I'm like you Leroi, I wouldn't have Real or Quicktime anywhere near my pc, but realized I was missing out on a lot of decent web content I was interested in. So as a way around, I installed, and have been running both the alternatives. I haven't bumped into anything yet that either can't handle with their respective file extensions. So yes, you need the "adapted" Real/Quicktime versions. Well, they are both designed to specifically handle there respective files extensions within MPC, and I did see it recommended somewhere, plus it seemed the easy option :p At the end of the day, I figured the two together were about the same size as either one of the "official" versions, so didn't mind installing and using both. Media Player Classic comes with audio and video codecs, but you can load codec packages onto your machine and MPC uses them. It's a really sweet little thing, the more you look, the more ingenious it strikes you, well worth a visit to the homepage at sourceforge and having a nose around in the forum etc too.

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Thanks for the info, Viking Am I understanding correctly that Media Player Classic is included in both the Real Time alternative player and the Quicktime alternative player downloads? Do I just install one and then the other and start using them (after a reboot), or do I need to install the Media Player classic first? Sorry to be so dense, born that way. I need to find out if they will automatically detect Mozilla (or vice versa) or if I'm going to have to do some congiguring. Thanks in advance for more advice.

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Yep, MPC is the player used in both Real Alternative and Quicktime Alternative. No you don't need to install MPC (on it's own) first. And all I did was install the players, start surfing, hit the NASA site or BBC etc, and click on a Real file and up pops the "opening blah blah .ram" dialogue box in Firebird. I put the dot in the "open with" radio button and there should be, by default, the words RealPlayer (default) and in the drop down, mplayerc.exe. Click Ok and your good to go ...up jumps MPC reading Real files. Same for Quicktime. You could use just MPC in either one of the alternative packages to view normal movies or sounds too. But as it's a learning curve for me as well, I decided to use the 3 of them to get a handle on what each is capable of and how much they differ. There are some really good threads on another forum that I'll try and dig out and post. It's a very varied and versatile little device by all accounts ....When I have time I keep dipping into the Sourceforge homepage and trying to get to grips with it all. Most of it seems pretty straight forward. Does what it say's on the tin. In the mean time, give it a whirl, let me know what you think. If you've been starved of the means of playing Real or Quicktime files on Mozilla or Firebird, check out the content on something like CBC - Quirks & Quarks and Training Tutorials - Quicktime demos. If you have both installed, you should have no trouble seeing and hearing.

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Viking and all, I was able to install Real Player alternative without incident but Quick Time alternative did not install properly. The installer did not seem to find control.exe in the location it was looking. I uninstalled the partially installed QTA, so no harm done (I hope!). Not sure what exactly went wrong, but something did. Maybe some of my tweaks? RPA seems to work fine. I'll test it some more and let y'all know.

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I had exactly the same trouble with Quicktime and ignored it and it works just fine for everything I've thrown at it. I'm looking for a fix on that error though. But the amount of infrequent times I actually use or view Quicktime content, I can live with it providing I know it works. Glad you've confirmed the same thing Leroi, thought it was just me and mine. I know what you mean though. It's nice when things work without a hitch and play clean :)

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I just experimented with QuickTime Alternative 1.30 RC7. It's bigger with more plugins. I have no doubt that I will never use any of it, but the plugin that was causing the error on installation was a plugin.class file in the Mozilla Plugins directory. I was curious as to whether the updated release would cure this error on installation. First time round, I ran through the dialogue option boxes and the very final one before you exit, it asks if you want to configure Quicktime options ...so I ticked the box and the same error occurred. I then uninstalled 1.30 RC7 and left the Mozilla plugins where they were. I reinstalled and when the time came for installing to the plugin folder I was obviously asked whether I wanted to replace each file, so I clicked yes for each one individually and overwrote them all. The final exit dialogue box I left the Quicktime configuration check box blank and exited cleanly. Job done. Clean install. Bit messy and I'll probably uninstall because of it's increased size but you might wanna give it a try. If any noobs are trying this out, usual rules apply with freeware, scan for yourself.

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Thanks for all your help, Viking I tried to play some of the files at the demo site you linked to above after I "installed" QuickTime Alternative, but I got the message that I needed a plugin (QT). That's why I went ahead and uninstalled it; if it had worked I would have kept it even though I got that "control.exe" error message. I wonder if I installed the codecs (how?) that are available (k-lite?) if Real Player Alternative would play .mov and other Quicktime formats without installing Quick Time Alternative (since they both use MPC). Thanks again.

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Leroi, if you'd have clicked Ok when you were asked for the plugin (QT) it would have continued to play ...or mine did anyway. And any subsequent times I tried those demos I wasn't asked again. And when I installed QuickTime Alternative 1.30 RC7. with ALL codecs & plugins I didn't get any trouble from anything including content embedded in web pages. As far as I see it, you specifically need all the Quicktime codecs and plugins to play .mov, .qt, and all the other little tricks that official Quicktime provides. Obviously these are specifically catered for in both QuickTime Alternative 1.22 and QuickTime Alternative 1.30 RC7. However, try opening mplayerc.exe and going to View >> Options >> Formats and selecting Quicktime - .mov .qt >> Set >> Apply >> Ok. And put the dot in the QT radio button. See what that gives you. I can't do it as I still have 1.30 RC7 installed so it just comes up playing with that. In my opinion you really don't need to install all the codecs in the K-Lite codec pack. As, within either of the 3 players - the two dedicated ones (Real & Quicktime) and MPC itself you have everything you need. It's just figuring the options out in places like "Formats".

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Viking, I must have done something wrong if the 1.22 version works for you (and you received the same error message I did), but I thought I tried everything at the demo site you posted above...but maybe not? Are you supposed to uncheck Media Player Classic (in the list of components to install) during the process of installing v1.22? I did not. Now another couple of questions; I downloaded the 1.30RC7 version, but haven't installed it yet. Does it also insist on creating a qttask.exe startup entry during the process of installation (like 1.22)? I have read that the genuine QuickTime player replaces this startup entry even if unchecked and deleted from the registry every time it is used; another reason for not installing it, imo. Does the 1.30 RC7 version also use the MPC interface to play .mov and other QT formats? Sorry for so many questions, but as you see I have learned to be cautious and try to find out as much as possible about programs before installing them. As always,I appreciate your help very much.

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Oops, one more question; do you get the "control.exe" error upon installation of v1.30RC7 (like v1.22)? Thx!

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Leroi, I understand your being guarded and it's not a problem. If you want, I'll put QT Alt REALLY through it's paces properly and see what turns up and report back. I'm not sure why you're having problems but I'll try to answer some of your Q's. Like I said before, I only occasionally view QT content, BUT it's darn useful for the times I need to ! "Are you supposed to uncheck Media Player Classic (in the list of components to install) during the process of installing v1.22?" No....keep it. "Does it also insist on creating a qttask.exe startup entry during the process of installation (like 1.22)?" Yes. "I have read that the genuine QuickTime player replaces this startup entry even if unchecked and deleted from the registry every time it is used; another reason for not installing it, imo." As far as I've seen, it creates the entry once. I unchecked it immediately and ran numerous .mov and .qt files and it has remained unchecked. However, I will uninstall, delete the entry in msconfig via the registry (if needed) and see if it comes back. ...I say, it won't. And as far as I'm aware this is not an official QT player it's a legitimate "hack". So I "assume" that the entire package is absolutely less invasive than the official QT product. And having checked the reg entries and mentally compared the two, I would say that's correct. However it's a VERY long time ago since I had any dealings with the official QT nightmare. I also noticed that the uninstaller on both were pretty thorough (good sign). I will comb the registry when I have time and see just how invasive this "hack" is. I'm betting it's clean as though. "Does the 1.30 RC7 version also use the MPC interface to play .mov and other QT formats?" Yes (as far as I'm aware) Just looks nothing like the Real/MPC interface, and if you think about it, why should it ? It's sposed to be a QT look-a-like, act-a-like. However, that's why I said .... "Try opening mplayerc.exe and going to View >> Options >> Formats and selecting Quicktime - .mov .qt >> Set >> Apply >> Ok. And put the dot in the QT radio button. See what it does." "Do you get the "control.exe" error upon installation of v1.30RC7 (like v1.22)?" I said....yes/no :) "I was curious as to whether the updated release would cure this error on installation. First time round, I ran through the dialogue option boxes and the very final one before you exit, it asks if you want to configure Quicktime options ...so I ticked the box and the same error occurred. I then uninstalled 1.30 RC7 and left the Mozilla plugins where they were. I reinstalled and when the time came for installing to the plugin folder I was obviously asked whether I wanted to replace each file, so I clicked yes for each one individually and overwrote them all. The final exit dialogue box I left the Quicktime configuration check box blank and exited cleanly. Job done. Clean install. Bit messy"

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Viking, Don't go to all that trouble for me, please. I'm still debating this with myself and will probably try 1.30RC7 in a day or two. Are you saying that if I don't attempt to configure immediately after install then I won't get the "control.exe" error and that I can configure later (after a reboot) for connection speed (56K) and file associations? I am going to make it default only for QT files (mov. etc). Thanks for being so patient and helpful.

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No trouble, it's freeware and beta at that, so it's in my own interest to monitor what it does. But as it stands at the moment, it works just fine for me. Control.exe is broken :), I thought it was fine as the error message went away on reinstall. However, it most definitely does not work - maybe the bug will be fixed in following versions. Havin said that, by default it seems to be configured just fine, and kicks in exactly when I want it to. No worries. BTW, QTTASK.exe is easily got rid of via the registry and doesn't come back. ...until you reinstall QT Alt again that is ....just uncheck it in msconfig. Let me know how you get on Leroi, if you install it.

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Leroi, On balance and having messed around for a couple of hours, DO NOT install QT A 1.30 RC7. Either stick with 1.22 or I'm in the middle of looking into the ACE codec pack working with MPC. 1.30 RC7 is extremely buggy when you dig deep and the associations are nowhere near as well handled as they are in QT A 1.22. When they get it right, IF, they get it right, it would be a fine "alternative" but not yet. Either stick with QT A 1.22 or hold on till I've found the right codec combination to work with MPC. Here's hoping you ain't already installed it :) No worries if you have, they got the uninstaller spot on which is usually a good sign for the way it's headed.

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Thanks Viking, I will hold off on v1.30; appreciate your great help. I haven't reinstalled v1.22 either, thanks for searching for the right codecs. Leroi

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