Software Questions and Answers

[cavaloso]

I need a video and music files solution. It can be one single software or a software and ONE multi-codec patch or something along those lines. I don't want to have to download special programs everytime a somewhat weird file or encryption happens to find me. I don't like to install many packages because I lose track of them and I'm sure they screw things up a little.

Windows Media Player always *tries* to download needed codec, but that has never worked for me. Plus, WMP is heavy and generally a crappy player. If there's a nice player out there with a *working* auto-download feature, that would do.

I need support for at least most of the proprietary formats and the widest range possible of weird stuff, including cell phone video format, those crazy avi with special sound encryption and so on and so forth. Flash support would also be swell.

I would prefer a free player, but if there is a paid option I might consider it too. I'll appreciate any suggestion on this matter, really.

[lechef]

I use VLC to open most video files (avi, mpg etc), I don't think it works with real media though. But its small, free, etc :

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

[cavaloso]

Thanks for the tip, lechef.

[D.othek]

this is a bit tricky so bear with me. ive built an awesome computer for 3d modeling. the problem is that i have windows professional 32 bits. i also have 1 hard-drive 500 gb. i want to install a 64 bit OS using dual booting.

The problem is that ive never done this b4 so i have some questions:

1- xp 64 or windows 7 64?

2-will the software i am using under my current OS work automatically with the new OS or do i have to install a 64 bit version of the same software therefore having 2 copies of the same software on the computer?

3-will the software installed under 1 OS be able to see and use

software installed under the other OS?

i cant think of other questions right now so feel free to ad anything that might help me.

i have a geforce graphics card. can i install drivers under 1 OS and different drivers under the other OS for the same graphics card? im planning to softmod the card

[Zaranthos]

Windows 7 64bit would be a better choice.

Your software should run fine as long as it doesn't have problems with Windows 7. Keep in mind that 32bit software will suffer the 4GB memory limitations. That shouldn't be much of a problem though.

Windows software generally has to be installed separately in each OS. You're far better off making separate partitions for each OS install also.

In general all your drivers and software are installed separately in each OS.