Reading linuxfr.org, I found a new software, written in Python (it can then run on all -almost- platforms), that can extract very precious data from your files : metadata.
For example, running hachoir on an avi movie will tell you which container, video codec, audio codec, etc.. were used; the length, the framerate, etc… of the movie.
So, now that you want to test it, how can you install it on your (linux in this example) computer ?
Well, it depends on your distribution…
On Kubuntu (or Ubuntu), or Debian Sarge, I couldn’t install it, because of dependency problems, but if you want to give it a try, just add these 2 lines in your /etc/apt/sources.list :

, and :
#apt-get update
#apt-get upgrade
#apt-get install hachoir-parser hachoir-metadata

If it doesn’t work, don’t worry, you can install easily it using … easy_install !
#apt-get install easy_install
Almost done !
Juste type in:

Easy isn’t it ?
To use it, it’s also very simple :

Well, I guess this file is a real video file !

To know more about this great software, just check this website out :
Hachoir official website, and feel free to contact the author, I can testify he will answer your questions !