VDOW Codec was played by VDOLive

Hi,

I have some old low-quality family .avi files from the 90's back when running Windows 3.1. I cannot play them but pulled GSpot and it is says they are...

Codec: VDOW
Name: VDOLive

I have tried VLC Media player, K-Lite, and FFDSHOW and no dice. Any suggestions on how to get these files converted to where I can play them?

That codec/player is no longer avalaible for download and even its website does not exist anymore. Nothing else supports it.

ahh bummer. . Maybe k-lite will develop/pick up a codec that will function with VDOW files, but there may be an ownership issue prohibiting that. Is there a conversion tool for VDOW files to mp4 or any kind of beasty conversion tool that may work with VDOW files?

As I already told you there are no converters. You need the original codec.

I found a copy of it here:
https://github.com/jjbunbury/mplayer-codecs/blob/master/vdowave.drv?raw=true

Assuming you have a 64-bit version of Windows:
Put it in c:\windows\syswow64

Then open the Windows Registry Editor: regedit.exe
Then go to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32
And add entry VIDC.VDOW with value vdowave.drv

Then use 32-bit version of VirtualDub to open the video. Then you can encode to different format.
http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/

Since this codec is ancient, it might not work on modern Windows. I can't help you with that.

Thank you Admin for your post! I installed the new vdowave.drv as detailed and updated the registry with the new entry in the proper place. Downloaded the 32 bit version of virtualdub. Tried to open a couple of the .avi VDOW codec low quality video files from 1999 and 2000 and am consistently receiving the following error:

Couldn't locate decompressor for format "VDOW" (unknown)
VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible
codec to decompress video. DirectShow codecs, such as those
used by Windows Media Player, are not suitable.

I made a typo in my previous message. Correct folder is c:\windows\syswow64

Here are more files you can try:
https://github.com/jjbunbury/mplayer-codecs/blob/master/vdo32_30.drv
https://github.com/jjbunbury/mplayer-codecs/blob/master/decvdo.dll
https://github.com/jjbunbury/mplayer-codecs/blob/master/VDODEC32.dll

I corrected the directory where the .dll and .drv files which is now c:\windows\syswow64.  Put the 4 files there (vdowave.drv, vdo32_30.drv, decvdo.dll, VDODEC32.dll).  Also corrected the registry key location to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32
and inserted a String Value in that key with Name: VDIC.VDOW and Data: vdowave.drv
Rebooted and then tried VirtualDub.exe opened a couple of the .avi files and received the same following error for each:
Cannot load VDOWave decoder module
And two small black screens showed up in the VirtualDub display.  Neither will play.

If you can upload one of the files then maybe I can get it working.

Yes, will upload one of them. Trying to figure out how to do that....

Here is the link to the file: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vMSZ8gxcNWQSdITV4aDijphj0L4XQnBw?usp=sharing

You also need this file:
https://github.com/jjbunbury/mplayer-codecs/blob/master/DECVW_32.DLL
So vdowave.drv + VDODEC32.dll + DECVW_32.DLL. The two others are not needed.

I can't make the audio work.

Video only shows a few frames and then hangs. I don't know if it contains more given its tiny size.

This is all the help I can give.

Thank you for giving it a try!  I tried with the other .avi files and there are 2 pictures showing. Again, thanks for your help! It is amazing how well the home video technology has improved since 1999.