WMV files refuse to convert!

I've got two WMV files that refuse to convert to AVI. I've tried three different video converters on the one file and it never gets converted. With Xilisoft Video Converter, it just sits there with the counter ticking but nothing is being converted. With two other converters, WinAVI and Digital Media Converter, they say they have completed the task, but when I go to the output directory it's only a file that's less than 300 kb's in size!

The other wmv I was able to get started in Xilisoft but it stopped at 13%. So have I just gotten a hold of some bad files? Anything else I can do about it? I definitively want to convert them to AVI so I can edit them in AVIdemux

 

Are you comfortable with Virtualdub ?
If so, you can open these files if you have the
directshow plugin installed. (assuming the wmv files are not DRM
protected)

http://www.virtualdub.org/beta/DShowInputDriver-0.5.zip

 

I downloaded and installed the plugins, opened up VirtualDub and tried to open the file but I got an error message that said "ASF Not Supported"

 

You must have missed a step. Make sure you have the latest release
(version 1.88)
Create a sub-folder off of the main Virtualdub folder called plugins32.
Copy the plugin file DShowInputDriver.vdplugin into this folder.
Restart Virtualdub.
File/open video file/
At the "files of type" box, click the right arrow and scroll down to
select the directshow input driver.
Now open you file and convert to avi.

 

Followed your instructions to the letter. Created folder, then extracted directshow plugin into folder. Opened up VirtualDub and File and Open Video File. Clicked on Files Of Type but it's not there!

 

Here's an image of the folder structure showing the plugin:



Here's how you use it:

 

Do I need to have VirtualDub files in C drive or can I put it anywhere I want? Currently I have it in Crogram Files. Also, it already had a plugins folder, but you are saying that I should create my own new folder for plugins?

 

The main Virtualdub folder can be anywhere.
It is the dependent folder(s) that have to be named as I have shown.
Look carefully at the picture.

 

Finally got it to work..kinda! Problem was I was trying to work off of a Start Menu shortcut of VirtualDub instead of the base file. That's twice today I've done something dumb!

Anyway the DirectShow driver did show up in the Files Of Type, but when I went open up the wmv video, is wasn't there. Then I opened the file with just Files Of Type listed as All Types and it worked this time. Don't know why it didn't before.

So now I'm assuminng that I can go ahead and convert this file to an avi and I was searching for how I might go about that.Do I just go to Tools and "Create Sparse AVI"?

 

Jan, I thought you were already familiar with Virtualdub -
That not the case?
You've got some reading to do.
Here's one guide to get you going:
http://www.videohelp.com/oldguides/avi2divx

Here's some more guides and how to's if that's not enough:
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Virtualdub#guides