Windows Media Tools 4.1 not available in Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 and later versions (819758)

Notice

This article also applies to: Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

SUMMARY

Beginning with Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP 4), Microsoft no longer includes the Windows Media Tools 4.1 package (which contained the Microsoft MPEG-4 Video codec) as part of the Service Pack.

Effective January 1, 2004:

Certain fees and charges for use and distribution of the Microsoft MPEG-4 Video encoder could be incurred
Under certain circumstances, content providers or end-users could be responsible for usage fees.

For more information about the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows 2000, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to obtain the latest Windows 2000 service pack

MORE INFORMATION

The following describes when Windows Media Tools 4.1 is available:

If you have installed Windows Media Tools 4.1, applying SP 4 does not remove it.
If you do a new installation of Windows 2000 with SP 4 slip-streamed into the build image, the installation does not include Windows Media Tools 4.1.
If you have not installed Windows Media Tools 4.1 and you upgrade to SP 4, Windows Media Tools 4.1 is not available.

Support

Microsoft currently provides more advanced codecs in Windows Media Encoder 9 Series. For more information and to download the Windows Media Encoder 9 Series, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Windows Media Encoder 9 Series
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

Microsoft will continue to support MPEG-4 decoding in its products for playback of earlier media. For more information and to download the Windows Media Player 9 Series, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Windows Media Player 9 Series
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/9series/default.aspx

MPEG-4 Codecs

For more information about MPEG-4 codec or use fees, contact MPEG LA L.L.C.:

MPEG LA, L.L.C.
250 Steele Street, Suite 300 Denver, Colorado USA 80206
Telephone: (303) 331-1880
Fax: (303) 331-1879
Web: http://www.mpegla.com