Strange Behavior by MP3 File

[Doc Watson]

I'm stumped. I downloaded an mp3 file (actually, an entire classic album) the other day and none of the files would play on VLC Media Player, Winamp 5.0, iTunes, Windows Media Player or Media Player Classic. The only useful error message came from Media Player Classic.....
"Media Type 0:
--------------------------
Unknown

AM_MEDIA_TYPE:
majortype: MEDIATYPE_Stream {E436EB83-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_MPEG1Audio {E436EB87-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
formattype: TIME_FORMAT_NONE {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
bFixedSizeSamples: 1
bTemporalCompression: 0
lSampleSize: 1
cbFormat: 0


Media Type 1:
--------------------------
Unknown

AM_MEDIA_TYPE:
majortype: MEDIATYPE_Stream {E436EB83-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
subtype: TIME_FORMAT_NONE {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
formattype: TIME_FORMAT_NONE {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
bFixedSizeSamples: 1
bTemporalCompression: 0
lSampleSize: 1
cbFormat: 0"

I don't know for sure what this means, but it appears that this is a link to streamed music and I don't have a codec or some other file to connect me to the stream.

Any ideas ??

[HansV]

Try installing K-Lite Codec Pack. The "full" version contains the largest number of codecs.

[Bigaldoc]

In addition, earlier this year Pilgrim recommended Shark007.net - Windows Vista Codec Package which also has a Windows 7 version. I installed this codec package and have been able to use WMP to play FLVs and others that previously didn't work.

(I don't know anything about the one Hans suggested.)

[stuck]

I installed K-Lite on my eldest son's Vista laptop a long time ago. It works a treat and has never been a problem - except that it turned the laptop into a ££££ jukebox

Ken

[Doc Watson]

Thanks for the suggestions. I already have the full K-lite pack installed, so that's not it. I'm not really sure that it's a codec issue, that was a guess on my part. It's got the .mp3 extension (all do) and is listed as an MP3 file, but the players all choke on it and claim the file extension does not match the file. Sounds like it's a bogus file. Considering the source, it's likely. But very disappointing. I've been looking for a particular song on this album in digital format for as long as mp3s have been around.

[HansV]

Perhaps the MP3s have some kind of DRM protection? Does the website where you got them from say anything about special requirements?

[Doc Watson]

Not a word. I've seen this sort of thing with video files, where they look for all the world like the real thing, but they are an empty shell that has all the properties of the file but none of the content. I've always felt they were either links to streamed content that has been removed or bogus files placed by anti-pirate folks. But, I didn't think they bothered with a song from a Canadian band back in '69.

This was not a P2P download, but I'm pretty sure it was not kosher.

[HansV]

Since you mentioned that you tried VLC Media Player, Winamp 5.0, iTunes, Windows Media Player and Media Player Classic (most of which can play streaming formats) and have the fill K-Lite codec pack, if fear that you won't be able to play these MP3 files...

[Doc Watson]

I downloaded the file again and this time it works. Possibly a corrupt file, possibly it got corrupted during the DL process.

Thanks for all replies.

[HansV]

That definitely looks like the file got corrupted during the download. Glad you were able to get a working MP3.