Windows – How to get WMC to play MKV files

codechandbrakematroskawindows 7windows-media-center

I'm trying to play a .mkv file (created with handbrake) in Windows Media Center.

  • I'm running Win 7 x64
  • I've installed haali media splitter (file: MatroskaSplitter110109)
  • I've installed ffdshow tryouts (file: ffdshow_beta6_rev2527_20081219)

GSPOT says the codec is MGEP1 and that "Codecs are installed"

Below is what MediaInfo has to say.

When I try the file in WMC, it doesn't play. What do I need to do to get this to work?

General
Format: Matroska
File size: 1.39 GiB
Duration                         : 2h 16mn
Overall bit rate                 : 1 462 Kbps
Writing application              : HandBrake 0.9.4

Video
ID: 1
Format: AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 3 frames
Muxing mode                      : Container profile=Unknown@3.0
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 2h 16mn
Width                            : 720 pixels
Height                           : 352 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 2.35:1
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Resolution                       : 24 bits
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Writing library                  : x264 core 79
Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=1 / wpredp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=24 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
colour_primaries                 : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
transfer_characteristics         : BT.709-5, BT.1361
matrix_coefficients              : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M

Audio #1
ID                               : 2
Format                           : AAC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version                   : Version 4
Format profile                   : LC
Format settings, SBR             : No
Codec ID                         : A_AAC
Duration                         : 2h 16mn
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Channel positions                : L R
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Resolution                       : 16 bits
Language                         : English

Audio #2
ID                               : 3
Format                           : AC-3
Format/Info                      : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID                         : A_AC3
Duration                         : 2h 16mn
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 384 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 6 channels
Channel positions                : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Stream size                      : 375 MiB (26%)
Language                         : English

Best Answer

Install the DivX Plus Tech Preview of MKV on Windows 7; your file is perfect because it's H.264 video, aac audio in MKV, which I te same as DivX Pkus HD. It's totally free, and more info is at http://www.DivX.com/en/windows-7 and labs.DivX.com