Want to highlight a helpful answer? Upvote!

Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others! Learn more about when to upvote >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: GWD2008
GWD2008 Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

How Do I Preview QT Mpeg4 Video in Windows Explorer?

I have tried everything I can to try to get QuickTime videos to be viewed at thumbnails in Windows Explorer, but only Windows AVI and DIVX videos will be previewed as thumbnails.

I tried these things:

1. Installed QuickTime 7.6.2.14.0 updated this week

2. Installed the K-Lite Codec Pack Basic
and selected to enable thumbnail previews for all video types
http://www.codecguide.com/about_kl.htm

3. Searched the web for ideas.

I even tried this command: regsvr32 shmedia.dll

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/03/17/how-to-enable-or-disable-media-and-vide o-thumbnail-preview-in-windows-xp/

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/03/17/how-to-turn-off-image-preview-thumbnail -and-disable-windows-picture-and-fax-viewer-in-windows-xp/

4. Tried rebooting several times.

5. Looked through ''Folder Options'' and reset to defaults.

6. I tried installing this freeware that enables FLV (flash) videos to be previewed in Windows Explorer hoping it would "kick start" whatever the problem is.

http://www.swf-kit.com/swfpreview.html

7. I tried looking for "Web View" under Folder Options to enable it, but
it is nowhere to be found under Windows XP SP3.

8. I tried re-saving the MPEG4 (mp4 extension) as a QuickTime Movie and then exporting the video "for the web" in the three ipod/iphone/Desktop formats and that did not work either. They do not get previewed under Thumbnail view.

I am at a loss what else to try.

Thanks for any suggestion.

MacBook Duo Core 2ghz black, Mac OS X (10.5.6), 2 gb ram

Posted on Jun 2, 2009 12:54 PM

Reply
5 replies
User profile for user: GWD2008
GWD2008 Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Jun 2, 2009 11:32 PM in response to GWD2008

Here is how I resolved this problem and now ALL video files show thumbnail previews inside Windows Explorer.

1. I uninstalled K-Lite Codec Pack
2. I rebooted Windows XP (SP3)
3. I installed the XVID codec version 1.2.1 from http://www.koepi.info/xvid.html
4. I rebooted Windows XP
5. I installed the K-Lite codec pack (basic edition)
6. Since I already had XVID and DIVX (from Divx.com) installed,
I unchecked XVID and DIVX under the DirectShow Video Decoding Filters.
7. I activated H264 and chose "ffdshow" instead of "(use system default)"
8. I created file associations for use with Windows Media Player, allowing the defaults to be selected automatically.
9. I left QuickTime (mov) unchecked for the file associations.
10. I turned on thumbnail generation for all file types.

I finished installing K-Lite Basic and then rebooted Windows XP.

When I opened "My Videos" Folder I saw video thumbnails of all my Mpeg4 QuickTime movies.
Reply
User profile for user: GWD2008
GWD2008 Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Jun 4, 2009 12:47 AM in response to GWD2008

One other thing - I could not get Flash videos (FLV) to show up with thumbnail previews inside Windows Explorer in Windows XP. After I installed this component (to compliment the K-Lite codec pack), then it worked.

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/videosoftware/codecs_and_filters/flvsplitter.cfm

After installing, right-click on the FLV file you want to be previewed and choose "Open with Windows Media Player."

It will most likely not start working until you open Windows Media Player or reboot Windows XP after installing this.
Reply
User profile for user: GWD2008
GWD2008 Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Jun 10, 2009 3:40 AM in response to GWD2008

One more thing, Windows Explorer currently does not preview DIVX video files with a thumbnail image - believe me I have tried! I even tried several variations of the K-Lite codec pack and others.

So, don't waste your time trying to get this one format to show previews like I tried. Before you know it you will have wasted three hours.

I did email DIVX and suggested they add that as an enhancement to future versions.

I can understand why some people dislike thumbnails. They can even slow down the PC. But I am running Windows on a 10,000 rpm Western Digital Raptor. Response Time is not an issue for me, and I prefer thumbnails. So I guess like many things you just have to live with it.

You can get AVI, MOV, MP4, and FLV previews, but not DIVX.
Reply
User profile for user: Forrest_F150
Forrest_F150
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 27, 2009 4:43 PM in response to GWD2008

I found a solution just by searching the web.
Go here and download the .dll
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~mbarrien/projects/

Read the readme.txt for instructions on how to install but
basically put the .dll in c:\windows\system32 then register it
via "regsvr32 dllname". If you have a problem registering it then you'll
probably also need another .dll file from:
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?msvcr70
Drop that in sys32 and then register. Then reboot.

This works on Vista but only after the reboot. I'm running Vista Ultimate 32 Bit. All I have installed that I can tell might have helped this is the latest iTunes/Quicktime and the latest Divx player/pack/codecs etc.

Works like a charm!
Reply

How Do I Preview QT Mpeg4 Video in Windows Explorer?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.
Learn more Sign up