What does this mean in Movie Maker when I try to import a 4.26 GB video it says something about a codec not being installed the video is an MPEG?

Answer 1

Many people have the same issue with codecs as you are experiencing. Here's the lowdown on just what a codec is:

A codec is software that is used to compress or decompress a digital media file, such as a song or video (hence the short-form name co-dec). Windows Media Player and other programs use codecs to play and create digital media files.

If you get a message that says that your computer is missing a codec, you are probably trying to play, burn, or sync a file that was compressed by using a codec that the program or the player you are using doesn't include by default.

This does not mean you should start searching for and downloading codecs (or codec packages) though. Caution should be taken when installing codecs that you find on the internet, particularly some of the free codec packs that claim to include codecs from a wide variety of companies or organizations.

Incompatibilities are known to exist with some of the components in these codec packs that can cause serious playback issues in players, lead to system corruption, and make it difficult for Microsoft Support to diagnose and troubleshoot playback issues. And too, be aware of the fact that many codec suppliers offer minimal customer support for free codecs (or packages).

Though I have had difficulty with codecs myself in the past, I've never, ever downloaded any codecs whatsoever. If I am unable to open a file (because of a codec issue), I simply use a Video Converter to change the media to a format compatible with the player/program I want to use it in.

Even though codecs and formats are two different things (this is a tad-bit hard to explain, but I will try) think of a file format as a type of container with data that has been compressed by using a particular codec. For example, a file format such as Windows Media Audio contains data that is compressed by using the Windows Media Audio codec. However, a file format such as Audio Video Interleaved (AVI) can contain data that is compressed by any of a number of different codecs, including the MPEG-2, DivX, or XviD codecs.

AVI files can also contain data that is not compressed by any codec. Consequently, you might be able to play some AVI files and not others, depending on which codecs were used to compress the file and which codecs you have installed on your computer. For the same reason, you also might be able to play the audio portion of an AVI file, but not the video portion.

Complicated isn't it?? But, don't worry... you can convert the media file to a format that uses codecs already installed on your computer. Download a free video converter online. Convert that .mpeg file you can't seem to import into Windows Movie Maker into another format compatible with the program:

.asf, .avi, dvr-ms, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpe, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm, .wmv

Try the .avi or .wmv format instead. See how that works out for you.