Copied from Shark007 Homepage:
The Vista Codec Package is compatible with all
versions of Windows XP
MKV playback is fully supported.
The latest release contains a Settings
Application which enables the user to choose a
different splitters 'on the fly' for specific
filetypes.
The application will also allow you to choose
from 10 different speaker configurations from
'same as input' and all the way up to full 7.1
channel output.
The Settings Application is 100% UAC
compliant.
Restricted access is enforced. (User Account
Control)
The Application allows each user to maintain
individual settings while at the same time
seamlessly integrating any administrative commands
directly into the users account. New users
accounts are detected upon opening the Application
and automatically inherit the Administrators
settings.
Codecs have been a problem for most users at one
time or another.
This is because there has never been an 'out of
the box' working solution that the average
computer user could install and just have
everything work properly from the beginning. There
are several decent codec package solutions out
there, but none of them did everything I wanted. I
was always in need of a tweak, adjustment, or even
a re-installation just to get the codecs I
needed/wanted and most of the time, the file still
didn't play properly. I've never claimed to be a
media guru.
My media experience prior to creating these
packages was to double-click a file I downloaded
and hope that it played.
The installer will automatically remove most
other popular codec releases from your computer
before installing this concise yet comprehensive
package.
You won't need to make any adjustments or tweaks
to enjoy your media content immediately. Windows
Media Player and Vista's Media Center will
instantly recognize all your files as playable.
It does not contain a media player and it does
not associate file-types.
With this package installed you will be able to
use any media player, limited only by the players'
capabilities, to play all movies and video
clips.
Streaming video is supported in several formats
in all popular web browsers.
Users of VCP have the ability to choose what is
installed and where to install it using the public
redistributable. After installation you can select
to remove specific portions without removing the
entire package.
You can also re-add the removed items at any
time.
This package supports 18 localizations.
The default is English and the installer includes
support for the following other languages; Chinese
Simplified/Traditional, Japanese, Czech, Dutch,
Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian,
Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Polish,
Swedish and Turkish.
Languages can be added upon request.
UNINSTALL YOUR OLD VERSION - upgrades are
enabled but not recommended
Changelog:
Changes from v5.2.8 -> v5.2.9:
Create a 100% stable release
Revert FFDShow for stability
Update XviD to SVN 1.2.2
Update the settings application
Changes from v5.2.7 -> v5.2.8:
Fix explorer crash in 527
Update FFDShow to SVN rev 2975
Changes from v5.2.6 -> v5.2.7
Update Gabest SVN rev 1125
Update FFDShow to SVN rev 2972
Update XviD to SVN rev 1.3.0
Improve thumbnail support
Changes from v5.2.5 -> v5.2.6
Update Gabest rev 1111
Revert FFDShow to a stable version
Add new functionality to Settings App
Add filetype icons for WMP associations
Several improvements for the settings app
Changes from v5.2.4 -> v5.2.5
Update FFDShow rev 2943
Update Gabest rev 1101
Add new functions to Settings App
Implement filetype associations for WMP
Associations can be reverted to previous state
Comments from the uploader (olofolleola4):
Here is a list of all things automatically
uninstalled by the VCP installer:
AC3Filter Spdifer
AC3Filter
Haali MatroskaSplitter
Real Alternative
K-Lite Codec Pack - all versions
Combined Community Codec Pack
ffdshow standalone installer
XviD standalone installer
Storm Codec Pack
XP Codec Pack
Satsuki Decoder Pack
Theorica Divx

Codecs
LD-Anim
ACE Mega CoDecS Pack
MUSK Codec Pack v5
TTPack
Recode Media
Codec Pack - All In 1
Cole 2k codecpack
CodecPack
Essentials Codec Pack
Xiph.Org Ogg Codecs
If you DO NOT want something on this list
uninstalled,
choose a CUSTOM installation and de-select
Conflict detection.