Vista Media Center MPEG2 Decoder Selection Utility
Windows Vista has included built-in MPEG-2 decoder or codec from Micrsoft into the system. Thus, unlike in Windows XP or earlier, users can watch DVD and view live telecast or recorded TV shows without the need to buy or download and install third party DVD MPEG-2 decoder such as PowerDVD and WinDVD, or free MPEG2 codec or DirectShow filter.
However, although not necessary, any user may have multiple MPEG2 decoder installed on the Vista system, as the result of installing application with DVD format encoder/decoder. All codec is not created equal. Microsoft’s codec has been famous for stability to suit all kind of environment, and is probably not optimized. Thus, some codec may provides you better resolution or video rendering, and some may provide sweeter or louder sound and audio. Most importantly, if you have issue or problem with the default MPEG2 decoder, then the workaround is to change and switch to another MPEG2 decoder that has been installed.
Vista Media Center MPEG2 Decoder Selection Tool is a small utility that allows users to easily change default MPEG-2 Video and Audio decoders in Vista when playback DVD or MPEG2 encoded videos or movies contents in Windows Media Center (WMC). Vista MediaCenter Decoder Utility will show the current default video and audio decoders, and let users choose an alternative MPEG-2 audio and video codecs that MediaCenter will use from a list of installed decoders. To set the new decoders, press Set Default.

Note that the WMC MPEG-2 Decoder Selection Utility does not work on 64-bit (x64) Vista, partly because currently the only existing x64 MPEG2 decoder that installed and worked properly, is already provided and installed on Microsoft Vista x64 Premium and Ultimate installations. And it’s recommended to select video and audio decorder from the same provider.
Download Vista MediaCenter Decoder Utility (VMCD.exe)
The utility actually modify the PreferredMPEG2AudioDecoder and PreferredMPEG2VideoDecoder registry values in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Decoder registry keys. It also copies codec parameters which are wrongly installed in XP location in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\Video to the correct position.
Related Articles
- How to Disable (Uninstall and Remove) Windows Media Center in Vista
- Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility
- Windows Media Center Shell (ehshell.exe) Command Line Switches and Options
- HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7470n Review by Top Tech News
- Onkyo New E702A9 Sotec Media Center PC
- Download Vista Codec Package 4.4.9 for Windows Vista, XP and 2003
- S1Digital Offers Free Windows 7 Upgrade For Its Media Center And Server
- Access All Windows Vista Utility Programs From Single Place With Vista Utilities
- Disable Security Center Alerts in Windows XP and Vista
- Best Media Player – Ultimate and Great KMPlayer










































October 9th, 2008 12:46
Tambien McAfee dice que esta con virus o troyano
July 26th, 2008 22:05
I had some problems, but after I selected the PowerDVD8 codec, my dvd’s play back perfect!!!
June 28th, 2008 01:05
AVG says this file is infected with a trojan
February 23rd, 2008 13:28
Vista Home Basic does not come with an Mpeg 2 decoder.
February 6th, 2008 04:33
I found a lot of codecs installed, but have no idea which is better than which?
Any ideas of the best of the bunch?
thx …