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.MOV Files

The file extension .MOV is used by the Apple QuickTime video application.

QuickTime .MOV files are a multimedia format that is commonly used to save, share and play movies and other video file types.In addition to supporting audio data. QuickTime .MOV files are often shared via email, as well as commonly used on websites to stream audio and video clips.

While QuickTime .MOV files are based on a compression algorithm developed and owned by Apple, the files and the QuickTime Media Player are available for both Mac and Windows-based computers.

Opening .MOV Files: Advice for Mac Users

Generally you must have three things in order to open a .MOV file - an i-Mac or other Apple product, the OS-X Leopard operating system and QuickTime.

If you are a Mac user running the Leopard OS-X operating system, have QuickTime installed correctly and still cannot open a .MOV file you may also be dealing with a totally different set of issues. You may have a problem with the file association between the .MOV file extension, QuickTime and the operating system. This could certainly be the case if you have partitioned the hard drive of your Apple product and are running the Windows Vista operating system in parallel to the Leopard operating system.

With the ability of new Apple products to run the Windows Vista operating system, Mac users are now beginning to experience some of the challenges that PC/Windows users have had to deal with for year - the WINDOWS REGISTRY.

If you are having problems opening file extensions it may be that Windows Vista is causing some of the problems. As PC users will know, most file extension-related errors can be easily resolved by running a Windows Registry Optimizer which cleans the Windows Registry and repairs many of these types of problems. These programs also tend to keep the Windows Registry working efficiently, speed up the operating system and generally keep the computer functioning smoothly.

Opening .MOV Files: Advice for PC Users

If you run a Windows based systems and don't want to install QuickTime Player, it is possible to play .MOV files in Windows Media Player. To avoid downloading QuickTime just for the .MOV file type, you can download a conversion codec instead. The video conversion codec 3ivx will allow Windows Media Player to support .MOV media files.

Sometimes problems opening .MOV files are caused by incomplete or flawed QuickTime Player downloads. Many programs are affected by old, out-dated program versions that remain on the computer, so a registry scan can solve several of these problems.

If the correct version of the QuickTime software is installed and the codecs are current, then you may have a problem in the Windows Registry. A corrupt or malfunctioning Windows Registry has been known to cause a "disconnect" between the operating system, the QuickTime software application and the file extension of the .MOV file - the end result is the software application does not recognize the .MOV file extension. Fortunately Windows Registry-related errors can be easily resolved by automatically cleaning and optimizing the Registry - a reliable registry cleaner will go a long way to keeping your Operating System and Windows Registry working smoothly.

Security Issues With .MOV Files

Like any other file types shared online, .MOV media files can harbor viruses and malware programs. Computer hackers can design programs to look like .MOV files so you will download and open them, only to inadvertently allow a malware program access to your system. It is important to keep an up to date anti-virus program running on your computer when downloading and running any shared files of unknown origin.

Before opening one of these file extensions ensure it comes from a source you trust, you have good anti-virus, anti-spyware, spam controls, privacy software, a registry cleaner and trusted data recovery tools activated and protecting your system.

QuickTime Pro vs. QuickTime Standard

There is a free version of QuickTime Player that is widely used, as well as a professional version (QuickTime Pro) that costs roughly $30USD. With the purchased version you can open movies in full screen mode, as well as record and edit the original media files. This Pro version of QuickTime is also able to convert .MOV files to .avi files, so that you can edit and work with them in Windows Media Player.

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