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Subhash VCDPlayer

★ A media player with special support for VCD playback and audio transcription
★ Supports Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/Vista/8/8.1

This software got me started in computer programming. Over time, I lost interest and stopped updating the player. The software was great in year 2000 but now is obsolete. However, it works in all Windows versions up to 8.1. On Windows 10, I have no info as I have moved permanently to the free GNU/Linux operating system. I still use the player on those rare occasions when I have to use Windows.

New features includes support for latest audio and video files such as MP4, OGG, WebM, and MKV. The program now supports streaming media - copy the URL to the Windows Clipboard and press Ctrl+V on the player window.) It is still available as a free download on several download sites. However, please be aware that it comes with no guarantee or warranty of any kind. It is provided as is where is with no assurance of any sort. I provide no support for the software.

The Visual Basic source code of the player is also available here for free.

Introduction

Subhash VCDPlayer Screenshot

Subhash VCDPlayer has a clutter-free UI and is controlled by keyboard shortcuts.

Subhash VCDPlayer is a free media player with support for VCD playback, image capture, and voice transcription. Apart from Video CDs (VCDs), it can play regular audio and video files in formats that are compatible with Windows Media Player (WMP) 6.4. If you install Media Player Codec Pack, it can play all media formats known to man.

Subhash VCDPlayer uses WMP 6.4 under the hood, which gives it rock-solid stability. Unlike other such programs, Subhash VCDPlayer takes WMP to surreal heights of functionality and ease of use. This has been made possible by borrowing a few ideas from IrfanView (file browsing), Winamp (system tray icon capabilities) and CyberLink PowerPlayer (single-key keyboard shortcuts and still-image capture), and combining them with a slew of unique features of its own. Hyped up, you can call this VCD player as Windows Media Player On Steroids.

Some of the system tray icons used by Subhash VCDPlayer

When set as the default media player, the icon for supported file type changes.

The media player has a detailed help file that explains all its features including:

Supported Operating Systems

Download Sites

You can download Subhash VCDPlayer from one of the following websites:

Download size is 2.17 MB.

After you download the file, first extract the contents of the download file to your hard disc. ( If you try to run the installer file directly from the window of the zip utility, the installation will not start and instead you will get an error message.)

After you extract the ZIP file contents, double-click on the INSTALL.EXE file (in the VCDPLAYER\WIN folder) and follow the instructions on the screen.

Version 2.4.2 Patch

Subhash VCDPlayer v2.4.2 in Windows 8.1

Subhash VCDPlayer (with v2.4.2 patch) running in Windows 8.1

PLEASE NOTE: Before applying this patch, Windows 8/8.1 users need to enable .NET Framework 3.5 in Control Panel and let Windows install NTVDM during installation to get it to work.

Why is the patch required? The VCD player was originally built for Windows 95/98/ME/2000. Hence, in Windows XP, some cosmetic changes were required. In Windows Vista/7/8/8.1, playback does not even start.

The v2.4.2 patch resolves these issues. If you are using Windows XP, Vista or 7, you need to overwrite the VCDPlayer.exe file of the older version (v2.4) with the VCDPlayer.exe file from the patch zip file (v2.4.2). Here are the steps to apply the patch.

  1. Download v2.4 from one of download sites listed above and install the that version.
  2. Download the v2.4.2 patch zip file.
  3. Extract the file VCDPlayer.exe from the patch zip file to some folder.
  4. Right-click and copy the file.
  5. In Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer), navigate to the folder where you have installed Subhash VCDPlayer - usually C:\Program Files\Subhash VCDPlayer 2.4\.
  6. Paste the copied VCDPlayer.exe to the installation folder.
  7. When Windows Explorer prompts you to overwrite the older VCDPlayer.exe, select Yes.

After you do this, you can select Subhash VCDPlayer option from the Start menu or launch its shortcut from the desktop.

Non-English Language Packs

Thanks to the generosity of some kind individuals, the following non-English language packs are available for this VCD player. These lanuages packs are updated only up to v2.4. (Version 2.4 does not work in Windows Vista/7 but works in Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP. If you apply the v2.4.2 patch, Subhash VCDPlayer will revert to its English interface.

I do not plan on creating any other language versions, as the technology (WMP 6.4) is quite old and I do not have any time to spare. I may create a .NET media player but that is a long way off into the future to be considered now.

Brazilian Portuguese Version

Visitantes do Brasil! Já está disponível a versão em Português do Subhash VCDPlayer. Instale primeiro a versão em Inglês. Em seguida, baixe o arquivo svcdp-exe-brazilian.zip (46KB) e siga as instruções contidas no arquivo LEIAME.htm.

Brazilian Portuguese version of Subhash VCDPlayer

This translation was provided by Marco Souza.

Dutch Version

Bezoekers uit Nederland! Download zowel de Engelse als de Nederlandse versie. Installeer eerst de Engelse versie en volg dan de instructies zoals vermeld in het leesmijbestand (Readme.htm) welke u kunt vinden in het svcdp-exe-dutch.zip-bestand (54 KB).

Dutch version of Subhash VCDPlayer

This translation was provided by Eddy and Saskia.

French Version

Visiteurs de France! La version française de Subhash VCDPlayer est désormais disponible. Téléchargez et installez d'abord la version anglaise, téléchargez ensuite le fichier svcdp-exe-french.zip (54 KB) puis suivez les instructions du fichier Lisezmoi.htm.

French version of Subhash VCDPlayer

This translation was provided by Tristan Taguet.

Italian Version

Visitatori dall'Italia! E' ora disponibile la versione italiana di Subhash VCDPlayer. Scaricate e installate prima la versione inglese. Di seguito scaricate svcdp-exe-italian.zip (52 KB) e seguite le istruzioni nel file ReadMe.htm

Italian version of Subhash VCDPlayer

This translation was provided by Dario Facchin.

Spanish Version

Visitantes de España! Ya teneis disponible la version en castellano de Subhash VCDPlayer. Para instalarla descarga primero la version en ingles, a continuacion descarga el fichero svcdp-exe-spanish.zip (54 KB) y sigue las intrucciones que se detallan en el apartado Leeme.

Spanish version of Subhash VCDPlayer

This translation was provided by Jose Manuel Muñoz Bou de Villarreal (Castellon).

Source Code

Subhash VCDPlayer is free software licensed to mankind under GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.You can redistribute Subhash VCDPlayer and/or modify only as permitted by that license. Subhash VCDPlayer is provided to mankind in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You can find a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this source code. (See the file COPYING.TXT.) If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses.

Download subhash-vcdplayer-gpl-source-code.zip
(Size:341 KB or 0.3 MB)

VCD FAQs

These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are in addition to the FAQs available in the help file.

How to capture still images from video?

Subhash VCDPlayer can capture stills from videos and save them as BMP (bitmap) images. When playing a video file, just press the S key and the current still from the video will be captured as a BMP file in the C:\Program Files\Subhash VCDPlayer 2.4\Capture folder. You can also change the location of this folder to a more accessible folder. Please read the help file for more information on image capturing with Subhash VCDPlayer.

How to create transcripts of dictations and voice audio files?

Subhash VCDPlayer can be used as a wave player by professionals such as medical transcriptionists and legal transcriptionists.

Subhash VCDPlayer has a special "Transcription Mode." This mode enables some presets that are optimized for transcriptionists, such as system-wide hot keys and restart lag. The hot keys allow the user to control the playback operations of Subhash VCDPlayer from any application. This allows the transcriptionists to pause or resume playback of the dictation audio file without leaving the window of the word processing application, say that of Word or WordPerfect. This also allow transcriptionists to transcribe without using a footpedal.

Please read the help file for more information on the transcription mode of Subhash VCDPlayer.

How to disable subtitles in VCDs?

VCD does not support subtitles. If subtitles are there in a VCD, then that is because the VCD manufacturer have made it part of the video. This cannot then be disabled like in a DVD.

How to uninstall Subhash VCDPlayer?

Subhash VCDPlayer can be uninstalled via the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel.

In the odd chance that Subhash VCDPlayer is not listed there, then create a shortcut with the correct following command and double-click (launch) the shortcut.

%winddir%\uninst.exe -f"c:\Program Files\Subhash VCDPlayer 2.4\DeIsL1.isu"  -c"c:\Program Files\Subhash VCDPlayer 2.4\_ISREG32.DLL"

Please replace C:\Program Files\Subhash VCDPlayer 2.4 in the above command with the correct folder path of the installation folder.

Where can I buy Bollywood VCDs or Indian VCDs? How much do they cost?

Indian movie VCDs are available from shopping sites such as Flipkart for around Rs. 100.

How To Play MP4, Webm, and newer MOV files?

Install Media Player Codec Pack.