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Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility 

Brief Description
The Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility helps you determine if an MPEG-2 video decoder (also called a DVD decoder) is installed on your Windows XP computer and whether or not the decoder is compatible with Windows Media Player 10 and Windows XP Media Center Edition.

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Quick Details
File Name:DECCHECKSetup.EXE
Version:XP
Date Published:9/23/2004
Language:English
Download Size:163 KB
Estimated Download Time: 1 min 56K

Overview

The Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility helps you determine if an MPEG-2 video decoder (also called a DVD decoder) is installed on your Windows XP computer and whether or not the decoder is compatible with Windows Media Player 10 and Windows XP Media Center Edition.

An MPEG-2 decoder is software that allows you to play DVDs and files that contain video content that was encoded in the MPEG-2 format (such as DVR-MS files, MPG files, and some AVI files).

If you encounter a problem while using Windows Media Player 10 to synchronize (copy) recorded TV shows to a Portable Media Center or other device, use this utility to verify that you have a compatible MPEG-2 decoder installed on your computer.

Note: This utility only indicates whether an MPEG-2 decoder is compatible with the synchronization feature of Windows Media Player 10 or whether an MPEG-2 decoder is compatible with the recorded TV playback feature of Windows XP Media Center Edition.

This utility:
• Lists all the MPEG-2 video decoders that appear in your Windows registry (a database that contains information about the hardware and software installed in your computer).
• Indicates whether each decoder listed in the registry is marked as compatible with Windows XP Media Center Edition and whether any decoder listed in the registry is marked as the preferred video decoder.
• Indicates whether each decoder listed in the registry is marked as compatible with the synchronization feature of Windows Media Player 10.
• Lets you designate which installed decoder that you want Windows Media Player 10 to use when synchronizing DVR-MS files to a portable device. This is known as the preferred video decoder.
• Lets you undo any changes the utility makes to your Windows registry.

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System Requirements

  • Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP

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Instructions

This download is available to customers running genuine Microsoft Windows. Click the Continue button in the Validation Required section above to begin the short validation process. Once validated, you will be returned to this page with specific instructions for obtaining the download.

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Additional Information

To start the utility: Double-click the DecCheck.exe file that you downloaded to your computer.

To determine if a decoder is compatible:
1. Start the utility.
2. In the list of installed decoders, click a decoder.
3. Read the details that appear beneath the list.

To set a decoder as the preferred decoder:
When you try synchronize a DVR-MS file to a portable device, Windows Media Player 10 will use the preferred video decoder to convert the DVR-MS file to a format appropriate for your portable device.
1. In the list of installed decoders, click a decoder.
2. Click Set as Preferred.

Note: If you set a decoder as your preferred decoder and you encounter problems while synchronizing other types of files that contain MPEG-2 encoded content (such as some MPG and AVI files), try using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel to remove any incompatible decoders or related programs.

To check if an update is available for a decoder:
1. Start the utility.
2. In the list of installed decoders, click a decoder.
3. Click Check for Update.

To undo any changes the utility makes to your Windows registry:
1. Start the utility.
2. Click Restore Defaults.

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