Windows Media Player first came in contact with Windows 95 users back in 1995. Since then, Microsoft's media player helps you play multimedia content on your computer out-of-the-box. That seemed to be a problem for some people, as it took almost 10 years for the European Commission to realize that Microsoft was breaking some of their laws. There was a consistent fine paid by Microsoft and soon after, they released the “N” edition of Windows (Windows Media Player free edition).

Windows Media Player 9 Codecs Pack lends a helping hand to users that experience problems while playing audio and video content in Windows Media Player 7 and 8 mainly. It also provides the necessary codecs for web stream content. It's installation deploys the Windows Media Codecs to your computer, fixing the eventual errors generated by previously installed codec packs.

Windows Media Video (WMV) is Microsoft's compressed video file format. It's original goal was to compete against the Internet streaming monopoly-owner RealVideo. Thus, if you didn't install Windows Media Player, you may stumble upon videos on the Internet that won't play. Still, if you don't want to install WMP, you can easily go for this pack and the WMV streams instantly start playing.

Windows Media Player 9 Codecs Pack consists of several codecs that help your computer encode and decode audio and video streams automatically or on user demand. One of its components is the “WMSDMOD.DLL”, the media screen decoder of WMP. It enables the application to receive media streams both locally, across networks and the Internet.

The codec pack also provides the Corona Windows Media Video Decoder DMO and the Windows Media Audio Decoder that work together to create image and sound from the media screen decoder to the screen of your computer. They are both components of the Windows Media Services and their primary objective is to decode and watch and / or listen to media streams.

No matter the Windows edition installed on your computer, Windows Media Player 9 Codecs Pack's installation is recommended in order to provide a seamless WMV / WMA streaming experience. It brings the tools your system needs to put to good use whenever it is required. Eventually, this leads to smooth playback of media content that makes your viewing and hearing pleasure more enjoyable.