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How to Reinstall Codecs for Windows XP

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Codec issues may prevent you from listening to or watching multimedia.

Audio and video codecs allow you to view, to listen to and to manipulate different types of multimedia files on your computer. Codecs range from Windows Media and its built-in codecs system to third-party codecs such as DivX and XviD. Outdated or damaged codecs may cause your computer to be unable to correctly play audio and video files, or you may experience problems when encoding a multimedia file. Prior to reinstalling a codecs package, you should uninstall the current codec, or you may continue to experience problems.

Instructions

  1. Uninstall Third-Party Codecs

    • 1

      Click on "Start," then "Control Panel." Click on "Classic View" in the left column, if available.

    • 2

      Double-click "Add/Remove Programs."

    • 3

      Find the codec package that you wish to reinstall. Double-click it.

    • 4

      Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall the codec.

    • 5

      Repeat this process for each codec package you wish to reinstall.

    • 6

      Restart the computer.

    Reinstall the Codecs

    • 7

      Download the latest version of the codec from the developer's website. Save the file to your desktop.

    • 8

      Close all programs, including your web browser, and double-click the codec installation package.

    • 9

      Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the codec installation.

    • 10

      Repeat this process for each codec package.

    • 11

      Restart your computer.

    Install All Default Codecs

    • 12

      Click on "Start," then "Control Panel." Click on "Classic View" in the left column, if applicable.

    • 13

      Double-click "Add/Remove Programs." Click on the "Windows Setup" tab.

    • 14

      Select "Multimedia" or "Sounds and Multimedia." Click "Details."

    • 15

      Check both boxes next to the "Audio Compression" and "Video Compression." Click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

  • Some programs such as Windows Media 11 and higher for Windows Vista and Windows 7 require that you reinstall the program in order to reinstall the codecs. Microsoft does not make available a separate codecs package, although there is a codecs download for Windows XP users (see Resources).

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  • Photo Credit speaker image by Aditia Patria Warman from Fotolia.com

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