How do I view the duration of MP4 files in Explorer on XP?

When displaying the Duration column in a folder window with MP4 videos, it is blank. I am aware that there is no native support for this filetype in Windows XP. This answer is related, but only gives very general advice (I tried installing the program suggested, but you have to open the file to view the statistics). I've also tried installing the Haali media splitter, though I'm no video expert, and I don't want to randomly start installing buggy codec packs either. Is there a way to do what I need?

Footnote: This is not directly relevant to the question at hand, but Media Preview by BabelSoft has been working amazingly to show thumbnails for video files not natively supported on XP (works on later versions too).

Bigbio2002

Posted 2015-08-21T03:42:44.203

Reputation: 3 804

If this is a 64-bit version of XP, see if the problem occurs using the 32-bit Explorer, which is invoked like this : C:\windows\syswow64\explorer.exe /separate. – harrymc – 2015-08-25T07:30:47.587

It's 32-bit, and it's not exactly a problem, more of a needed feature. – Bigbio2002 – 2015-08-25T13:31:58.263

Try right-click>properties?? – rahuldottech – 2015-08-27T18:20:56.613

@RahulBasu Please reread the question. – Bigbio2002 – 2015-08-27T18:41:57.050

Answers

You could try on explorer2

From the website :

xplorer² is a desktop file manager combining the simplicity of windows explorer with the speed and efficiency of traditional dual pane orthodox file managers, helping you be productive with your documents, pictures, music, source code and other files.

I downloaded for my xp and managed to get the mp4 files by adding length column through it,

Working proof :

BlueBerry - Vignesh4303

Posted 2015-08-21T03:42:44.203

Reputation: 7 221

It's paid, but it appears to do the job, technically... – Bigbio2002 – 2015-08-29T14:54:15.940

There's a free version available here: http://zabkat.com/x2lite.htm

– sp00n – 2015-11-13T21:00:41.287

In the registry, go to

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
.mp4
ShellEx

Create a Key in there named {BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1} with a date value of {c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}

So then you have : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT .mp4 ShellEx {BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}

and inside here ^^^^^^^^^ you have a new string value that looks like:

(Default) Reg_SZ {c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}

Originally found here

Everett

Posted 2015-08-21T03:42:44.203

Reputation: 5 425

These are instructions on how to display thumbnails, a problem that I've already solved. It does not answer the question. – Bigbio2002 – 2015-08-28T02:20:18.553

Sorry, that's why I posted the link to where I got it from. – Everett – 2015-08-28T02:22:02.250

1@Bigbio2002 - You should update your question. There is no way Everett would have known that. – Ramhound – 2015-08-28T12:01:55.097