Introduction

This guide will show you how to install and configure QuickTime for optimal performance and user satisfaction.

Step 1: Downloading the installer

Download QuickTime HERE. Choose the version without iTunes.

Step 2: Installation

If you already have QuickTime installed, then we recommend to uninstall it first. After the uninstallation you should reboot your computer.

Now run the installer (QuickTimeInstaller.exe)

Click on the next button on the first page on the installation wizard.
Accept the license agreement.
Now you will be on the Destination Folder page. Uncheck the box for Automatic check for updates. You don't need that.
Click on the Install button. The installation will now begin.
Click on the Configure File & MIME Types button that is shown on the last page of the installation wizard. If you don't see the button, then don't worry, the file and MIME types can also be configured in the QuickTime control panel (see step 3).

File types:

At the bottom, uncheck the box in front of Notify me if other applications modify these associations.

Uncheck everything except these:
* Video - QuickTime Movie
* Miscellaneous - QuickTime HTML
Optionally you can also safely enable these:
* Audio - Sound Designer II
* Audio - GSM audio
* Audio - AMR audio
* Audio - CAF audio
* MPEG - 3GPP media
* MPEG - 3GPP2 media
* MPEG - AMC media
* MPEG - AAC audio
* MPEG - AAC audio (protected)
* MPEG - AAC audio book
* MPEG - Video (protected)
* Images - MacPaint image
* Images - PICT image
* Images - QuickTime image
* Images - SGI image
* Images - TGA image
* Images - JPEG2000 image

MIME Types:

At the bottom, uncheck the box in front of Notify me if other applications modify these associations.

Uncheck everything except these:
* Streaming - SDP stream descriptor
* Streaming - RTSP stream descriptor
* Video - QuickTime Movie
* Audio - WAVE audio
* Audio - MIDI
* Audio - AMR audio
Optionally you can also safely enable these:
* Video - AutoDesk Animator
* Audio - AIFF audio
* Audio - uLaw/AU audio
* Audio - QualCOMM PureVoice audio
* Audio - GSM audio
* Audio - CAF audio
* MPEG - 3GPP media
* MPEG - 3GPP2 media
* MPEG - SD video
* MPEG - AMC media
* MPEG - AAC audio (protected)
* MPEG - Video (protected)
* Images - MacPaint image
* Images - PICT image
* Images - QuickTime image
* Images - SGI image
* Images - TGA image
* Images - JPEG2000 image
Click on the Finish button.

Step 3: Configuration

You should now see a blue QuickTime icon in your system tray. It is located in the bottom right corner of your screen.

Right-click on that icon and select QuickTime Preferences. If you don't see the icon, then you can also go the the preferences via: Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> QuickTime.

Browser tab:

If you want embedded QT movies to first completely download before playback starts, then you should uncheck Play movies automatically. That way you won't have any interruptions during playback. If you have a fast Internet connection, then you can leave the auto-play enabled.

Click on the MIME Settings... button if you did not yet configure the MIME types. See step 2 for the recommended MIME settings.

Update tab:

Uncheck Check for updates automatically.

Streaming tab:

Optionally set the Streaming Speed. Select the one that best matches your Internet Connection.
Uncheck Enable Instant-On.

File Types tab:

See step 2 for the recommended settings.

Advanced tab:

Uncheck Install QuickTime icon in system tray.

Step 4: Removal of qttask.exe

Even though the QuickTime tray icon is now disabled, the helper application qttask.exe will still run for a short while every time you start your computer. This application is pretty much useless, so you can disable it if you want.

Open the Registry Editor:
Start -> Run -> type regedit and press enter.

Navigate to the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

In this key you should see several values. One of them is QuickTime Task. Delete that value. After that you can close the Registry Editor.

You can now also safely delete qttask.exe. By default it is located in the folder:
C:\Program Files\QuickTime

Step 5: Configuring QuickTime Player

Start the QuickTime Player. In the top menu, click on Edit -> Preferences -> Player Preferences.

Enable Use high quality video setting when available.
Disable Show Content Guide at startup.

Tips & Tricks

How to download HD trailers

On the Apple website, you can view hi-definition movie trailers in QuickTime Player by clicking on special buttons that are embedded in the web page, usually with a caption like "480p" or "720p" or "1080p".

On the Yahoo! movie site, you can also view hi-definition movie trailers in QT Player. This time the buttons link to a .qtl file which opens by default in QT Player.

How to download these HD trailers and play them in a player of your choice?
The solution: MOV Download Tool.

Solving installation errors

Here you can find some solutions for errors that you might get during installation or uninstallation of QuickTime.

Error 2738

The problem is that the 32-bit version of VBScript.dll is not registered on your computer. Take the following steps to register it:

Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Right Click on Command Prompt -> Run As Administrator.
Type cd c:\windows\system32 and press Enter.
Type regsvr32 vbscript.dll and press Enter. Note: if you didn't run as Administrator, regsvr32 will fail.

If registration fails with error code 0x80004005, then you need to do the following:

Download Windows Script 5.6
Install it. The system will inform you that a newer version of some files are already installed on your computer. You must allow the installer to overwrite the newer versions. But do this one file at a time, until you see vbscript.dll. After that you can simply allow the installer to keep the newer files on your system.

Now you should be able to install QuickTime without getting the error.

Solving uninstallation errors

We have written a guide for manually removing QuickTime.

Codec Guide

QuickTime Installation Guide