ok, so i see some requests for this codec, on XBMC lists and on -users i finally got a sample to check out... its an asf container with mpeg2 video. libmpeg2 kind of decodes the sample i have, but with some errors... ffmpeg wont decode it for me. add format 0x20525644 under videocodec mpeg2 in codecs.conf mplayerhq.hu/MPlayer/incoming/microsoft-new-way-to-shove-mpeg2-in-asf.dvr-ms good site, lots of ms info from: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];316992 Microsoft Digital Video Recording (.dvr-ms) In Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft introduced the *.dvr-ms file format for storing recorded TV content. Similar to *.asf files, *.dvr- ms file enhancements permit key Personal Video Recorder (PVR) functionality, including time-shifting, live pause, and simultaneous record and playback. Video contained in a *.dvr-ms file is encoded as MPEG-2 video stream, and the audio contained in the *.dvr-ms file is encoded as MPEG-1 Layer II audio stream. To play back unprotected *.dvr-ms files on Windows XP-based computers, you must have the following software and hardware components: � Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later. � The update that is documented in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base must be installed on the computer: For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 810243 DirectShow playback support for files recorded with Windows XP Media Center Edition � A Windows XP-compatible DVD decoder. For more information about *.dvr-ms files, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnwmt/html/dvrfilechanges.asp