Playing MP4 files

Win10 v.2012 Build 19042.685
My wife sent me one she'd revived to play on my desktop, as sound on her tablet was weak. As Windows 10 hasn't a suitable player. I installed vlc-3.0.11.
The file still won't play. Will anyone, please, advise me why this is happening?

Paul Black said:

Hello @chipwood,



[1] When you say she revived it, what exactly do you mean?[2] What happens when you try and play the file, it doesn't play, there's no picture, there's no sound, or something else?
[3] Have you managed to play it successfully on ANY device?
hope this helps.

[1] Oops! Should be received
[2] No picture, no sound
[3]No ; i hove nothing else suitable

MP4 is a container file, a lot depends on the codecs within that.
MP4 can be played with Windows 10 with Films & TV, Photos, Windows Media Player, and VLC.
If those can't then there must be something odd/unusual in the file.

Right click the File > Properties > Details Tab.
see if that gives you more info, should be some info on the video/audio but not codecs.

Try the suggestions from post #3.

You have to be careful as viruses are propogated by people simply changing the filename extension and auto-forwarding via an infected PC and a compromised address list.
So a targeted scan with AV is necessary for every file attachement even if apparently from someone you know.

Samuria said:

Try one of these testers to find out what codec it uses it may not be mp4 or you may need a codec 5 Tools to Determine the Codecs Required To Play Downloaded Movies • Raymond.CC

ATM am trying Video Inspector, but am unable to load the MP4 file on my desktop for inspection

Suggestions?

Copy it to another folder.

Then experiment on the copy by changing the file extension to mpg, wmv, mov, avi, and any other video file format that enters your mind. See if you can then play any of the renames.

This occasionally works for me on shaky files.

Berton said:

I can play .mp4 files on Windows Media Player and the free VLC player.
TVLC: Official site - Free multimedia solutions for all OS! - VideoLAN

That may be so and nice for you, but I have rechecked and installed the latest 64 bit version from the owner’s site. It does’ntp;ay
[QUOTE=Paul Black;2114206]Hello @chipwood,
See above; already installed
To both: Thanks all the same J

ignatzatsonic said:

Copy it to another folder.

Then experiment on the copy by changing the file extension to mpg, wmv, mov, avi, and any other video file format that enters your mind. See if you can then play any of the renames.

This occasionally works for me on shaky files.

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll keep it in mind.