I have a set of 8 avi files, 3 of which have a problem. The only way I can play them is with VLC Player which says "AVI File is broken" but offers to repair it. This it does and then proceeds to play it perfectly well. However, the repair is not permanent. I tried using DivX Repair but that said the file names are invalid. Interestingly, normal windows operations won't work on the files either...can't delete, copy or move them and the only options available on a right click are related to Media Player or Send to.
Try this, see if it works.I don't have a broken index avi to test. Settings Preferences Demuxers AVI Force index creation Ask/Always fix/never fix Might be good to try it on a copy of the avi first.
Hi. The repair is still only temporary. If I try to play the same file again after VLC has "fixed" it, VLC has to "fix" it again before it can play it. I need a permanent repair so I can convert them and burn to dvd.
Try VirtualDub. Look for 'stable' download (third one listed). http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/ Run VDub Drag or open the broken DivX. Select Video->Scan Video stream for errors. Select Video->DirectStreamCopy Select Audio->DirectStreamCopy Then save the new DivX, File->Save as avi.
If I try to open one of the files with Virtualdub I get the error message "The above file name is invalid" Dragging doesn't work because normal windows operations don't seem to work on them. This is very weird, especially seeing that VLC can actually fix them, albeit temporarily. I wonder what VLC uses that enables it to do that? Also strange that the other 5 files in the set are fine.
Probably they are incomplete and VLC is re-indexing them. Also possible that windows explorer has them locked and the message about the filename is misleading. You might want to check and kill any open handles on them and at least try renaming or rename in a command prompt before you open them in explorer.
Actually Celtic, your comments started me thinking and I realised that it must be a Windows problem rather the actual files. Although I could not use windows commands such as move or copy on the actual files I did manage to move the entire folder to C: root. Low and behold, that seems to have cured the problem as they now play ok!!! I would love to hear an explanation though.
