QuickTime won't open mov files

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QuickTime won't open mov files

I've just upgraded to Lion and my latest problem is that QuickTime will no longer open my .mov files. Everything was fine in my old world. Apart from upgrading to Lion, there's nothing else that's changed.

Error is:

The document “home-movie.mov” could not be opened. A required codec isn't available.

To see if additional software is available that will enable QuickTime Player to open the movie, click Tell Me More.

I also notice I'm using QuickTime 10.1. I used to have QuickTime Pro - presumably this has disappeared in my upgrade somewhere. It that (a) relevant and (b) a permanent loss? I paid for it - it would be nice to have it back.

Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Sep 2, 2011 3:45 PM

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Answer 1

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QuickTimeKirk

Level 10

125,941 points

Sep 3, 2011 1:31 AM in response to mbahundra

Look in the Utilities folder for QuickTime Player 7.6.6.

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Answer 2

mbahundra Author

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Sep 3, 2011 1:59 AM in response to mbahundra

🙂

(Curious, nevertheless, that QuickTime won't play mov files.)

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Answer 3

Sep 3, 2011 2:08 AM in response to mbahundra

Your original post suggests a "missing codec". Since .mov files can contain dozens of different codecs you'll need to find out what you're missing.

Perian and Flip4Mac (both free) would be my first starting point.

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Answer 4

mbahundra Author

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Sep 3, 2011 2:32 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

I have both - Perian updates automatically, and I believe Flip4Mac does too, no?

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Answer 5

Sep 3, 2011 2:35 AM in response to mbahundra

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Last resort to play the file.

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Answer 6

mbahundra Author

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Sep 3, 2011 2:39 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Got vlc, too, but it's fine, I found my copy of QT7 in the utilities folder. I have no idea where it was before, but presumably my preferences were changed in the upgrade to Lion and my mov files opened with QT10 and not QT7. I was just so used to double clicking to open in QT7 that when QT10 opened I thought I'd lost something.

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Answer 7

mbahundra Author

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Sep 3, 2011 2:41 AM in response to mbahundra

(But I'm still curious as to how people who don't have QT7 view mov files!)

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Answer 8

Sep 3, 2011 2:45 AM in response to mbahundra

Since the introduction of Snow Leopard (QuickTime X) installs in the Applications folder and QuickTime Player is moved to the Utilities folder.

If a user doesn't have QuickTime Player installed and they open a file in QuickTime X that it can't play (but may work in 7.6.6) they get a dialog window alert and the option to download Player 7.6.6.

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Answer 9

mbahundra Author

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Sep 3, 2011 2:50 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

I guess the system couldn't find my QT 7. I know the feeling.

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