How do you identify file format?

[Jola]

I have a file named avi but it isn't.
Apart from the usual apps I have tried it in Gspot, AVcodec and dvfix but they all inform that it is not an avi.
Is there a way to identify what it really is?
Thanks

 

[FortiTude]

the first few bytes of a file are often used to identify the filetype. open the file in an editor, preferable hexeditor and give the first ten characters/byte values
avis for example should start with RIFF then four special chars and then AVI
forti

 

[Jola]

Thanks for the reply but I dont understand too much of this - can you simplify?
Thankyou

 

[FortiTude]

you need to open the file in some text editor, if its not too large notepad may work. for bigger files use editplus, textpad or ultraedit. (-> google)
then copy the first ten characters of the file into your post
forti

 

[Jola]

Thanks - here's the characters:
ID3vTIT2c

They wouldn't copy so I have typed them manually so I hope the characters are correct.

Thanks for your help.
Jola

 

[FortiTude]

looks like a mp3 audio file ... rename it to .mp3 and try if it plays
forti

 

[Jola]

Thanks - tried that, got the usual error from media player - "the file you are trying to play has an extension that does not match the format" and when I asked it to try I got te error "Windows encountered an unknown error"
btw I doubt it is an mp3 because it is 718mb.
Thx anyway

 

[TheMadGuy]

Hi!

This doesnt necessary has to be an mp3 file, the 1st bytes only indicate it has an ID3 V2 Tag, which basicly could be applied to any file, since its an own standard for including information!

Somewhere in the header you will find a '3DI' marker, thats where the Tag ends and the actual file beginns, so if you can post some bytes from there, we can give it a new attempt!

you could also try to playback the file using VideoLan Client!
a great multi media player for free, you can get it here

It also has a feature to view 'Stream & Media Info', so if it can play it, it will also show what type of media you have!

Hope this helps ya!

Greetnx

 

[Jola]

Thx very much - I'll come back to you on that.

 

[Jola]

Hi - This is what I got - very similar to Asian on an Engish PC

3di‚)àH,2Ü*‘§KP36¼Íîyåæ`fà
‡ª{ÝoøÉ*g&iàОèfŠ\§;ÁœÂXt0±=ùåœ-Pø6œcÐÄDG$\Œ*Jq¤ÐÃçE[圻äÇÁƒ¿G©ÏŽ—tCSŸˆ™·¿×Ïy¾öÑ

can you decipher??
Thx

 

[celtic_druid]

My guess would have been that it was a Matroska file, could have also been OGM, but GSpot supports OGM's.

However that does not look like a Matroska header.

 

[ChickenMan]

Thanks - here's the characters:
ID3vTIT2c

At least we know its a Female file ..... LOL

Have you tried loading the "AVI" into NanDUB ? If it loads okay, what does File Properties have to say ?

 

[Jola]

Thx for the replies.
Tried VideoLan and Nandub but the file isn't recognised by either.
Cheers
Jola