Sony Bravia Is Not Playing an AVI File
By J.M. Chanel
Some Sony Bravia HDTV models have a USB port for playing AVI files from a portable hard drive or flash drive. You may discover that some AVI files will not play on a USB-enabled Sony Bravia TV. This problem could be caused by several different factors, including drive errors or an AVI file in the wrong format.
AVI File Formats
Sony Bravia HDTVs that are capable of playing AVI video files are only compatible with videos encoded in the H.264 or MPEG4 video format. If an AVI file is not in the H.264 or MPEG4 format, it will not work on the Sony Bravia HDTV. Also, AVI files encoded with the DivX codec can be played, as DivX is a modified version of the MPEG4 video format.
Supported Audio Formats
USB-enabled Sony Bravia HDTVs can only play audio in the MP3, AAC and MPEG4-AAC formats. If an AVI file has an audio track that is not in these formats, it will not be compatible for playback. If the AVI file does play on the Bravia TV, it will play without the audio track.
Converting Video Files
If you have an AVI file that will not play on the Sony Bravia HDTV, you can convert the video to a compatible format on your computer. Several video converter programs are available for free, including FFmpeg, SUPER and VirtualDub. Make sure to save the video file with either H.264 or MPEG4 compression and with MP3, AAC or MPEG4-AAC audio for proper playback on the Sony Bravia HDTV.
Drive Problems
If an AVI file is in the proper format, but a USB-enabled Sony Bravia HDTV is still unable to play the file, it could be due to problems with the USB external hard drive or flash drive. Try copying the AVI file to another USB drive and see if it can read it. Also, make sure the drives you are using are formatted in the FAT32 file system, as FAT32 drives work best with the Sony Bravia USB interface. Also, scan the USB drive for any bad sectors with a disk scanning utility to make sure it is functioning properly.
References
Writer Bio
J.M. Chanel began writing in 2002 as a webmaster for an independent film company. He graduated from West Virginia University, earning a Bachelor of Science in journalism. Chanel has been contributing to online publications since 2010.