Windows 7 uses its own DirectShow filters for decoding several audio and video formats.

Changing which filters get used requires modifications to some Registry keys, including adjusting access permissions. This can be quite difficult (and dangerous) for novice users.

Below you can find a small tool that can change the preferred filters with just a few clicks.

So now you can play .mkv files with for example ffdshow as the video decoder in Windows Media Center!


Currently supported formats:
* H.264
* MPEG-4 (Xvid/DivX/MP4V)
* MPEG-2
* VC-1
* AAC
* MP2
* MP3

Currently supported third party filters (32-bit):
* ffdshow
* MPCVideoDec
* CoreAVC H.264 decoder
* Xvid MPEG-4 decoder
* DivX H.264 decoder
* DivX MPEG-4 decoder
* DScaler5 MPEG-2 decoder
* Gabest MPEG-2 decoder
* Cyberlink H.264 decoder (PDVD 7/9)
* Cyberlink MPEG-2 decoder (PDVD 7/8/9)
* Cyberlink VC-1 decoder (patched with VC1Tweak: guid {394DFD1B-6F4C-4096-AA14-EF852B02595B})
* ArcSoft H.264 decoder
* ArcSoft MPEG-4 decoder
* ArcSoft MPEG-2 decoder
* ArcSoft VC-1 decoder (patched with VC1Tweak: guid {9DAD7B50-4432-4F48-AC60-B2B4E854454B})
* Monogram AAC decoder


Currently supported third party filters (64-bit):
* ffdshow
* MPCVideoDec
* Xvid MPEG-4 decoder
* Gabest MPEG-2 decoder


Works on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.


Note: This tool only applies to DirectShow filters. It will not have any effect on files that are played using the Media Foundation framework! For example .m2ts and .mp4 files are played using Media Foundation.

Download (v1.9 - October 9th 2009)