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Video How to Play AVI Videos

By Dan Pacheco
WashingtonPost.com Staff

The following instructions explain how to configure Netscape Navigator, the most popular Web browser, to play AVI video files. These instructions assume you are using Windows 95. We also offer help for Windows 3.1 and Macintosh.

Set Up Navigator For AVI Files

Netscape Navigator 3.0 has built-in support for AVI files. By installing it, you can start viewing videos without any further setup.. Find out how to get a copy from our Netscape upgrade guide. (If you're already using Navigator 3.0, go ahead and play a sample video).

If You Don't Want to Upgrade
If you don't want to upgrade to Navigator 3.0, you can still set up Navigator to show AVI videos, and you don't have to download anything. Here's how:

  • In Netscape, go to the Options menu and choose "General Preferences," then "Helpers." Scroll down until you see the following line:

    File Type Action Extensions
    video-x-msvideo . avi

  • Click once on that line to select it.

  • Click "Launch the Application," then the "Browse" button. Find the directory c:\windows\ and click twice on the file mplayer.exe Select it and click the "Open" button. Click the large "OK" button and you're done.


    Sample the Cinema
  • Click the following link to download and view a sample AVI movie. To play the video from Netscape 3.0, you must click once on the movie itself.

    0 Bird in Flight (AVI, 386K)

    Is That All?
    For AVI video, yes. But you'll also find a lot of QuickTime videos on the Web. Read our QuickTime guide to learn how to get the best tool.

    QuickTime for:
    o Windows 95
    o Windows 3.1
    o Macintosh

    AVI tool for:
    o Windows 95
    o Windows 3.1
    o Macintosh

    • I ToolBox
    For Best Results ..
    You may find it easier to follow these instructions if you print out this page and keep it nearby. If you have a printer, go to the "File" menu above and choose "Print."

    Since we send you to other sites, you might also want to bookmark this page so you can easily return. To learn how to do this, refer to our user guide.

    QuickTime for:
    o Windows 95
    o Windows 3.1
    o Macintosh

    AVI tool for:
    o Windows 95
    o Windows 3.1
    o Macintosh

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