FIX: Playback of some AVI files skips in Windows Media Player

Playback of .avi files may skip and stutter. The problem seems to occur more frequently when you play back the content from a CD-ROM device.

The DMO filter, which is used for DirectShow and Microsoft Windows Media file types, allocates audio buffers 2 seconds long. This occurs to make sure that there is enough audio in the buffer for the Windows Media SDK to use if a specific video frame takes an unusually long time to process. However, DirectShow file types do not require this long of a buffer. In the case of the .avi files, the AVI splitter loses track of how much audio has been delivered.

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. TThe following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the Wm327609.exe package now. (http://download.microsoft.com/download/winmediaplayer/update/327609/wxp/en-us/wm327609.exe) Release Date: September 24, 2002

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

This issue has been resolved in Windows Media Player 9 Series. To download Windows Media Player 9 Series, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Warning Verify that all instances of the player (both stand-alone and embedded) are closed before you install this hotfix. If the player is running, the user may not be prompted to restart the computer, and the appropriate files may not be replaced.