User profile for user: Andy Drefs
Andy Drefs Author
User level: Level 1
36 points

MOV files won't play on Windows computers

I have a number of MOV files (shot in full 1080 resolution) that won't play on a Windows PC. When I attempt to open them I get a warning stating that Quicktime may need extra files (or plugins?) in order to play the file. When I select the link it takes me to a page with all sorts of other providers such as DivX. With that said, what is the best format to enable smooth playback on a Windows machine?

MacPro (Tower), Mac OS X (10.6.2), Final Cut Studio

Posted on Jan 10, 2010 3:26 PM

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User profile for user: Andy Drefs
Andy Drefs Author
User level: Level 1
36 points

Jan 10, 2010 5:30 PM in response to Captain Mench

As I said they're MOV files (my JVC records to SDHC cards in the MOV format) and then I export them as Quicktime movies (still MOV files) and they won't play on a Windows machine. So no, they're not raw, these are finished projects that I need to somehow be able to show to clients for them to review.
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User profile for user: Studio X
Studio X
User level: Level 7
27,229 points

Jan 10, 2010 6:43 PM in response to Andy Drefs

Complain to the people who are the avaricious controllers of the os that runs on the "worlds most common type of computer". They license those codecs.

Or, send the users the link on the Apple website so that they can download and run the windows version of the QT player. It's free.

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User profile for user: h4rdy
h4rdy
User level: Level 1
1 points

Jan 11, 2010 4:46 AM in response to Andy Drefs

I am in the same boat. I need to view AVCHD files that were converted to .mov by iMovie on a PC.

I think it is mainly because iMovie isn't really compatible with AVCHD so it converts it to .mov.

But it is not a normal .mov!

Apple loves to help you go from PC to MAC but when you try to go back again, God help you.

I refused to pay the price for a new MacBook so bought a core i7 laptop for less than the cheapest MacBook(white)!

I am starting to believe that Apple suck!

Don't even get me started on the iPhoto and iTunes issues to change back!
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User profile for user: Andy Drefs
Andy Drefs Author
User level: Level 1
36 points

Jan 11, 2010 5:47 AM in response to Studio X

Thanks for the ongoing suggestions Studio X. Trouble is I do have the Windows version of QT on my laptop. What I am trying to do is get these files to play on my Dell laptop so that I can save them to a thumb drive off the Mac, transfer to the laptop and then review with a client. Ultimately the client(s) will be using these pieces for their websites and/or e-mail distribution (I produce customer testimonials, product demos and the like). With that said, how should I be saving these so that even a lowly Windows user can view them, and with good resolution?
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User profile for user: Studio X
Studio X
User level: Level 7
27,229 points

Jan 11, 2010 6:49 AM in response to Andy Drefs

If you are headed to the web, what about flash movies? They are about as universal as anything gets these days. Though (again) it is necessary for people to have current technology (flash 9 players).

If Flash might be the answer, simply encode as H.264 files and change then suffix from mov or mp4 to FLV.

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User profile for user: Studio X
Studio X
User level: Level 7
27,229 points

Jan 11, 2010 8:50 AM in response to Andy Drefs

Yes, you will lose resolution. The only way you won't, is to export something using the exact same settings as the original material. And that won't work on the web.

H.264 does a good job but, like all things involving compression, is a bit of a dark art. If the material is headed to the web, you are dealing with three things - image size, data rate and image quality - with data rate the most restrictive. Only you can find the balance between the three that works for your clients.

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MOV files won't play on Windows computers

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