What Quicktime plugin needed to view .avi files?

I made this post a few howe ago in this forum:

< Here the page for the free plug-in:

<a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://">http://www.flipformac.com/wmv_download.htm

System Requirements for Download:
Mac Intel or PowerPC OS 10.3.9, 10.4 or later
QuickTime 6.5, 7.0 or later (recommended)

You must buy to export, to play you don't.......... >

And if that doesn't work... I don't know...

What plugin is needed &/or how otherwise can I view .avi files?

Try the Perian (free) QT component.

I don't see a Quicktime folder in Library on my computer.

Which "Library" folder are you looking in? Basically, there can be a number of "Library" folders. One is located in your "System" folder and should contain Apple components like the QT MPEG-2 component if you have purchased and installed it. There should also be a "Library" folder at the root level of your start-up drive. This "Library" is available for use by all accounts available on your start-up system. In addition, there should be and additional "Library" folder for each user account folder. Components placed in these last folders are local and only available to individual users. Therefore, if you want the component to be available to everyone, place it in the root "Library > QuickTime" folder. If you only want it used locally, then place it in one or more of the user level "Library > Quicktime" folders. If a "QuickTime" folder does not aleady exist at the desired level, then create one -- just be sure to name it correctly.

(Should I?)

Since you say you have already installed the "Flip4Mac" component, you must have a valid "QuickTime" folder somewhere on your drive. Since I have the only user account on my system, I prefer to keep my folder at the root level so it will be availale if there is ever a need to create alternative or special purpose user accounts in the future.

Also, is it the 'disk image' that gets dragged or the other icon?

No, the disk image, when opened, appears to your system as a separate, independent drive device. As such, it allows you to mount or dismount it like any normal hardware device. When mounted, you simply copy the file(s) needed as if you had just pluged in a external hard drive or optical drive. If you already had a root level "Library > QuickTime" folder on your start-up drive, the disk image should create an "alais" QuickTime folder on the disk image. As an alternative to manually dragging and dropping the "Perian.component" to the folder, you could simply drag 'n drop the component to the alias folder and it would have automatically placed it in the appropriate original folder on your start-up drive.

The one directly off my root folder (the others in that folder are Desktop, Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures, Public, Sites and Video).

This sounds more like a "User" account level folder -- not the "root" level. Try double-clicking on your start-up hard drive icon. At this level you should see things like your "System" folder. There should also be a "Library" folder located at this level. It is the one that is accessable by all users. What you install at the user level is only available to that particular user.

There are files in that Library folder but nothing that says Quicktime. The Flip4Mac program is in its own folder, self-created (I think) when I installed it.

This may be your problem. To be used by the QT Player, I beleieve the Flip4Mac components must be in a folder entitled "QuickTime" within the "Library" folder. If in the root "HardDriveName > Library > Quicktime" folder, then all users can watch WMV files played in the QT Player. If located in in your "HardDriveName > Users > YourUserName > Library > QuickTime" folder, then only you can access these components. If the components are placed in any other folder (even a folder in this path) then they will not be available to the QT Player.

I'm not sure I understand your last paragraph. Is the program automatically 'mounted' when it's downloaded? Should I just click on the 'disk image' to open it like a 'hard drive' (or other device)?

No. But it may provide an easier way to place the files if the "Quicktime" folder already exists in the "Library" folder. If the "QuickTime" folder does not already exist, then you have to create one manually and then move the Perian component to it. Only a true "installer" installed component package creates a "QuickTime" folder automatically if needed.

How do I know which files are needed (to install Perian)?

Only the "Perian.component" file needs to be installed in the "Library > QuickTime" folder.