PRB: MCI Error Message with Quicktime for Windows

• Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK) version 3.5

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to play Quicktime for Windows .mov and .qt files, MCI reports the following error:

   The specified device is not open or is not recognized by MCI

NOTE: Quicktime for Windows is a third-party product manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding its performance or reliability.

CAUSE

The error indicates files required for Quicktime playback are missing from your system including the MCI Quicktime driver. Windows 95 does not automatically include support for Quicktime for Windows.

RESOLUTION

Quicktime file playback requires the Quicktime for Windows files available from the Quicktime World Wide Web (WWW) home page on the Internet (http://quicktime.apple.com) or from Apple's FTP site on the Internet (ftp.apple.com). The Quicktime package includes a setup application to ease installation.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this behavior and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The MCI command parser forwards commands to the specific driver for each media type (AVIVideo, Wave, CDaudio, QTWVideo, and so on). Therefore, it is up to the driver to interpret and implement different commands.

During application development, you can troubleshoot problems by simply exchanging the Quicktime file (for example, Sample.mov) with an AVI file (for example, Sample.avi) to test the sequence of MCI commands. If the AVI file plays successfully, you have a Quicktime driver-specific issue, best handled by Apple.