Assistance needed: ''flv'' file won't play in Windows

[Radar66]

An american friend of mine has sent me a disc with a recorded video on it and I can't play it on my windows xp system. I've tried HP player, windows player and windows media centre.

the file is an FLV File (.flv) and I am unwilling to pay some uncertain site that I've never heard of filthy lucre just to play this one video - can anybody suggest a way around this? I know that the disc is kosher and is extremely highly unlikely to contain a virus.

Many thanks

[MG23]

VLC will play .flv files: I think it's http://www.videolan.org. Or, at least, it plays them for me; I don't think I have any extra codecs installed.

[green granite]

As will this: IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide (http://www.irfanview.com/)

[Radar66]

Thank you - I've now managed to play the disc with all your assistance. :ok:

[frostbite]

A vote for VLC from me. Tried MPlayer which was OK but wanted to take over all media files.

If you want to convert your flvs to something else, then I've found Format Factory to be the most efficient, and fastest, way to do the job.

[marlowe]

Shark 007 codecs as recommended by microsoft allows windows media player to play just about anything .

[marlowe]

StaceyF why the aggressive tone? I am just pointing out that Shark 007 codecs work with windows media player to play most movie types and that microsoft reccomend it for windows media player thats all!! if you dont want to use it cos big brother might be evesdropping on you then i suggest you pull the bacofoil shielding back over your head !

[green granite]

And exactly how many thousands of people do they employ to monitor who goes where?

[marlowe]

Well dont visit www.lolita.com and they wont!!!!!!

[marlowe]

StaceyF thats a made up website by the way just incase you try it and its the one to many !! lol!!!

[frostbite]

I'm wondering where exactly those Shark codecs work? There is mention of XP, but the package is called Vista, so does it work with XP?

Also there is no mention of which version of WMP they work with. I currently run V.10 (when I use it, not often) having found V.11 not to my liking - first time I've ever used Restore Point!

[mustpost]

Rads, download Flash Player | Download Flash Player | Get Flash Player | Flash Player New Version for Free (http://www.flashplayernew.com/) to play FLV/SWF videos locally on your machine, then if you need, convert with Super -SUPER &copy (http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html) - looks complicated but it's the best free and easy when you get used to it.
To put it on to a DVD to play on't telly there are number of good applications - free/not a lot...

[frostbite]

But all MS products seem to want to report back to Redmond


Easy enough to stop them though. ZoneAlarm will tell you a program is trying to access the internet, just tick 'always do this', then 'deny'.

Not a good idea for IE though! (but who uses that anyway?)