc2QcKHA.6096@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My mistake. I "read" Media Player and "thought." Realplayer. Ok, I
uninstalled Windows Media Player and reloaded Windows Media Player 11 for
XP
but still have the same problem. It is: the .mp3 files within any of my
existing .ppt files do not play (.wav files do play). The files play
when
they are opened from within the show directories or in the general
computer
environment, outside of the PowerPoint program. When I try to "preview"
the
sound file inside a show I get the following dropdown....."MCI Error-The
specified file can not be played on the specified MCI device. The file
may
be corrupt, not in the correct format, or no FIL".
Thank you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Michael Koerner" <iamnot@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:e8v8xYCcKHA.4884@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You need to do as John suggested, and reinstall Windows Media Player.
Make
sure that the default program for playing MP3 files is Windows Media
Player
and not Realplayer.

-- Michael Koerner
MS MVP - PowerPoint


"perihelio" <pinger@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Ov$qQo7bKHA.2188@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
John: Thanks for the reply.

No joy on the below process. I uninstalled Realplayer and reinstalled
it.
As before the .mp3 files do not play in PowerPoint (they did at time of
creation)...no sound files have been moved to new directories...the
.mp3's
play fine outside of the PP environment...and the .wav files within the
presentation, where they exist....play fine in the shows. Oh, I tried
deleting and reinstalling an .mp3 file or two with no change.
Do you have any other thoughts?

Thanks.


"John Wilson" <john AT technologytrish.co DOT uk> wrote in message
news:FF9CDE0C-FB15-411F-9D02-2371B2C55B77@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Did you install a sound or video player / editor that may have changed
the
> file associations?
>
> I would reinstall Windows Media Player and see if that fixes things.
>
> -- > john ATSIGN PPTAlchemy.co.uk
>
> Free PPT Hints, Tips and Tutorials
> http://www.pptalchemy.co.uk/powerpoint_hints_and_tips_tutorials.html
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "perihelio" wrote:
>
>> Hi-
>>
>> Happy Thanksgiving.
>>
>> I've just discovered that .mp3 files in any of my .ppt files on my
>> machine
>> no longer play. The sound files have not been moved. I would think
that
>> maybe my machine lost the codec that allows the music files to run.
>> Any thoughts? Running Windows XP Home.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>
>> .
>>


















.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: Missing Codec?
    ... Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd ... When I open Windows Media Player from my desk top icon, ... Where did the MP3 files come from? ...
    (microsoft.public.powerpoint)
  • Re: Missing Codec?
    ... PowerPoint uses the MCI Media Player to play media files. ... If the file won't play in mplay32.exe, then it's not going to play in PPT. ... Where did the MP3 files come from? ...
    (microsoft.public.powerpoint)
  • Re: Missing Codec?
    ... MS Product Support might know a way to restore the MCI Media Player that wouldn't be as drastic, ... PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx ... PowerPoint is belly up since I can neither play old shows ... Where did the MP3 files come from? ...
    (microsoft.public.powerpoint)
  • Re: Missing Codec?
    ... When I open Windows Media Player from my desk top icon, ... PowerPoint is belly up since I can neither play old ... Where did the MP3 files come from? ...
    (microsoft.public.powerpoint)
  • Re: Missing Codec?
    ... I inserted a cd which has one of my PowerPoint shows thereon into my laptop. ... I created a NEW PP show on the laptop, inserted the same .mp3 files that I ... semantics since the goal is to get the sounds to play in PPT. ... something screwy with the MCI Media Player on your system. ...
    (microsoft.public.powerpoint)