WMP11 does not play asf files, missing Sharp G.726 Audio codec

When I try to watch videos recorded with my camcorder in ASF format, I will
get following WMP11 error message:
"An audio codec is needed to play this file. To determine if this codec is
available to download from the Web, click Web Help."

If I press Web Help button, I will be directed to the web page, that gives
me following information:
"Windows Media Player cannot play the file (or cannot play either the audio
or video portion of the file) because the Sharp G.726 Audio (45) codec is not
installed on your computer."

But as soon as I rename file to ASX, the WMP11 plays file correctly. On my
other computer (Windows XP) I can watch those videos without problems.
What's wrong with WMP11 on Vista?

I use "Vista Codecs" package to enhance the abilities of WMP11 available
'Here' (http://shark007.net/) They actually mention the playing of .ASF
files by changing the Extension to .ASX. have a look at the site and
download If you feel it will give you what you need

I can say that I've had no problems with the package but your
experience may be different.

set a restore point before install to be safe and remove any other
codec packs you may have installed

I think I already have all necessary codecs, including the Sharp G.726 Audio
codec. Otherwise those videos would not play after simple renaming.
My WMP lists following audio codecs in the list of Technical Support
Information.

Audio Codecs
Type Name Format Binary Version
ACM Microsoft IMA ADPCM CODEC 0011 imaadp32.acm 6.0.6000.16386
ACM Microsoft CCITT G.711 A-Law and u-Law CODEC 0007 msg711.acm
6.0.6000.16386
ACM Microsoft GSM 6.10 Audio CODEC 0031 msgsm32.acm 6.0.6000.16386
ACM Microsoft ADPCM CODEC 0002 msadp32.acm 6.0.6000.16386
ACM Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec (decode only) 0055 l3codeca.acm
1.9.0.401
ACM Messenger Audio Codec 028E sirenacm.dll 8.5.1302.1018
ACM SHARP G.726 ACM Audio Decoder 0045 scg726.acm 1.0.0.3
ACM Microsoft PCM Converter 0001
DMO WMAudio Decoder DMO 0160, 0161, 0162, 0163 WMADMOD.DLL 11.0.6000.6324
DMO WMAPro over S/PDIF DMO 0162 WMADMOD.DLL 11.0.6000.6324
DMO WMSpeech Decoder DMO 000A, 000B WMSPDMOD.DLL 11.0.6000.6324
DMO MP3 Decoder DMO 0055 mp3dmod.dll 11.0.6000.6324

Where exactly do they mention the playing of ASF files by changing the
extension to ASX? That seems like really confused logic to me, so I would
love to understand what strange logic they're thinking of.

As far as I'm aware, Sharp doesn't have a Media Foundation codec available,
so this is expected. If Sharp provided a Media Foundation compatible G.726
codec, then this would work. =\

Ah, I see the small little reference on that page now, thanks.

That's pretty strange and amusing - thanks for pointing it out. =)

I do not care much of Media Foundation codeces. I think WMP should play ASF
without renaming it to ASX. My Irfanview for instance can play those files
without need for renaming. The question is NOT in codeces. The WMP seems to
be crapware. I want that Microsoft makes a fix for the problem. Under Windows
XP everything is fine! Vista + WMP sucks!

If you want to check with Sharp on this, I'm sure they can confirm this.
They work with my friends at Microsoft and should be aware of this.

That's kind of non-viable given that the Sharp G.726 is the property of the
Sharp corporation. This generally holds true for all third party codecs and
contributes to why Microsoft offers a pretty full suite of codecs that
*they* can make sure support new technologies.

Sorry - put in a request to Sharp and then change the audio stream to a
different codec. =\

This might be amusing to you, but it works! After renaming the file WMP can
easily play the file! Tested on dozens of files!

As WMP is only application that is not able to play those asf files in my
computer, the problem must lie there! I have Sharp codec (came with my
camcorder) and other video players play those files just fine. How should I
prove, that WMP is the problem here?

I'll restate: WMP11 on Vista uses Media Foundation for ASF playback. Sharp
does not currently have a Media Foundation-compatible codec that I'm aware
of. As such, I'll repeat that this wouldn't work currently - as you've
noticed. You could ask Sharp to make a Media Foundation-compatible codec.

So how does the WMP play the file if I rename the file to .asx instead of .asf?
Renaming the file does not provide missing codeces! So the codeces can not
be missing!

In some cases a legacy system is used.
In no situation is a Sharp G.726 Audio Media Foundation codec available on
your system currently. Thus this will not work normally, and hacky attempts
to bypass this limitation will maybe solve the problem annoyingly for you
but won't provide any real meaningful solutions for users.

If your attempt is to get some hack solution in place that maybe works
temporarily and stops working in the future, you're at that place now. If
your attempt is to actually get this to work, which is my intent, sounds
like you want to talk to Sharp.

I still think, that I have to talk with Microsoft, because WMP is their
software.
I can not understand, why Microsoft has blocked normal playing of asf files,
although the WMP is capable to play those files. I want, that MS fixes the
problem with blocking asf files even if necessary codeces are present.

I think, that Microsofts recent business idea to make every new software
version worse than previous versions in not nice. MS Office 2007 is totally
messed up, now the WMP for Vista too. What next?

Happily, I work at Microsoft. I speak here in an unofficial capacity and
for myself only, but I am fairly well informed upon this very issue as it is
one close to my heart. =) If you wish for a better talk with Microsoft,
you might want to contact actual product support, who will likely take a
longer time to tell you exactly what I am telling you. =)

The necessary Media Foundation codec is NOT present on your system. If you
open a support request with Microsoft, they'll investigate the issue, figure
this out, and respond back to you with that information and then you're
probably at exactly at the same point where you are now, sorry. =\

As WMP can easily play renamed asf files, the Media Foundation codec is
obviously NOT necessary! Can't you see the point!

Yes, that is the hack solution I was referring to where you're taking
advantage of a fallback path that is not normally used and is unsupported.
This is what I was referring to as a dead-end.

Following your question further along, your question would evolve into "hey,
why don't we set the old deprecated fallback playback style as the default
instead", and actual support could likely tell you that that won't happen.

We're on the same page here, I'm simply thinking about your needs end to end
as opposed to a one-off hack that doesn't really go anywhere and might break
at any future point. =\

I just transferred some files from my xp laptop to my new vista and had
the same audio codec missing wont play issue but was browsing through
the pictures using Windows Photo Gallery and when it came across the asf
files they played! So if you just want to reassociate the files with
photo gallery it's a quick trick that works. Now I just need to find out
how to repair the ones that won't play from a defrag gone wrong... yeah.
Just thought this would be easier fix for anyone on here.