Are you having trouble opening .WMV files? We collect information about file formats and we can tell you what WMV files are needed for. Additionally, we recommend programs that are most suitable for opening or converting such files.

What is the .WMV file format used for?

File with extension .wmv is a video compressed using one of Microsoft's proprietary codecs. WMV allows you to store and transfer movies and video clips without sacrificing quality. The WMV format has a fairly long history: the first codec was released in 1999.

Most files .wmv are placed in the .asf container. The file created in this way can receive the extension .wmv or .asf . The ASF container allows you to optionally implement a Digital Rights Management system to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution.



Except Windows platforms, WMV files are supported by a number of devices - for example, they can be played on the Xbox game console or on mobile phones using the Windows Mobile operating system.

Because the WMV format is associated with Microsoft codecs, Mac apps OS or Linux may have difficulty playing them. For example, users Apple iPhone cannot view WMV videos on their devices. In this case, you can use a video converter to access the contents of the WMV file.

Programs for opening or converting WMV files

You can open WMV files with the following programs: 

The WMV video format is one of the most popular among users of operating systems from the Windows family. This extension appeared thanks to developers from Microsoft.

Two Windows codecs are used to pack and compress files. Media files can contain exclusively video, audio or be mixed. The WMV extension is used to store sound files and play them. Video files with the WMV extension are not uncommon on the World Wide Web.

Why choose files with the WMV extension?

They are chosen for their comparative high quality video and audio and at the same time small size. Thus, such a file will take up minimal space on your hard drive.

Note that playing files with the WMV extension does not require significant hardware capacity. The WMV format compares favorably with various additions and improvements. Files with this extension are protected from unauthorized copying. To play WMV video format, the software must have special codecs.

If you want to know which programs are used to play media content in such an extension, then see our selection on this site.

- Extension (format) is the characters at the end of the file after the last dot.
- The computer determines the file type by its extension.
- By Windows default does not show file name extensions.
- Some characters cannot be used in the file name and extension.
- Not all formats are related to the same program.
- Below are all the programs with which you can open the WMV file.

PotPlayer is a free player with many features. Its distinctive feature is very high quality playback and support for almost all modern audio and video file formats. This program can solve most problems that the user needs. For example, the PotPlayer player is able to work with all subtitles and other tracks that can be linked to a file. You can, for example, synchronize external subtitles with a file if their creator has not done so before. In addition, the program allows you to take screenshots, which is very useful if you want to cut out any frame from...

VLC Media Player is a universal, powerful media player for all occasions. You don’t have to search for and install all sorts of codecs and plug-ins, since the program installs them automatically and therefore can play almost all known file formats: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, XviD, H.264, mp3, ogg, flac (lossless), regular DVDs, VCDs, etc. The program can also be used as a server for broadcasting a stream via IPv4 or IPv6 protocols, and you can select media files, disks, URLs or a device to capture as the source. In addition, VLC Media Player can record or play streaming...

MediaInfo is a program with which you can find out everything technical information from media files. Easily recognizes the title, author, director, date, etc. For video files, you can find out codecs, aspect ratios, FPS, bit rate, etc. Supports many popular formats and codecs for both audio and video files. MediaInfo also recognizes the details of the subtitles, and indicates what language they are in. In addition to analysis, it is also possible to export the obtained data into different formats, both plain text and HTML. Ability to work in a graphical interface or with command line. For simplicity, there is a Drag&Drop function. Program...

This player is one of the most convenient players capable of playing a huge number of different formats of video and audio files without installing other programs. The player is built on the basis of Media Player Classic and is more suitable for home use version of the program. This player differs from other similar programs due to its functionality. Among them, full support for all DVD discs. The player also has the ability to select the language to use, it offers 14 options, can work with two monitors and supports playing subtitles, which not all programs of this type can do.

SplitCam is excellent and completely free program for working with a webcam. Has many useful functions, both for work and for fun. It supports all programs that use a webcam, such as Skype, Yahoo Messenger, etc. It will perfectly entertain the user and interlocutor with the help of superimposed effects and 3D masks. Allows you to duplicate the camera's operation on several programs at the same time. It can record video directly through the webcam and immediately post it on YouTube in a few clicks. Supports Stream in HD quality, and can also play video from a camera, video files on a computer, slideshow or desktop...

AudioShell is a small extension created for editing tags. Capable of renaming files thanks to integration into context menu Windows Explorer. Allows you to change the metadata and name of a number of media files in an instant. AudioShell offers support for audio types: M4A, OGG, MP3, APE, WMA, FLAC, as well as a number of video data (for example, MP4, WMV, ASF, 3GP). This extension may be useful for those users who spend countless hours organizing ID3 information for audio tracks. The program adds an editor and allows you to view tags in the “Properties” of media files. Provides detailed information about tags, mu...

Ocenaudio is a convenient cross-platform application that allows you to edit audio tracks. The program allows you to quickly and efficiently analyze any music files. It has many functions that will help transform any audio track. The program can work with OGG, CAF, MP4, MP3, WAV, RAW formats. An important factor in working with an audio editor is ease of use and an accessible interface. While loading required file the user will see a spectrogram, which will provide more information about the file. After downloading and the spectrogram appears, you can begin editing the file.

IrfanView is a free graphic file viewer, distinctive features which is small in size and functionality. IrfanView supports a large number of formats, has a clear interface and the necessary set of functions. So, with its help you can not only view images, but also rotate them at any angle, do minor color corrections, remove red-eye from photos, etc. Also, using IrfanView, you can take screenshots (both of the entire screen and individual areas), tear out icons and icons from various files, rename files according to a predefined template, and...

Winamp is one of the most popular players, featuring a clear interface and a large number of supported formats. First of all, this player is notable for the fact that its functionality can be significantly expanded if you install additional plugins or modules on it. Moreover, such plugins can add both new functions and expand the list of supported formats for the player, which in some cases can be very useful. In addition, the Winamp player has a convenient library where you can add all your files, which will subsequently allow you not to search for them on your hard drive, but to launch them directly from...

WavePad Audio Editor is a useful audio editor with many useful features. The utility allows you to record and edit audio tracks, voice and other audio recordings. When processing audio files, you can cut, copy or paste parts of a music track or voice recording. Allows you to add effects (echo, noise reduction, noise enhancement). WavePad Audio Editor is suitable for professional sound engineers. Using the utility, you can easily record your own track. Supports sampling rates from 6 to 96 kHz, also stereo and mono. In addition to the main features, the application is able to store records, move them to the selected...

Any Video Converter- an excellent program to easily convert video files. It easily allows you to transcode the most popular video formats to DVD, MP4, VCD or FLV. In this utility, it is possible to use ready-made profiles in the process of encoding video files, with preset parameters that are focused on specific devices, for example, a household DVD player, mobile phone. It is also possible to choose your own settings for conversion. Before you start encoding the video, you can view it in the built-in player...

Splash Lite is one of the newest and most powerful video players. Splash Lite allows you to view almost all video formats, which allows you to not install any other players to watch videos. Distinctive features are not only support for all formats, but also the ability to view high-definition television channels. The program supports several technologies, including support for multi-core processors, which can significantly offload the CPU and transfer most of the video processing to the video card. This, as a rule, allows you to significantly increase the productivity of...

Icecream Media Converter is a fairly user-friendly and extremely powerful media file converter. This useful tool allows you to instantly download video and audio files from popular video storage sites. Allows you to quickly convert to common formats: mp3, avi, mkv, wmv, vob, rmvb flv, mp4, cda, aac, aiff, swf, 3gp, flac. The program allows you to convert several files at once and put them in a queue. Informs the user about the progress of the process through a progress line. Indicates the estimated completion time for converting each file individually and overall. Has a history of all converted media files for...

FSS Audio Converter is a very convenient utility that allows you to instantly convert any audio tracks to various formats(MP3, WAV, MP4, M4A, FLAC, WMA, AAC, OGG, MP2, AMR) and extract them from videos. The interface presents a convenient window with a well-arranged structure. Files can be quickly dragged directly from the desktop or used file manager. The converter supports batch loading and processing of files, which will significantly reduce file conversion time. The program allows you to select the output format and destination directory. The user can select any given profile and edit sound settings.

MediaHuman Audio Converter is a useful program that converts music into various formats. The utility works with a huge range of audio formats. The converter has a minimalistic interface that will be understandable to any user. MediaHuman Audio Converter uses the latest versions of codecs. Thanks to the latest codecs, the sound quality of music files will always be at its best. The application supports a convenient Drag-and-drop mode, which allows you to quickly drag the desired audio file and start the conversion process. The program supports creating playlists and adding them to libraries. Allows you to convert...

Sublight is a unique utility that searches for subtitles on the Internet for all necessary media files. The program is suitable for those who want to quickly watch the selected film, but do not yet have dubbing in their native language. The application will be a real gift for deaf and mute fans of films and TV series. Performs automatic searches, manual modes, just specify the name of the desired series or movie, and the application will immediately scan the Network. Installation of the utility takes minutes; immediately after installation you can start searching. In addition to the title of the film, you can indicate the year of release and the name of the director. After searching, the application will display all...

SPlayer is a fairly popular media player that has a very simple but surprisingly beautiful interface. The program can automatically download subtitles for a film on the fly (it independently goes to the Internet to search for subtitles for a given film) and can read popular video formats and much more. While playing a video, you can easily change audio and video settings, add files to a playlist, move the control panel, enable various effects, etc. The program also allows you to play partially downloaded and damaged video files. If you were looking for a simple media player for your projector, then you...

ComboPlayer is a program with wide functionality that is used for playing movies, music, radio and even Internet TV. The main function of ComboPlayer is to watch TV channels on your computer. Free package includes two dozen channels, including Russia-1, First, Match TV, TNT and other federal channels. The program also provides access to TV schedules for most available channels. ComboPlayer has about 130 paid channels in HD quality. The program also works with torrent videos. If the torrent file of the movie you are interested in is available on the Internet, you can watch it through the program online.

SMPlayer is an excellent alternative to the standard player from Microsoft. It contains only the most necessary functions for playing video and audio, and also introduces interesting opportunity subtitle management. SMPlayer comes bundled with several popular codecs. This makes it possible to immediately start watching your favorite movie. The player has rich capabilities for managing subtitles. For example, you can change the font, color, cast shadows, etc. In addition, it allows you to use not only subtitles located in the container, but also connect external ones. Moreover, if they are not synchronized with...

KMPlayer is a versatile player that plays many formats with ease. Can read captions, record video files, sound files, pictures from any fragment being played. It has a large number of settings, which makes using the program convenient for each user, taking into account his needs and needs. The player also includes almost all major codecs that allow you to play various audio and video formats, which expands the capabilities of the program. In addition, it is possible to work with various filters, which makes it possible to control the parameters of the audio being played...

ViewFD is a file manager with many various functions. This program is distributed free of charge and is an excellent alternative paying clients. The main features of this program include not only the presence of a built-in player and image viewer, but also the ability to view text files any formats, as well as edit database tables. In addition, the program can control the autostart of various services. Process management is also supported, although it is better to use other software for these purposes. In addition, this one supports working with tabs.

CherryPlayer is a high-quality media center that works with many sites such as YouTube, VKontakte, Amazon, 4shared and others. Unites in itself YouTube player, as well as the YouTube rocker, which allows you to watch videos online, or download videos for free and quickly. Huge library of audio recordings, since the program works with social network VK, where there are millions of audio files that you can listen to, download or add to a playlist using CherryPlayer. There is also the option to purchase original materials from Amazon. The program supports all audio and video file formats, so there is no need to install any additional...

Pazera Video Converters Suite is a convenient package for converting multimedia files with a simple interface and a lot of features. Distinctive feature package is that it allows you to convert files for mobile devices, for example, for smartphones or tablet computers. The utilities included with the Pazera Video Converters Suite allow you to set all necessary settings conversion, including picture size, resolution, codec used and other parameters. Also, if necessary, you can cut the audio track from the video. The resulting sound file can be easily converted to the one you need...

WinX Video Converter is a program that is distinguished by its exceptional simplicity and clarity. It allows you to convert various types of files into a variety of video and audio formats. File conversion occurs with just three user clicks. The application is equipped with the function of extracting audio tracks from certain films and then recording them in mp3 format. In order to convert any segment of the film, you need to go to search bar according to the preview and enter data about the beginning and end of such a segment. It is also possible to change the settings of parameters relating to audio and video (change...

GOM Audio Player is a program for listening to any audio files. This player was created by the same company as Gom Media Player, which means that it inherited both speed and feature set from the latter. The program allows you to listen streaming audio, for example, your favorite radio station, has flexible functionality and a clear interface. Like GOM Media Player, GOM Audio Player has built-in codecs, which allows the player not to depend on installed converters and codecs on your computer. In addition, the program itself consumes very few resources, which means it will work even on very weak computers...

Kantaris Media Player is a free player with a user-friendly interface and extensive capabilities for playing various files. This player has almost the same interface as Windows Media Player from Microsoft, so you don't have to learn it and can start using the program right away. The main feature of the player is that it can play files without installing codecs on the system, which saves you from performing unnecessary operations. This player supports all popular formats, including audio CD. In addition, the program has all the standard features.

GOM Player is a universal multimedia player for Windows. A distinctive feature of this player is the ability to play most media files without the need for third-party codecs, thanks to built-in support for most popular codecs. In addition, there is a unique ability to play damaged or underloaded files. The player supports almost all modern audio and video formats, including video from mobile devices and digital cameras, as well as playing Internet content directly from the Internet. If the codec is not found, then GOM Player will offer to use a third-party one installed on the system, or...

MPlayer is one of the main players for video and audio content. This program is written for many operating systems and is cross-platform. In addition to its cross-platform nature, this program has another important advantage - open source. This player, in fact, does not have an interface as such. All control is done using a special remote control or using a keyboard. Typically, only the video stream is displayed on the screen. By the way, this player is sometimes supplemented graphical interface. KMPlayer, in fact, is one such solution.

Lightworks is a free, professional editor for creating various video files. Many famous films have been edited in this program and it is used even in professional studios. Just recently, Lightworks became free. Certainly, paid version The developers of the program left it, but in terms of its capabilities it is not much different from the free version. The program allows you to create transition effects, apply various effects, cut fragments from a video file, etc. However, it should be noted that until known professional editor The program still falls short. However, and amateurishly...

VSDC Video Editor is designed for editing video and audio files. It has two modes, one for beginners, the other for professional use. This is not a linear editor, unlike other analog programs. The advantage of the program is that it supports many formats, which will allow you to import videos of any format, combine them into a clip and export them in one, without loss of quality. It can also apply many effects to audio and video. The interface is as intuitive as possible, which will allow the user to work without any overlays. Just in case, the program has a very good and detailed manual that explains...

IWisoft Video Converter – convenient program to convert multimedia content from one format to another. This program will be especially useful if you have not only a computer or laptop, but also one of the portable devices, for example, a smartphone. As a rule, such devices have a much smaller list of supported formats than laptops or computers. In addition, conversion may be necessary in cases where you need to reduce the size of video or audio files. The iWisoft Free Video Converter program is perfect for these purposes. This application allows you to produce batch conversion audio and...

ToolWiz Player and Converter is a hybrid program that combines the functions of a simple media player and an audio-video converter. Supports many popular codecs for playback and is equipped with all the basic functions of audio and video players. Converts both music and video files to many formats. It is distinguished by its conversion speed, since it happens quite quickly, and by its easy-to-use interface. ToolWiz Player and Converter will allow users to watch videos on operating Windows systems and convert it for later viewing on popular devices such as PSP...

DVDVideoSoft Video Editor - indispensable program for maximum fast work with video files of different formats. Using the utility, you can edit video without losing quality. The user can easily trim a video file, remove unwanted moments, add various effects and work with several projects at once. In addition, DVDVideoSoft Video Editor can be used as a converter, converting the source video to another format. Using the available functions, the user can extract and add music to a video file, as well as split the video stream frame by frame for a more detailed re...

We very often have to produce various actions with audio, video files, etc. And often, in order to perform a certain operation such as converting, transforming and editing, you need to search on the Internet, download and install certain programs. This almost always takes a lot of time and effort and consumes a huge amount of traffic. And it is in such cases that Free Studio comes to the rescue, a collection of programs that perform all this action. The advantages of this package are that all 39 programs included in it are absolutely free, and will also help you get the desired result...

Software with capabilities free access, which is designed for playing various files presented in karaoke format. It supports working with a large number of such formats. These include mp3, wav, ogg, kfn, etc. The interface of this software It has standard device regular audio players. It is equipped with all necessary functionality: a window with which you can control the playback process, a special playlist with a list of music files, as well as a window in which you can perform sound settings. An important feature of the player is the availability...

Zoom Player is an excellent media player that can replace Windows Media Player. The program will allow the user to enjoy their favorite movie or music as much as possible, as it supports all popular and common audio and video formats. It has a lot of additional functions, for example, it has a Zoom function, which will not only enlarge the image, but also improve the quality of the picture. Can display trailers of other movies before or after the video. It differs in that it supports remote control devices with which you can control the player and the ability to stop and continue the movie next time from the same place where...

XviD4PSP is a convenient program for converting videos, its main feature is a large number of presets. The XviD4PSP program makes it easy and quick to get the file of the format you need. A large number of presets allows you to select parameters so that the picture looks great on a portable device. The program supports not only the Sony PSP portable console, but also other portable devices, such as smartphones. In addition, the program also has an advanced operating mode for experienced users. In the program dialogs you can easily set the settings you require, for example, the ones required for coding...

Wondershare Player is a very convenient video player that features high speed work and some features. This player supports almost all video formats, which eliminates the need for the average user to constantly install any players to play videos. Also, this player is distinguished by its operating speed. Compared to other popular players, it plays videos much faster. Another advantage of Wondershare Player is that it consumes very few system resources, which allows you to watch even HD quality movies without freezing or stuttering...

Metal Player is a player with an easy and user-friendly interface. Does not require a large amount of computer resources and supports any Windows version. Provides the user with both standard multimedia and some new features, making it optimal solution when selecting a player. The program plays most media file formats, has a built-in equalizer, playlist, the ability to search and sort songs, hot keys and a significant number of other functions that make working with it convenient. In addition, the built-in library allows you to collect your own database of online radio channels...

VSO Media Player is a multi-functional media player that has a practical and user-friendly design. The player is equipped with capabilities that allow it to play all common formats of certain music as well as video files. It supports working with various media and video cards. The functional line allows the user to download a package of files for the purpose of further playing them in turn. While working with the application, the user can adjust the volume levels. The main advantage of the program is that there is no need for additional installations...

JetAudio Basic is one of the most popular players with a user-friendly interface and many features. A distinctive feature of this program is that when encoding video or audio, it uses unique technologies that help fully convey the quality of the video or audio. Also, the program already contains several “enhancers” and sound effects, which may be useful for fans of surround sound when watching movies. jetAudio Basic has a built-in equalizer that allows you to customize playback to suit your preferences. Also, this player has a clear and simple interface...

MediaCoder is a video converter with extensive capabilities. For example, the program can convert a video to another format, or compress it to the quality and size you need. File compression can be useful when you need to play a finished video or movie on a weak computer. In addition, of course, there is also a function for converting from one format to another. Also, the program has a scheduler that allows you to turn off the computer after finishing the conversion or set batch processing files. But that's not all. The MediaCoder program allows you to pull out soundtrack from almost any movie or role...

TorrentPlayer is a convenient program for watching movies and listening to audio. Instead of downloading files to your computer, the program automatically starts playing them. Another plus is that you don’t need to search for movies or audio on the Internet and risk downloading a virus, just enter the program in the search required file multimedia and she will find it in her reliable and extensive library. Playback of the file begins immediately from the moment the user clicks on “Play”. At the same time, it reproduces any file formats, which means that there is no need to waste time installing additional codecs. While watching...

Format Factory- a very convenient program for converting multimedia of almost all formats. Surely you have had a situation when you needed to convert an image from one format to another. Yes, and the video with sound also had to be converted. There could be several reasons for this. This includes limited support for formats by your favorite phone, the need to reduce the file size, etc. Helps solve all these problems Format program Factory. It allows you to convert almost any multimedia files. The program works successfully with images, audio and video. All major formats are supported.

The Free Video Dub program is used for editing video files. Namely, for cutting out various contents from a video. The program has a very simple interface that almost any user can understand. The user simply needs to select the starting and ending points of the fragment to be deleted, and then click the “delete” button. The operation can be repeated an unlimited number of times with any fragments. Once the file you need has been created, you just need to save this file in the format you need. Distinctive feature Free programs Video Dub is that when saving a video, it does not...

MediaMonkey is a media center with more than 100 thousand audio files and movies. Allows you to search by genre and includes genres such as audiobooks, podcasts, movies, home videos, TV shows and much more. The program also synchronizes not only files from the Internet, but also from the PC, which will allow you to combine files from the PC and the Internet in one media center. Automatically adds missing information with an audio or video file, such as title, artist, album, etc. The program also supports the ability to convert audio and video files into any format, as well as burn data to disk. Supports many plugins, skin...

ProgDVB is a free program for listening to Internet radio, watching TV channels, both from the Internet and using satellite dish. The program supports most satellite TV standards and works with almost all types of satellite equipment. ProgDVB allows you not only to view a channel or listen to the radio, but also to record them so as not to miss a single movie or program that is important to you. Also, there is support for HD television, various television standards, subtitles, etc. The program supports teletext, which allows you to access some additional information that...

XBMC Media Center is a modern cross-platform media center with a high-quality graphical interface, clear and simple menu. It can be called a worthy competitor to Windows Media Center from Microsoft. The XBMC Media Center interface can also be displayed in Russian and has its own dynamically changing design. Also, the program can work both in normal windowed mode and in full screen, and in addition to this, it effectively uses its own screen savers stored in its memory. With the help of this media center, your home PC can easily be transformed into a full-fledged HTPC, capable of not only playing, but also storing...

Windows Player- a player that can play almost all video files without using codecs, since they are already present in the Windows Player installation package. This program works quite quickly and can run on almost any operating system of the Windows family. The player has a standard set of functions, such as an equalizer, adjusting video brightness and contrast, and the ability to create playlists. The latter is especially useful if all your files are scattered across different parts of the computer and you need them to be played in order regardless...

AVS Media Player is a full-fledged multimedia center that can be used to play almost all multimedia content. For example, the AVS Media Player program not only supports playback of most video formats, but can also work with images and audio files. It should be said that the list of supported formats is very large and includes all popular audio, video, as well as graphic formats. The player has a user-friendly interface and allows any user to start working with it without the need to study special manuals and additional materials. Software, which is a set of special multifunctional tools designed to work with a variety of graphic files. In addition, it supports certain audio and video files. Here users are given the opportunity to view digital photos, organize the processes of sorting and storing them within hard drive. It also supports working with RAW files. A convenient feature is the ability to use the program as a media player. It is possible to create various presentations and burn them to discs. There is a complete set of graphical tools for... Light Alloy is one of the most popular players for playing multimedia files. The main advantage of this program is that it has a large number of functions, but at the same time has very small system requirements. The player can work with various types codecs. You can, for example, connect codecs installed in the system to the player, or you can use other codecs included in the player. Also, if the user has his own set of codecs, then this can also be connected to the player. Besides, this program can work great with subtitles.

SUPER is a media center with many different capabilities, including a player, recorder and converter. The player boasts a large list of supported formats, as well as support for all standard features, which can be found in any player. The SUPER converter also has a large number of supported formats, which allows you to use it as a video converter for subsequent playback on portable devices, for example, on smartphones. The recorder allows you to record video and sound from your computer, which can be used, for example, when contacting technical...

ALLPlayer is a player with many different functions and features, the main one of which is the ability to play video and audio files without installing codecs on the system. The fact is that the player already contains several codecs, which allows you to play files. Also, the player allows you to open files directly from the archive without unpacking it, which is very convenient when downloading files from the Internet. Another feature of the program is the ability to automatically download subtitles for video files, as well as covers for albums or films. In addition, you can download and Additional information to albums and files, why use...

Miro is a kind of multimedia center that combines a rocking chair, an Internet TV viewer, and a player. The Miro program supports most popular video formats, which allows you to use it as a player. However, the main capabilities of the program do not end there. The Miro program integrates with popular services, such as YouTube, which allows you to view the video you need directly from the program. Moreover, if you set the automatic video download setting and subscribe to the channel you need, the program will automatically download new videos from this...

If you have installed on your computer antivirus program Can scan all files on your computer, as well as each file individually. You can scan any file by clicking right click mouse on the file and selecting the appropriate option to scan the file for viruses.

For example, in this figure it is highlighted file my-file.wmv, then you need to right-click on this file and select the option in the file menu "scan with AVG". When you select this option, it will open AVG Antivirus, which will perform the check this file for the presence of viruses.


Sometimes an error may occur as a result incorrect software installation, which may be due to a problem encountered during the installation process. This may interfere with your operating system link your WMV file to the correct application software, influencing the so-called "file extension associations".

Sometimes simple reinstalling CyberLink PowerDVD can solve your problem by properly linking WMV with CyberLink PowerDVD. In other cases, problems with file associations may result from bad software programming developer and you may need to contact the developer for further assistance.


Advice: Try updating CyberLink PowerDVD to latest version to make sure you have the latest patches and updates installed.


This may seem too obvious, but often The WMV file itself may be causing the problem. If you received the file via an attachment Email or downloaded it from a website and the download process was interrupted (for example, a power outage or other reason), the file may become damaged. If possible, try getting a new copy of the WMV file and try opening it again.


Carefully: A damaged file may cause collateral damage to a previous or existing malware on your PC, so it is very important to keep an updated antivirus running on your computer at all times.


If your WMV file related to the hardware on your computer to open the file you may need update device drivers associated with this equipment.

This problem usually associated with media file types, which depend on successfully opening the hardware inside the computer, e.g. sound card or video cards. For example, if you are trying to open an audio file but cannot open it, you may need to update sound card drivers.


Advice: If when you try to open a WMV file you receive .SYS file error message, the problem could probably be associated with corrupted or outdated device drivers that need to be updated. This process can be made easier by using driver update software such as DriverDoc.


If the steps do not solve the problem and you are still having problems opening WMV files, this may be due to lack of available system resources. Some versions of WMV files may require a significant amount of resources (e.g. memory/RAM, processing power) to properly open on your computer. This problem occurs quite often if you are using a fairly old computer. Hardware and at the same time a much newer operating system.

This problem can occur when the computer has difficulty completing a task because operating system(and other services running in background) can consume too many resources to open the WMV file. Try closing all applications on your PC before opening Windows Media Video File. Freeing up all available resources on your computer will provide the best conditions for attempting to open the WMV file.


If you completed all the steps described above and your WMV file still won't open, you may need to run equipment update. In most cases, even when using older versions of hardware, the processing power may still be more than sufficient for most custom applications(unless you're doing a lot of CPU intensive work like 3D rendering, financial/scientific modeling or multimedia intensive work). Thus, it is likely that your computer does not have enough memory(more commonly called "RAM", or RAM) to perform the file open task.

Further development of the format AVI. Developed by Microsoft at the very end of the 90s as part of an initiative Windows Media(creating a set of hardware and software aimed at improving multimedia capabilities modern Windows-compatible computers). The very name of this format is translated as Windows Media - Video.

Video files saved in this format have the extension wmv or asf. (There is a special type of format - WMA (Windows Media - Audio), intended for storing sound, such files have the wma extension.) Compared to AVI format WMV has various additional features, in particular, means of protection against unauthorized copying.

Currently, this format is rapidly gaining popularity. It is used to distribute full-size films and video clips.

History of Windows Media Video

Windows Media Video is the name of a whole set of video codec technologies developed by Microsoft. It's part of the structure Windows Media. Codecs Windows Media Video were originally designed for low bit rate streaming applications. However, in 2003, Microsoft prepared specifications for a video codec based on Windows Media Video version 9, and submitted it to SMPTE for standardization. The standard was officially approved in March 2006 as SMPTE 421M, thereby making Windows Media Video 9"not private." Early versions of the codec (7 and 8) are still considered proprietary because they do not fit into the SMPTE 421M standards.

Windows Media Video Format

WMV built not only on Microsoft’s internal technology. It is believed that WMV version 7 (WMV1) based on Microsoft's custom version MPEG-4 Part 2. However, since WMV 9 was standardized as an independent SMPTE standard (421M, also known as VC-1), it is correct to believe that WMV has branched off enough in a different direction from MPEG-4 to be considered a unique codec in its own rights. In April 2006, there were 16 companies holding the VC-1 patent. Microsoft is also a member of the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 patent pool.

The video stream is usually combined with the audio stream Windows Media Audio and consists of Advanced Systems Format files with the .asf or .wmv extensions.

Files WMV played by MPlayer or Windows Media Player, the latter is only available for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh systems. There are many third party players for various platforms such as Linux that use the FFmpeg implementation in codecs WMV.

Mostly, WMV compressed in ASF container files. For storage WMV AVI or Matroska containers are also used. The final files are named .avi if it is an AVI container file, .wmv or .asf if it is ASF, .mkv if it is MKV files. WMV can be stored in AVI files, if you are using VirtualDub encoder and codec WMV9 VCM. Microsoft Windows Media Player for Mac does not support all WMV encoded files except the ASF container file. More files can be viewed using Flip4Mac and QuickTime or MPlayer for MacOS X.

WMV can support DRM facilities if compressed in ASF files.

In addition to being the most popular codec for transmitting video over the Internet, WMV is also used to distribute high-quality video on standard DVDs in a format Microsoft calls WMV HD (Windows Media Video High Definition). This format can be played on computers or compatible DVD players.