Video player problems

You know I sure would like to not have to deal with so much due to codecs and the likes., After 10 years at least I know my way around and can explore my folders and know something. Now that I am getting into audio production I am a newbie all over again . The thumbnails are fixed , the problems I am still having has to do with how Video players are installing . Real player left behind all kinds of stuff after I uninstalled it. I ran my Registry mechanic and Hkey _classes_Root\applications\realplay.exe\shell\open\command
Hkey _classes_Root\dbc..mpeg.1\default.icon
Hkey _classes_Root\dbc..mpeg.1\shell\command
I get a couple more with my midi mentioned and one of them has a shell/command as well. and they are listed as missing or invalid.

When ever I left click on the command list for opening files that are either music or video I get "shell" listed at the top of the list as a command. It makes it so I cant simply click on the file and play it. This stuff makes me nervous as my system crashed over audio related issues and my synthesizer being hooked up or not.

Sorry but after my neighbor (let's keep this to current events?) brought up his "Real" player issues I can't say I'd go near their apps.

As to the crash that sounds typical of some synth driver problems. I can't fix that but have heard of such.
Bob

That is actually what VLC does. It brings with it all of its own codecs, so you don't need to manage those separately like Windows Media Player. Windows Explorer, as Bob pointed out, won't be able to use those for rendering thumbnails, but if you can live without that, VLC will greatly simplify things. MediaPlayer Classic Home Cinema (MPC-HC) is another great option. Like VLC it comes with its own set of codecs for most formats, but kind of splits the difference by letting you use separate codecs if you want.

Personally I prefer MPC-HC, but then I have a dedicated HTPC for most of my "serious" video watching needs, and MPC-HC is just for little things.

I found an older version of VLC that is compatible with Windows Media player and thumbnails. I wouldn't need thumbnails if I wasn't working with video and music. So many labels it is easier to have a thumbnail to recognize. The big question for me is how do I remove the shell command from the top of my menu for for music and video files ? That thing really needs to go. Thanks for the help!

Here's a tool for that -> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/context_folders.htm

Ok I got this tool working , now I need to figure out how to use it. I wish this board had an file attachment function so I could post a pic of my screen. I am kinda perplexed as to which of them will remove it.

Example http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w146/rproffitt2000/changedisplay_zps07086d29.jpg

But context menu editing is a personal choice. That is, I would never tell anyone what to add or delete.
Bob

Well I disabled the three modified items in the list with a date near when this thing appeared. Meaning I fooled around with the ShellExVeiw settings.


shell is still listed and when I try to find out anything like here http://www.askvg.com/how-to-add-remove-entries-in-context-menus/ I feel like I am in a loop seeing this is about a listing context menu item that says "shell" . In other words if I am looking at the menu for opening an audio or video and I I see "shell" at the top , then "Play" , then " Play with VLC " and on down the line. Its gotta be in there somewhere . "shell" is not listed on the context menu for photo images.

The context editors are just front ends to edit a certain area of the registry.

Your posts are fine but highlight that MSFT kinda dropped the ball here. I'm unsure if folk want to learn all about this area or look at the registry in depth. I know I can't offer a direct answer as some folk get really upset if they edit the registry and it creates another issue. That's why I have to offer the safest possible advice and can't tell anyone what to remove.
Bob

Hey man , I didnt even go online till 02 . I started out playing with the 8600 mainframe at UCB in 79 for a psychics project but went into another direction . I can see how really diving into an OS for 8 hours a day for awhile could have been very useful but I wasn't in the mindset. Learning the terms like Context Menu to even know how to start a Search Engine inquiry is a big deal. Of course once I get enough of it to have an aha moment its great. I really can sympathize with folks who have a lot of trouble adapting to all the instructions that go along with new tech tools. Key words and phrases as far as I can tell aren't always presented well., Photobucketing will take ten pics. Yikes .

If you export the key that holds the context menu items (yikes!) then that's just a text file that you can paste here for a look see.

Said plank is over the usual deep water with sharks.
Bob

Core memory and paper tape!

I will take a couple screen images on my next break and photobucket them.