HOWTO: Win32 Video Codecs (AMD64 and 64bit systems)

[tseliot]

This HOWTO is mainly aimed at all the users of Ubuntu 64bit (although it would work also on a 32bit system) who can't (obviously) install these codecs using the repositories.

If you want to watch your movies (avi and wmv) or listen to your music files (wma) which require Win32 codecs this is what you need:

1)You have to OWN A LEGAL COPY of Windows, because these are proprietary codecs (somebody correct me if I'm wrong)

2)Install “xine-ui” and “totem-xine” in Synaptic or type in the command line:
sudo apt-get install xine-ui ; totem-xine

3) Launch Xine (or Totem) and try to play a video (this will create a .config file)

4) Download the codecs from this website:

http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/design7/dload.html
(just download the “essential codecs package”)

5) Open the command line(“Konsole” if you are using KDE, “Terminal” if you are using GNOME) and follow these steps:

a) Get to the directory where you have downloaded the file (/home/alberto/downloads in my case)

cd /home/alberto/downloads

b) Create the directory in which you are going to put the codecs (/usr/lib/win32)

sudo mkdir /usr/lib/win32

c) Now, assuming the file you downloaded is “essential-20050412.tar.bz2”:

tar -xjf essential-20050412.tar.bz2 (this will extract the file)

sudo mv essential-20050412/* /usr/lib/win32 (this command will move the files to the desired folder)

d) Now restart xine (if you were using it)

Congratulations, now you can open wma, wmv, and avi files by using Totem and Xine!

Alberto

UPDATE: It seems wmv9 don't work with my HOWTO.

[Tamir]

Wow! is this realy working on 64bit? cool.

[tseliot]

Yes, this is one more reason not to switch back to Ubuntu 32bit. C'mon let's improve Ubuntu 64 support!

[poofyhairguy]

Someone, please add this to the wiki.

[tseliot]

This would be an honour for me. Thanks

[tseliot]

I meant it would be an honour for me if someone put it in the Wiki. I don't know how to do it.

[Kuolio]

Thank you for this

[kostkon]

Impressive!!

Let's try to reach 100% equallity between 32 and 64 bit!! We can do it!!

[Pcghost]

Have I mentioned lately how much you rule for this tseliot?

I didn't expect this to be accomplished until they finally pushed Windows Media Player to 64-bit.

And for the record, I never get the urge to go 32-bit, no matter what 64-bit is lacking.

[negatory]

It did not work for me...I've installed totem-xine and no luck with that (playing a wmv complains not having the codec needed) ...even installed gxine and still no luck....
Don't know what I'm doing wrong...please post your entire config.
Thanks
Pedro Carrico