can anyone tell me whats in this package?

[chickenPie4breakfast]

Its win32 codec binaries but on the site it doesn't say what codecs it contains/installs. Is it so you can see .wmv videos?
the site is
http://packages.medibuntu.org/karmic/w32codecs.html

[ajgreeny]

if you have it installed already, open synaptic, search for the package and look in its properties where there is a tab of all installed files.

It more or less adds all the windows .dll files needed for playing just about any restricted format audio or video file.

Here's the full list.

/usr/lib/codecs/14_43260.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/28_83260.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/3ivx Delta 3.5.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/3ivx.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/3ivxDSVideoDecoder.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/ACDV.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ACTLComponent.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/ADV601.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/Amv2Codec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/AppleProResDecoder.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/AvidAVICodec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/AvidAVdnCodec.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/AvidQTAVUICodec.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/BMDCodecLib.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/BTVVC32.DRV
/usr/lib/codecs/BeHereiVideo.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/CLRVIDDC.DLL
/usr/lib/codecs/CSEUvec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/CUVCcodc.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/CineWave.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/CtWbJpg.DLL
/usr/lib/codecs/DECVW_32.DLL
/usr/lib/codecs/DVACM.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/G2M.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/GXAMP4.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/GeoCodec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/KGV1-VFW.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/LCMW2.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/LCODCCMW2E.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/LCodcCMP.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/MLZCodec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/MV3.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/MVCodec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.EEScreen.Codec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/MyFlashZip0.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/Nsgsm32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/Nstsp32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/NuB2.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/On2_VP3.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/QuickTime.qts
/usr/lib/codecs/QuickTimeEssentials.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/QuickTimeInternetExtras.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/SCLS.DLL
/usr/lib/codecs/SN4Codec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/Sif1Dec.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/Sif1_vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/TRICDC32.DRV
/usr/lib/codecs/VDODEC32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/VFCodec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/VTZ32.DLL
/usr/lib/codecs/ViVD2.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/WCMV.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/WavCWAIP.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/WavLor.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/Zlib.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ZyGoAudioS.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/ZyGoVideo.qtx
/usr/lib/codecs/acelpdec.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/alf2cd.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/aoxdxipl.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/aslcodec_dshow.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/aslcodec_vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/asusasv2.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/asusasvd.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ativcr1.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ativcr2.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/atrac3.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/atrc.so.6.0
/usr/lib/codecs/atrc3260.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/avimszh.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/avizlib.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/blox.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/bw10.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/camfc.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/cinevfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/cllccodc.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/clrviddd.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/cook.so.6.0
/usr/lib/codecs/cook3260.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/cseHQa.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/csellc.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ctadp32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/decvdo.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/divx.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/divx_c32.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/divxa32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/divxc32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/drv2.so.6.0
/usr/lib/codecs/drv23260.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/drv3.so.6.0
/usr/lib/codecs/drv33260.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/drv4.so.6.0
/usr/lib/codecs/drv43260.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/fmcodec.DLL
/usr/lib/codecs/frapsvid.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/frwd.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/frwt.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/frwu.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/huffyuv.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/i263_32.drv
/usr/lib/codecs/iac25_32.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/iccvid.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/icmw_32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/imaadp32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/imc32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/ir32_32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ir41_32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ir50_32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ivvideo.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/jp2avi.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/kdvyuv8.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/l3codeca.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/lagarith.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/lhacm.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/lhacm2.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/libguide40.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/lsvxdec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/m3jp2k32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/m3jpeg32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/m3jpegdec.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/mcdvd_32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/mcmjpg32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/md5sum
/usr/lib/codecs/mi-sc4.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/mpg4c32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/mpg4ds32.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/msadp32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/msgsm32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/msh261.drv
/usr/lib/codecs/msms001.vwp
/usr/lib/codecs/msnaudio.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/msscds32.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/msvcr100.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/msvidc32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/mvoiced.vwp
/usr/lib/codecs/mwsc.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/nsrt2432.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/nsvideo.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/nuvision.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/pclepim1.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/pncrt.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/psiv.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/pvljpg20.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/pvmjpg21.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/pvwv220.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/qdv.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/qpeg32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/qtmlClient.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/rricm.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/rt32dcmp.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/scdec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/scg726.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/scrvid.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/sipr.so.6.0
/usr/lib/codecs/sipr3260.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/sirenacm.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/slif.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/smcelp32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/smv2vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/sp4x_32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/sp5x_32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/sp6x_32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/tm20dec.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/tm2x.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/tr2032.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/tsccvid.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/tsd32.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/tssoft32.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/tvqdec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ubv263d+.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/ubvmp4d.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ultimo.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vcmimm4.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vdo32_30.drv
/usr/lib/codecs/vdowave.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/vdowave.drv
/usr/lib/codecs/vgpix32d.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vid_3ivX.xa
/usr/lib/codecs/vid_cvid.xa
/usr/lib/codecs/vid_cyuv.xa
/usr/lib/codecs/vid_h261.xa
/usr/lib/codecs/vid_h263.xa
/usr/lib/codecs/vid_iv32.xa
/usr/lib/codecs/vid_iv41.xa
/usr/lib/codecs/vid_iv50.xa
/usr/lib/codecs/vivog723.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/vmnc.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vorbis.acm
/usr/lib/codecs/voxmsdec.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/vp31vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vp4vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vp5vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vp6vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vp7vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vssh264.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vssh264core.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vssh264dec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vsshdsd.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vsslight.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/vsswlt.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wavelet.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wma9dmod.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wmadmod.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wmavds32.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/wms10dmod.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wmsdmod.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wmspdmod.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wmv8ds32.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/wmv9dmod.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wmvadvd.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wmvdmod.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wmvds32.ax
/usr/lib/codecs/wnvplay1.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wnvwinx.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wtvc.DLL
/usr/lib/codecs/wv32vfw.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/wvc1dmod.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/xanlib.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/xfcodec.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/ylc.vcm
/usr/lib/codecs/zlib1.dll
/usr/lib/codecs/zmbv.dll
/usr/lib/win32
/usr/lib/win32/14_43260.dll
/usr/lib/win32/28_83260.dll
/usr/lib/win32/3ivx Delta 3.5.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/3ivx.dll
/usr/lib/win32/3ivxDSVideoDecoder.ax
/usr/lib/win32/ACDV.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ACTLComponent.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/ADV601.dll
/usr/lib/win32/Amv2Codec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/AppleProResDecoder.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/AvidAVICodec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/AvidAVdnCodec.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/AvidQTAVUICodec.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/BMDCodecLib.dll
/usr/lib/win32/BTVVC32.DRV
/usr/lib/win32/BeHereiVideo.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/CLRVIDDC.DLL
/usr/lib/win32/CSEUvec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/CUVCcodc.dll
/usr/lib/win32/CineWave.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/CtWbJpg.DLL
/usr/lib/win32/DECVW_32.DLL
/usr/lib/win32/DVACM.acm
/usr/lib/win32/G2M.dll
/usr/lib/win32/GXAMP4.dll
/usr/lib/win32/GeoCodec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/KGV1-VFW.dll
/usr/lib/win32/LCMW2.dll
/usr/lib/win32/LCODCCMW2E.dll
/usr/lib/win32/LCodcCMP.dll
/usr/lib/win32/MLZCodec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/MV3.dll
/usr/lib/win32/MVCodec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.EEScreen.Codec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/MyFlashZip0.ax
/usr/lib/win32/Nsgsm32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/Nstsp32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/NuB2.dll
/usr/lib/win32/On2_VP3.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/QuickTime.qts
/usr/lib/win32/QuickTimeEssentials.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/QuickTimeInternetExtras.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/SCLS.DLL
/usr/lib/win32/SN4Codec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/Sif1Dec.ax
/usr/lib/win32/Sif1_vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/TRICDC32.DRV
/usr/lib/win32/VDODEC32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/VFCodec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/VTZ32.DLL
/usr/lib/win32/ViVD2.dll
/usr/lib/win32/WCMV.dll
/usr/lib/win32/WavCWAIP.dll
/usr/lib/win32/WavLor.dll
/usr/lib/win32/Zlib.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ZyGoAudioS.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/ZyGoVideo.qtx
/usr/lib/win32/acelpdec.ax
/usr/lib/win32/alf2cd.acm
/usr/lib/win32/aoxdxipl.ax
/usr/lib/win32/aslcodec_dshow.dll
/usr/lib/win32/aslcodec_vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/asusasv2.dll
/usr/lib/win32/asusasvd.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ativcr1.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ativcr2.dll
/usr/lib/win32/atrac3.acm
/usr/lib/win32/atrc.so.6.0
/usr/lib/win32/atrc3260.dll
/usr/lib/win32/avimszh.dll
/usr/lib/win32/avizlib.dll
/usr/lib/win32/blox.dll
/usr/lib/win32/bw10.dll
/usr/lib/win32/camfc.dll
/usr/lib/win32/cinevfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/cllccodc.dll
/usr/lib/win32/clrviddd.dll
/usr/lib/win32/cook.so.6.0
/usr/lib/win32/cook3260.dll
/usr/lib/win32/cseHQa.dll
/usr/lib/win32/csellc.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ctadp32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/decvdo.dll
/usr/lib/win32/divx.dll
/usr/lib/win32/divx_c32.ax
/usr/lib/win32/divxa32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/divxc32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/drv2.so.6.0
/usr/lib/win32/drv23260.dll
/usr/lib/win32/drv3.so.6.0
/usr/lib/win32/drv33260.dll
/usr/lib/win32/drv4.so.6.0
/usr/lib/win32/drv43260.dll
/usr/lib/win32/fmcodec.DLL
/usr/lib/win32/frapsvid.dll
/usr/lib/win32/frwd.dll
/usr/lib/win32/frwt.dll
/usr/lib/win32/frwu.dll
/usr/lib/win32/huffyuv.dll
/usr/lib/win32/i263_32.drv
/usr/lib/win32/iac25_32.ax
/usr/lib/win32/iccvid.dll
/usr/lib/win32/icmw_32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/imaadp32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/imc32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/ir32_32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ir41_32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ir50_32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ivvideo.dll
/usr/lib/win32/jp2avi.dll
/usr/lib/win32/kdvyuv8.dll
/usr/lib/win32/l3codeca.acm
/usr/lib/win32/lagarith.dll
/usr/lib/win32/lhacm.acm
/usr/lib/win32/lhacm2.acm
/usr/lib/win32/libguide40.dll
/usr/lib/win32/lsvxdec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/m3jp2k32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/m3jpeg32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/m3jpegdec.ax
/usr/lib/win32/mcdvd_32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/mcmjpg32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/md5sum
/usr/lib/win32/mi-sc4.acm
/usr/lib/win32/mpg4c32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/mpg4ds32.ax
/usr/lib/win32/msadp32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/msgsm32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/msh261.drv
/usr/lib/win32/msms001.vwp
/usr/lib/win32/msnaudio.acm
/usr/lib/win32/msscds32.ax
/usr/lib/win32/msvcr100.dll
/usr/lib/win32/msvidc32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/mvoiced.vwp
/usr/lib/win32/mwsc.dll
/usr/lib/win32/nsrt2432.acm
/usr/lib/win32/nsvideo.dll
/usr/lib/win32/nuvision.ax
/usr/lib/win32/pclepim1.dll
/usr/lib/win32/pncrt.dll
/usr/lib/win32/psiv.dll
/usr/lib/win32/pvljpg20.dll
/usr/lib/win32/pvmjpg21.dll
/usr/lib/win32/pvwv220.dll
/usr/lib/win32/qdv.dll
/usr/lib/win32/qpeg32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/qtmlClient.dll
/usr/lib/win32/rricm.dll
/usr/lib/win32/rt32dcmp.dll
/usr/lib/win32/scdec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/scg726.acm
/usr/lib/win32/scrvid.dll
/usr/lib/win32/sipr.so.6.0
/usr/lib/win32/sipr3260.dll
/usr/lib/win32/sirenacm.dll
/usr/lib/win32/slif.dll
/usr/lib/win32/smcelp32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/smv2vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/sp4x_32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/sp5x_32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/sp6x_32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/tm20dec.ax
/usr/lib/win32/tm2x.dll
/usr/lib/win32/tr2032.dll
/usr/lib/win32/tsccvid.dll
/usr/lib/win32/tsd32.dll
/usr/lib/win32/tssoft32.acm
/usr/lib/win32/tvqdec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ubv263d+.ax
/usr/lib/win32/ubvmp4d.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ultimo.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vcmimm4.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vdo32_30.drv
/usr/lib/win32/vdowave.acm
/usr/lib/win32/vdowave.drv
/usr/lib/win32/vgpix32d.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vid_3ivX.xa
/usr/lib/win32/vid_cvid.xa
/usr/lib/win32/vid_cyuv.xa
/usr/lib/win32/vid_h261.xa
/usr/lib/win32/vid_h263.xa
/usr/lib/win32/vid_iv32.xa
/usr/lib/win32/vid_iv41.xa
/usr/lib/win32/vid_iv50.xa
/usr/lib/win32/vivog723.acm
/usr/lib/win32/vmnc.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vorbis.acm
/usr/lib/win32/voxmsdec.ax
/usr/lib/win32/vp31vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vp4vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vp5vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vp6vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vp7vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vssh264.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vssh264core.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vssh264dec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vsshdsd.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vsslight.dll
/usr/lib/win32/vsswlt.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wavelet.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wma9dmod.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wmadmod.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wmavds32.ax
/usr/lib/win32/wms10dmod.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wmsdmod.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wmspdmod.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wmv8ds32.ax
/usr/lib/win32/wmv9dmod.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wmvadvd.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wmvdmod.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wmvds32.ax
/usr/lib/win32/wnvplay1.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wnvwinx.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wtvc.DLL
/usr/lib/win32/wv32vfw.dll
/usr/lib/win32/wvc1dmod.dll
/usr/lib/win32/xanlib.dll
/usr/lib/win32/xfcodec.dll
/usr/lib/win32/ylc.vcm
/usr/lib/win32/zlib1.dll
/usr/lib/win32/zmbv.dll
/usr/share
/usr/share/doc
/usr/share/doc/w32codecs
/usr/share/doc/w32codecs/changelog.Debian.gz
/usr/share/doc/w32codecs/copyright

[chickenPie4breakfast]

ok thanks I see I have them installed ,one more question is it just useful for being able to playback video or could a program use it to create(render) or convert video?

[ajgreeny]

It's needed for both, or at least, the codecs are needed, but not necessarily the w32codecs package. You may find this the easiest way to get these codecs, but it is not totally necessary to use that package.

If you install the appropriate *ubuntu-restricted-extras package, which adds many of the gstreamer packages, you can get just about the same effect, in codec terms.