Vista - Help...This Missing CODEC thing is making me crazy

One of my programs tells me that I am missing a MP3 Codec or the one I have
is inappropiate. I contacted the Phone tools people, they said I need to
download CODEC. I dont know a trusted wite to do this from and don't know
how to install.

Before Vista and the new Office, I could whip around and actually did IT
work for a small clinic. Now, I feel like I did when I first started
computers 15 years ago!
--
Any Help would be SOO appreciated!

vista, as well as xp and a bunch of older windows, already have included a
mp3 codec, as well as mpg & mpg2 (vista here)

if the program is telling you that there is not an available mp3 codec on
the system, either it is wrong (and subject of some incompatibility making
it believe so), or a codec pack you installed may be interfering with the
default codec

just try a little test:
- in wmp 11, open the submenu of the button "rip" and choose mp3 as the
format for ripping, leave the bitrate as is since it is just a test
- insert a music cd and rip a couple of songs
- try to play the songs after

im not sure in wmp11 encodes with the default system mp3 codec, but im
pretty sure it uses the default for decoding, so if you cant listen the mp3
songs (even if the ripping does work fine) you may have a problem with the
codecs installed on your system (and so, try uninstalling any codec pack
previously installed)
finally, if it plays fine, then the problem would be on the program itself,
either it does not work with the default mp3 codec (meaning it requires a
special codec) or the program is not able to work fully properly in vista

Not sure if you ever figured this one out but I have the fix..... hopefully it'll help somebody else too. This problem was driving me nuts!!
On Vista-
Go to Computer
C:
Windows
System32
Look for a file called l3codecp.acm (you'll probably find l3codeca.acm which is why you're having the error)
If you find l3codeca.acm continue on........
Close out of that
Go to start
Run
Type regedit
Click the arrow next to Hkey_Local_machine
Then click the arrow next to Software
Arrow next to Microsoft
Arrow next to Windows NT
Arrow next to Current Version
Then highlight or click once on the name Drivers32
On the list to the right it will say msacm.l3acm then to the right of that under "Data" it should read C:\Windows\System32\l3codecp.acm(will probably say l3codeca.acm)
If it reads l3codeca.acm you need to right click on msacm.l3acm and click MODIFY

Once in there, leave the data that's already there, just find the spot where it says
l3codeca.acm and replace it with l3codecp.acm- (you're only changing one letter the A after codec to a P) click ok restart your computer and it WILL work!! It sounds complicated but if you follow everything I say, it will work like a charm and you won't have the problem again. If you know of anyone else having the same problem direct them to this and have them run through it.



EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
http://www.eggheadcafe.com

"brady lee" wrote in message news:2007101011625bradylee2007@xxxxxxHey,

Thanks for posting the fix. It's always very helpful when people do that.
However for us that haven't been following this, what specific problem does
this refer to.

cheers

Rob

--
Red meat isn't bad for you....Blue, Green fuzzy meat is bad for you.

"Bellamar" wrote: