Can't play DivX/avi files from USB stick

fjon · 06-03-2008 2:23pm #1

I've transferred a few avi DivX files from my PC to a USB memory stick. When I try to play them from the memory stick however I get "Windows Media Player cannot play this file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file". VLC doesn't play it either, yet when I play the original file it plays fine.
Any ideas on what's happening when I copy it to the memory stick?

Anti · 06-03-2008 3:10pm

Tis a weird one alright, I have a few memory keys from 2-4gb and they can play divx/xvid/avi etc etc with no hassle at all. What are the read/write speeds of your key ?

fjon · 06-03-2008 3:26pm

How can I see the read/ write speeds?
It's an 8gb stick - this is the first time I've used something that big. 1/2 gb ones work fine. Maybe that's the issue?

Anti · 06-03-2008 4:06pm

Check online for the speeds the makers website should list them. If not use a program called HDtune it can checkyoru hard drives as well as memory keys, but if it works on some files and not others something weird is going on.

fjon · 06-03-2008 4:28pm

Thanks,
I ran HDtune, and it's about 19.2 mb/s

Anti · 06-03-2008 4:57pm

Well its not a speed issue then. How big is the file you are trying to play ?

fjon · 06-03-2008 6:05pm

ABout 700mb. I tried the same file on a 2gb stick and it worked. I guess it's an issue with the 8gb memory stick perhaps. Thing is all other files work fine, just not these ones.

Anti · 07-03-2008 12:10am

Very strange. Maybe contact the maker of the memory mey to see if they know of the issue.

dr.bollocko · 07-03-2008 12:13am

Do you have the 8meg mem stick plugged into a low powered USB port or summat? Did you try the 2gb mem stick in the same port or in a different port?

fjon · 07-03-2008 3:36pm

I'm pretty sure I plugged the two sticks into the same USB port, but I will try it again just to make sure.
I'm not sure who the manufacturer is. I was presuming it would tell me if I right-clicked and went to properties, but it just says "generic usb key". I don't suppose there's any other way of finding this out?

Anti · 07-03-2008 6:20pm

Short of opening it up no, but the most you would find there is the maker of the memory inside it.

Snowbat · 08-03-2008 3:54pm

If you have a Linux install (or a Live CD you can boot to), the lsusb command will get you the device IDs of all connected USB devices and the manufacturer and model (where known). Googling the device ID usually provides additional information.

red_fox · 08-03-2008 4:41pm

Have you copied the file back off the memory stick and tried playing that? I had a memory key that would corrupt any file put on it so maybe it's just faulty?

conzy · 08-03-2008 6:09pm

Call Ghostbusters tbh.....

Is the problem just with xvid files? try a a different format of video or even some audio etc...

fjon · 10-03-2008 4:26pm

Ok, it seems to corrupt .mp3 and .mov files too, so I'm guessing it's faulty

Thanks for the help guys

Can't play DivX/avi files from USB stick

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