"The file format Is invalid" playing large AVI file
Article ID: 193656
Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows 95
- Microsoft Windows 95
- Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q193656
SYMPTOMS
When you try to play a large audio-video interleave (AVI) file, you may
receive the following error message:
The file format is invalid.
CAUSE
This error message can occur when you try to play an AVI file that is
larger than 2 gigabytes (GB) in size. Limitations exist with Microsoft
Video for Windows solutions that limit AVI files to the same maximum file
size as the FAT16 file system, which is 2 GB minus 1 byte.
On computers using the FAT32 file system, the maximum file size is 4 GB
minus 1 byte, which is larger than Video for Windows is designed to
handle. AVI files created by Video for Windows that exceed 2 GB in size
appear invalid or damaged to AVI file players.
RESOLUTION
When you are using Video for Windows-based programs, limit the size of
AVI files that you create to less than 2 GB.
MORE INFORMATION
Programs using Microsoft DirectShow can create AVI files that exceed 2 GB
in size on computers using the FAT32 or NTFS file system.
Additional query words: corrupted
Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB193656