In the early days of computing, media conversion and processing tools were not as abundant or user-friendly as they are today. One such tool that gained popularity back in the day was Format Factory, a free, third-party software designed to convert and process various multimedia files. Specifically, the 32-bit version of Format Factory for Windows 7 was a go-to solution for users needing to convert audio, video, and image files.
Format Factory serves as a "multitool" for media, providing several utilities in one package:
Even though these are considered "old," they are incredibly powerful tools.
Released in late 2010, version 2.60 is a "lightweight" option ideal for minimal hardware. It handles all major formats (video to MP4/AVI, audio to MP3) and repairs damaged video files. User experiences report it has a very fast and responsive interface.
Extract audio and video directly from unprotected DVDs and CDs.
Old versions hate modern MKV toolboxes. Use MKVToolNix (old version for Win7) to remux the file into an AVI container first, then convert.
If the app opens and immediately closes: