Chemistry Set 2000 & Quicktime

[Wildebeaste]

I used to be able to see the Quicktime movies in Chemistry Set (using XP SP2, IE6 and 7). Now I get nothing but a 'Q' and a '?' if I'm lucky.

 

I've tried installing, removing, reinstalling Quicktime in it's many versions and moving back to IE6. Nothing seems to bring the little blighter back to life.

 

I can't seem to get the Quicktime ActiveX (plugin) to work anymore.

 

I think one of the 'upgrades' to Quicktime or XP has broken something.

 

I've tried various codec packs too. Nada.

 

I'm not too fussed, but the Chemistry folk here like to show the little movies.

 

Can anyone help?

 

Ta.

[mac_shinobi]

Un install QT through control panel

 

Delete the quicktime folder out of c:\program files

 

It will give you a warning saying that deleting the folder yada yada but ignore this.

 

Then use the windows installer cleanup util to remove quicktime if it is still in the list :

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

 

Then Get ccleaner ( http://www.ccleaner.com ) and use the registry cleaner section of ccleaner ( run it a few times to make sure its completely clean ) making sure to make a save of the reg file each time. Just in case.

 

Then get the quicktime standalone exe and install that.

 

Also what have you tried to do to get the quicktime active x plugin to work ?

 

Can you check eventviewer on a machine to see what errors you are getting relating to quicktime and post back with an event id and the error description. ( If any )

 

Am assuming the file associations for quicktime are ok ?

 

Does the chemistry set have a website with an faq or help section or maybe you can contact them failing the above ?

[m0use]

A quick word of warning, New Media's Chemistry Set 2000 does NOT work with QT version later than 6. if you have a later version installed you will see the Q+? icon. Other than rolling back to Qt6, not sure of any other fix.

 

Regards,

 

Chris

[trinomic]

We have stopped using Chemistry Set 2000 because of the Quicktime requirements. Can't seem to find any information on New Media. Does anyone know of a program similar to this that is currently available?

 

Thank you,

Paul.

[Arthur]

Other than rolling back to Qt6, not sure of any other fix.

Upgrade to Windows 7? This plays H.264/AAC MOVs without QuickTime installed.

[sionschool]

I've upgraded a bunch of PCs to W7 and CS2000 is now broken (videos don't play). Any advice appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

[bondbill2k2]

Revival of an old thread here, I'm having problems with the videos on Chemistry set 2000 on XP machines, the software is installed locally the CD is located on a mapped drive in the Cset.ini

I have changed file association to always use quicktime for .MOV and I'm running an old v4 of Quicktime due to compatibility problems on newer versions but when trying to view a video I just get a blank box with the little picture icon at the top left.

[mac_shinobi]

Upgrade to Windows 7? This plays H.264/AAC MOVs without QuickTime installed.

 

Just wondering if removal of current installation of quicktime and install quicktime alternative : Free-Codecs.com : QuickTime Alternative 3.2.2 : QuickTime Alternative will allow you to play QuickTime files (.mov, .qt and other extensions) without having to install the official QuickTime Player.

 

Would make any difference, also if you try and play a video file from the chemistry set in something like :

 

1. VLC

2. Windows Media Player Classic ( Home Cinema edition possibly as well )

 

Just to see if they work in any of these ?

[bondbill2k2]

If I locate the video files used and open them in quicktime they play fine, they also play in VLC. I have installed the K-lite codec pack too so .mov should be supported in other areas, windows media player will play the audio but no video.

[Arthur]

Is there an alternative you can use? Chemistry Set 2000 is ancient.

 

System Requirements

PC - Windows 95/98/2000 or NT4

Content is optimised in 16-bit colour at 640x480 pixels.

[mac_shinobi]

Is the chemistry set installer / software licensed ? Just thinking about setting up a virtual machine and messing about with things to see if I can get it to work

 

Easy option is to just get the video files sorted out / renamed etc and get them to use VLC or the likes to play them ?

Edited February 28, 2012 by mac_shinobi

[SYNACK]

When I had an ancient bit of software that used that Apple filth which I had to make work on 7 I ran Process Moniter (Procmon) on it and singled out a few old DLLs and reg keys that it was trying to hit then simply copied these over from an older machine. With those refinements the built in codecs of W7 were able to play the content without messing about with Quicktime.

 

If the videos themselves are accessable as files but its actually a full on compatibility issue with the newer version codecs have you thought of trying to batch re-encode them using a converter to a newer version of Quickcrime and dumping them back (same filenames) in their intended location. The App should still refference them with the filename but given the newer QT codec of the re-encoded files should actually be able to play them. Probably way to much hassle but with the right tools it could actually be an easyish and viable solution.

[bondbill2k2]

Is there an alternative you can use? Chemistry Set 2000 is ancient.

 

Im sure their is, does anyone here use anything similar? Its old but it seems fairly decent software when running correctly.

 

Some details on its purpose and pricing:

http://web.archive.org/web/20021126185857/http://www.new-media.co.uk/

Edited February 28, 2012 by bondbill2k2

[mac_shinobi]

Quickcrime

LOL @ your new name for Quick Time

 

Would handbrake be able to convert the older quicktime movies to something different that still plays and as mentioned by synack just name them the same. Presume if they are .mov, you would have to keep them as a .mov file extension ?

[SYNACK]

LOL @ your new name for Quick Time

 

Would handbrake be able to convert the older quicktime movies to something different that still plays and as mentioned by synack just name them the same. Presume if they are .mov, you would have to keep them as a .mov file extension ?

 

You'd need to make sure it was still in a QT format as it will probably be embedded in a player that expects that format, could be worth trying MP4 or something though too as QT handles that, just depends on how thorough the programers were.

 

Something like this SUPER &copy - Media File Converter, Media File Encoder, Video Player, Audio Player, Media Player may work even in a batch. It uses the VLC playback codecs and should be able to output MOV too so hopefully it would just be a case of a quick batch re-encode.

[Arthur]

Given the age of the program, the MOVs were probably encoded using one of the Sorensen codecs. FFmpeg will be able to convert them into something suitable for playback on modern PCs.

[bondbill2k2]

Gave it a go using the format factory with MP4 and recreating as .mov files, still nothing. I thing your right SYNACK about the embedded player, one of the software requirements is IE so im guessing it may use IE with the quickcrime embedded player, it may be an IE issue even...

[Arthur]

Would it be possible to play one of the videos in VLC and then go to the Tools menu » Media Information » Codec tab and post a screenshot of this?

[bondbill2k2]

Codec for .mov files

 

I have played around abit more and re-installing both the client side and servers copy of the CD, I also removed the old V4 of QuickCrime & K-lite codec before getting Ccleaner to clear out the reg and reinstalled K-lite. The videos would then play the Audio only when running via chem2000. I have also tryed using the new version of QuickCrime and now I get a nice Q?

Edited February 28, 2012 by bondbill2k2

[bondbill2k2]

Sorted, looks like quicktime didn't support using a mapped drive in the Chemistry sets .ini, when using a UNC path it works! Is there an easier way to replace the .ini on all our science lab computers rather then going around by hand? Im guessing scripting? Edited February 28, 2012 by bondbill2k2

[Arthur]

Is there an easier way to replace the .ini on all our science lab computers rather then going around by hand?

Updating INI files via GPP is really easy, if that's an option on your network?

 

http://i.imgur.com/4uiEO.png

[Arthur]

If you should ever want to convert your Chemistry Set videos, try the following batch file along with the latest static build of ffmpeg.exe from here.

 

MOVtoMP4.cmd

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set SCRIPTDIR=%~dp0
set SCRIPTDIR=%SCRIPTDIR:~0,-1%

for %%a in (*.mov) do "%SCRIPTDIR%\ffmpeg.exe" -i "%%a" -c:v libx264 -b:v 400k -c:a copy "%%~na.mp4"