Unable to open Quicktime on a Windows PC

Question

I've just helped a friend out by capturing in some PAL mini-DV tapes and exporting as Quicktime DV PAL from Final Cut Pro and burning to DVD-R as data files using Toast.
My friend has installed the latest version of Quicktime and is getting the "does not understand the files" message. The files also won't import into Sony Vegas, and when he tries copying them onto an external hard drive it says there isn't enough space, even though there is over 400GB spare.
He has also tried importing the files onto his PC laptop and again, Quicktime "does not understand the files".
So just about everything that could go wrong has... any suggestions? I've never used a PC so I have no idea what to suggest.
Message was edited by: Marc Morris
Message was edited by: Marc Morris

Answer 1

The file will automatically be compatible.
Not completely true. Yes, Macs and PCs can share PowerPoint fprmats but, in recent years, you have to be aware of what Office version the other people are using. You need to save in a format level that works for your current version AND below.
Here are the "equivalent" versions:
Office 2003 Windows and Office Mac 2004
Office 2007 Windows and Office Mac 2008
Office 2010 Windows and Office Mac 2011
If you absolutely know that everyone who receives your Office flles has a equivalent version of Office as yours, send as it. However, I often work with groups having mixed Macs and PCs and a lot of variants of Office. There, the safe path it to selct the "Save as... option of the lowest version, usualy "<Office apps> 97-2004 (.ppt)" That works for both Macs and PCs. The Option looks like this in Office 2008, the lastest version I have:
It's the same for any Office app--remember that sending the latest version may leave some people with older versions out of the loop.
There is a workabout for the receiver but I'm finding that a lot of newer computer users can't deal with a file unless they double-click something. The workabout is to open the Office app (PowerPoint in your case) and then use PPs "Open..." command to open the file from the app. That usually gets the file open, but too many late adopters of technology (we all know those types) seem totally befuddled by anything more that it takes to play Angry Birds on a phone.