Get Zune software to recognize and convert .avi (Divx and XVID) and MPEG files!

[snrsuave]

For those of you who wanted an easy way to convert .avi files for your zune. I had a DVD ripped to an .avi file and was trying to get that on my Zune. Of course the Zune software would not recognize it and I couldn't add it to my library. So I changed the filename extension to .wmv, and then it appeared in my library. I then tried to sync it, and the Zune software threw an error when it tried to convert it. Thinking I was defeated, I went and changed the extension of my file back to .avi. To my surprise, the file remained in my library, and when I synced it, the software successfully converted it and it plays fine on the Zune. Aspect ratio was a bit off, but I think that might be a problem with my DVD to AVI conversion. Anyway... this clearly proves that the Zune software is capable of converting .avi files, but Microsoft has disabled it for some reason. I haven't tried it with any other file types yet, but it might work. Maybe someone else can give this a try and see if it works for them as well. Hope this helps you guys!

Edit: I just checked the properties of the .avi file I converted and synced, and found out that it was a divx file in an .avi container. If this works for other people then I might have found an easy way for people to convert divx files for their Zunes. Good luck everyone!

Edit: I also just verified that this works with XVID files in an .avi container.

Edit again: Seems to work for other file types as well. Try any file you can and report here if it works or not so that I can keep the thread updated.

[hoola]

DUDE YOU ROCK!!! This guy deserves a big bowl of peaches for his find!

 I can confirm this trick also works with MJPEG and Huffyuv .avi files captured with my tv tuner card. And while i was typing this it also just let us convert an uncompressed .avi capture file.

  Thank you , Thank you , Thank you.

[pulse]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Microsoft diabled .avi conversion because bootleg and stolen movies are usually converted in divx or .avi.  However, .avi files usually have the best quality.   

[ridewithme69]

sorry if this sounds dumb, but how do you just change the extension of the .avi to .wmv?
thanks

[hoola]

click rename and change .avi to .wmv if you cant see the file extension. In the folder to to *top bar* tools/folder options/ veiw/ uncheck hide extentions for known file types.

[snrsuave]

There seems to be a problem with 16:9 content.For some reason my shows that are in 16:9 widescreen format end up being stretched vertically when I play them on the Zune. Seems like the Zune software is not letterboxing material correctly. Anyway... has anyone tried other file types besides .avi to see if this trick works?

[Zardoz]

Nice find...

[peyton]

INCREDIBLE!!!! It works!! Thanks a lot and good find!  I put the the LOST seasons on my zune.

[FeartheTurtle]

I can't get it to work, I change the file to whatever.wmv try and sync it to my zune. It doesn't work, then convert it back to .avi, and it still doesn't work.

[snrsuave]

These are the steps that you should be doing to get this to work:
1. Change file extension to .wmv so that the Zune software adds it to the library.
2. Once it's in the library, you can change the file extension back and the file should stay in your library.
3. Sync away.

I've done it using this procedure and it works fine. If it is notsyncing then perhaps the file cannot be converted. I've tried divx, xvid, and mpeg files and they all worked so far.

[FeartheTurtle]

Thanks a bunches, time delete all those converting programs of my computer...

SOMEONE STICKY THIS!

[100rubs]

snrsuave, great finding!

I just tried the extension .rmvb and this is what happened: I renamed the file from rmvb to wmv, added it to the library, renamed it back to rmvb, added it to the sync list and syncd. To my surprise, the Zune software didn't convert it, it just syncd it! The .rmvb file is not visible in the Zune Software and the Zune device. However, if I go to the Zune Device\Video folder, the file is there (see attachment).

FYI: I have the "see your zune as HDD hack" ON, and connected the zune as a guest to my second computer. Later I'll try this on my first computer.

[100rubs]

OK, I tried the same with an .exe file and the Zune software syncd the file to the zune device. I guess that once you are able to add something to the video library (by renaming the extension), if the software can't convert it, it just syncs it.

[unicorngoddess]

I'll have to try this with my tivo files! It probably won't work but its worth a shot. If not, at least I can use this hack after I convert my tivo files to mpeg.

Thanks for sharing this.

[Scarpad]

The Hack I'm waitng for is when the Zune can PLAY .avi files

[KingJehu]

I can't get it to work, I change the file to whatever.wmv try and sync it to my zune. It doesn't work, then convert it back to .avi, and it still doesn't work.

Try my hack. Will not have to rename files, the zune software will see your avi files as a supported file format.

http://www.zunescene.com/forums/index.php?topic=3609.0

[snrsuave]

Just to update.... KingJehu's method now also supports MPEGs, so go on over to his thread and check it out. Much better way of doing things than the way I figured out. Great job KingJehu! Guess this thread can be closed now so that people don't get too confused?

[FeartheTurtle]

No this way is much better for me... I really don't want to download and install anything else, and this works fine for me so
Keep it open.