Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled

Subject: Making Your PC, MP3 Enabled
From: Justa Picker
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 07:08 PM

I thought I would post this here, since I've helped a few people recently set up their computers to play MP3s. This is really for computer novices, or those that for whatever the reasons are a little intimidated by technology. This also assumes you have a PC running either Windows 95 or 98.

It's very simple.

Go here and download Windows Media Player 6.4 for Win95/NT. (Avoid version 7.0, eventhough it's more current. It is a buggy, bloated piece of software that can mess up your system. That's been my experience and many others I know as well. 6.4 is quite stable and more reliable.)

Once you've finished downloading it, install it, and when the option presents itself as to what media files to associate the program with, select ALL. And that's it as far as set up.

Making sure your computer is connected to a sound card and the speakers are turned on, right click on any resident MP3 file you might have on your system, and select PLAY.

Also, if you visit a web site or Mudcatter web site with MP3 files available for downloading, just click on the file, and the file will immediately begin downloading and playing. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 07:38 PM

I do have Windows Media Player, and often use it.....but, for those who want a wonderful alternative which will play MP3s., MPEG and other movies, midis, .wavs, and display almost any graphic file you'd ever want....please take a look at

IrfanView

this is a totally FREE piece of software which will do more than most paid ones. It is fast, dependable and constantly being improved, and is NOT bloatware like Justa Picker warns about Bill Gates latest crap!

I kid you not, IrfanView will amaze you, whether or not you choose it for your default viewer/player.....It is featured in the Pricelessware section of the best freeware site on the net.

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: GUEST,ghost
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 08:04 PM

Thanks guys! I think I'll check out that IrfanView. I love that word FREE!

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 08:12 PM

well, the Windows thing is 'free' also...but...Micro$oft always has a hidden agenda..which may simply be to get us to associate EVERYTHING with their products.

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 09:35 PM

Bill, I just downloaded it, how do I make it my default player/viewer?

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 09:38 PM

Bill, I just downloaded it, how do I make it my default player/viewer? And, do I choose all of those options to relate it to when I install it? There are so many! I don't know what most of them refer to!

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Peg
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 11:29 PM

geez, why does everyone act lke Mac users don't exist?

;)

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Amergin
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 11:33 PM

cause they dont?

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bugsy
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 11:35 PM

Mac Who?

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: hesperis
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 11:57 PM

All of them. Windoze Media Player doesn't like not being top dog. I'd recommmend that you do a bit of searching, instead. But then, I don't like M$.

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 11:02 AM

kat...after it's installed, you can choose what to associate it with(that is, you don't need to make all decisions during installation)....go to 'options/properties/extensions'...there is a whole page of things it will do. You can check the ones you want IrfanView to always do, or you can simply open the program and go to a file and play/display it whether or not IrfanView is 'default'.

..The system allows YOU to have IrfanView, Windows Media Player, RealAudio, WinAmp...etc., all there and available, and choose which ones you want to be default for various media...so I can play midis in 4-5 different ways, and MP3s in at least 3...etc...(I must have 10 or more ways to open a JPG, and 6-7 of them will do various types of editing)

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 11:38 AM

Mac... Hehehehehe...

Ya wanna get yerhands on a really good multi platform media player that does sound, video, records, REAL format (although, WHY you'd wanna use that crap is beyond me), has a good EQ, and is as easy to operate as your home entertainemnt system?

Look for Cowon Jet-Audio 4.8 Extension... it's great, and it's free...

Can be found here
http://kickme.to/FOSI

WARNING! Contains ADULT Banner adds... If yer uptight, don't go...

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 12:25 PM

ummm...Clinton....that is a site for WAREZ...that is, totally illegal versions of well-known applications and programs. One makes a moral choice if one uses those programs. (the only reason I post this is that FOSI doesn't SAY specifically that this is what he is doing..he merely says they are full, complete, non-disabled versions)...but he is rather famous in certain circles and would be cheerfully strangled by some big companies if they knew how to find him in Russia!

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 12:45 PM

Some of what is there is WAREZ, but not all... Jet Audio can be found all over the net for free...

Besides... you say WAREZ like it's a BAD thing!

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 01:13 PM

I say WAREZ like we need to undersatnd what it implies...*grin*...I didn't preach or anything, but people need to know that if they use one of those programs and then try to get help or support from the company, or update the program, they may get BIG surprise.

It is VERY much like the Napster controversy...everyone does it, but the owners are not getting paid....your choice.

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 02:25 PM

Ya... I suppose that heads-up is worth mentioning... I sorta like to assume that eveyone out here has at least the meager computer skills that -I- have... then I remember that there are still people, say, who buy Macs...

*rib rib rib*

;-)

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 05:03 PM

By the way..here is a page of 250 freeware programs for MAC...Son of Spy Freeware there are more, I'm sure.

I would happily switch to MAC if there were more programs...it ain't fair

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 05:12 PM

Macs... The perfect computers for people who don't want to know what their mechines can do... or how they do it...

Actually... that's not totally fair... Macs have one good side... For you parents out there concerned that your kids might be hackers? Get them a Mac... it's nearly impossible to HACK from a Mac...

That's why -IF- I ever have kids, they'll never own a mac!

:-)

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 05:19 PM

yep..PCs are stick-shift..MACs are automatic transmission..(however, many, if not most, 'serious' graphic designers keep a MAC to do creative work on..they really excel there)

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 06:34 PM

there they do...

We really have hijacked this thread eh Bill...

LOL!!

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 08:18 PM

I guess no one is opening it, 'cause they already think they know how to do MP3s..or they just don't care. Name it "cat farts" and it would be 87 posts long by now.

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 09:15 PM

Thanks Bill. Finally something I can add to. Having 3-6 cats at any one time, I am a bit of an expert on the subject...

Anyone know how to create an MP3?

Subject: RE: Making Your Computer MP3 Enabled
From: hesperis
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 09:25 PM

First you need a wav file, or a CD. Then you take an encoder: for wav to mp3, I use YAMP, for CD to mp3, I use CDex. Then just follow the directions for each piece of software, and you're set.

You can find those two programs by yahoo search or something.