How To Install Non-free Multimedia Codecs on Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon

by Toor, October 5th, 2007 | 9 Comments

Want to watch movies, play DVDs and listen musics on Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon? You always need to install non-free multimedia codecs. For example, commonly known as w32codecs. To install them on Ubuntu, that’s very simple.

Launch your Terminal, run this command:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Add this line to the end of file, then save it and close Gedit:

deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ gutsy free non-free

Add GPG key to your keyring with this command:

wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -

Update sources:

sudo apt-get update

Install libdvdcss2 package to play encrypted DVDs:

sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2

Install w32codecs used by MPlayer and xine:

sudo apt-get install w32codecs

For more information, go here.

If you like this post, please consider buying me a beer.

Tags: HOWTOs

9 responses so far ↓

1 Shawn // Oct 17, 2007 at 5:15 pm

Thank you….very helpful …
2 Nisarg // Oct 18, 2007 at 2:50 pm

Hello there, Thanks for the info. I have now managed to successfully install the codecs. I have not got everything that I should need w32codecs, flash, gstreamer codecs.. I am however still unable to watch certain windows media streams on my Ubuntu 7.10. Any ideas why would this be? Any help is appreciated. Thanks Nisarg
3 michael // Oct 26, 2007 at 9:16 am

Hi,

This is a very helpful site for newbie who wants to learn about linux. With ubuntu 7.10 I hope to shift from windows soon.
4 How to watch Windows Media Video streams on Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon (7.10) | SearchMarked.com // Dec 3, 2007 at 9:25 pm

[…] Windows Video (WMV). This requires the installation of the win32codecs. After searching, a post at Phorolinux.com got me started. The steps involved are listed […]
5 Daniel // Jan 8, 2008 at 8:49 pm

I followed your steps, step by step, jsut getting this ?

Package w32codecs is not available, but is referred to by another package. This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or is only available from another source E: Package w32codecs has no installation candidate

HELP!
6 shrinux // Feb 7, 2008 at 9:15 am

Thanks
7 William // Feb 17, 2008 at 12:45 am

Try these instructions at http://spreadlinux.org.in/HowToCompileXine.html

Search for “Steps to install the multi-media codes and libdvdcss rpm (for playing encryped dvd’s) “

This will help you to play all Windows media files

Plus, you have to add these lines into your ~/.mplayer/config file decoder.external.win32codecspath:/usr/lib/win32
8 spartacus // Mar 27, 2008 at 4:55 pm

am using kubuntu 7.10.downloaded the win32codecs.When I try to install I get a message saying libstdc++5 needed.When I try to install this lib I get a message saying a newer version is installed!What could be the problem.
9 IPs // Aug 20, 2008 at 3:18 am

I also want to know how to update new multimedia codecs? can other advanced codecs can be incorporated?

Lazy Ubuntu