Windows 7 codec

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So you upgraded to Windows 7 but are as always having issues with Codec’s (A codec is the ‘decoder/encoder’ for a video or soundfile in a specific format eg. DivX or Xvid). Under Windows Vista the Vista Codec pack seemed to work perfectly, but I was reluctant to install it on Windows 7 out of fear to create problems for H.264 (H.264 is now native to Windows 7, which was not the case for Windows Vista).  However in the end I had to (too many things did not work without these codec’s), anyway it turned out that the Vista Codec Pack would not install on Windows 7, it cleverly detected that it was a new OS and pointed out that a new package was available here. So all in all, my worries was laid to rest and I downloaded Windows 7 codec pack and everything was back to the old working state. Do you need this codec pack?  Well very likely not, most users can download the VLC player this player has build in most common codec’s and can thus play most video/snd files you get hold of, however if you need to do video conversion etc. then it is a different matter, Windows then need to be able to ‘understand’ the fileformat and this may ofthen require a codec.  The rule should be, try VLC player, if its enough dont install anything more if not install the Windows 7 codec pack or Windows Vista Codec pack (also works for Windows XP).
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Lockhunter – unlock locked files in Windows

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A followup to a previous post; https://readmydamnblog.com/?p=674

Under Windows Vista and now Windows 7 I quite often experience problems with locked files, eg. I have worked with a file previously and now want to delete it just to be told that this is impossible as the file is in use, I have not found any explanations to this – my own guess is that it could have something to do with poorly written applications (that does not free files correctly) but this is pure guesswork.

Anyhow, it is very annoying to have to reboot the machine to be able to delete a file, and of cause this is often not necessary – Lockhunter to the rescue..  Lockhunter is a free utility to unlock these locked files, it works like this; you install lockhunter, right click on a locked file and selects “Unlock….”, you will go through a wizard to help unlock the file and viola problem solved you can delete the file.

My previous post on the subject regarded; Unlocker a similar tool, however Lockhunter seem a bit more informative (tell you what process is locking the file) and Lockhunter has a 64bit version.

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Photo fun – search the net

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Two links for you to check;

Http://www.tineye.com

A neat service where you either upload a picture or reference it via a url and the page then display links to similar sites (with the same or almost the same picture)..  Kind of fun for a few clicks or three.

http://www.polarrose.com

A somewhat similar service but seem more like a community you join (I have not read the full description), tnx to Jesper T. for the latter.

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