The more precise way to check is to examine the file itself using a tool like If the file is, for example, an MPEG-2 encoded video file there is a very high chance that the audio track will play just fine but the video track will fail to render, leaving the screen black. First, you can try to load the file in your Raspberry Pi media center. If you’re unsure if you have the files types in question there are two simple ways to check. Watch content I’ve ripped or recorded using Windows Media Center (such as movies or television shows in the WMV container format). While AVI is technically a container format, not a codec, the vast majority of AVI files are encoded using MPEG-2 and as such you’ll need an MPEG-2 license. In this case you need an MPEG-2 license to decode the video on the DVDs. Watch DVDs (either straight from an attached DVD drive or from ripped. I’m using my Raspberry Pi as a media center and/or general purpose device and I wish to: If you’re wondering whether or not you’re the target audience for this license sale program and this tutorial, check to see if any of the following statements apply to you: Fortunately the Raspberry Pi Foundation was able to make arrangements to sell individual licenses for each codec very inexpensively. This doesn’t mean the Raspberry Pi is not capable of decoding media encoded in MPEG-2 or VC-1, but that by default the codecs cannot run on the Raspberry Pi hardware for want of a proper license. Part of their cost cutting measures included not purchasing a pricey blanket license to use the MPEG-2 and VC-1 video codecs. As part of that educational mission, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has gone out of their way to minimize the manufacturing and licensing costs in order to keep the final cost of the device down. The Raspberry Pi was designed to be an educational computer.

Rpi mpeg license