WMP file playback issue

liamw

Hi, I recently upgraded to WMP 11 and had problems with some random AVI files since. OK before the upgrade these files played back with no problem. They are encoded using XVID.

VLC player and WMP classic still play back the files without issues.
GSpot says I have the proper codecs installed for the files (obviously).
I've tried rolling back to WMP10 but to no avail.

The problem is as follows: The file opens fine, without errors, but will not play/stream through the player. I can jump to various parts of the file no problem and see the image at that frame.

I can't fingure out what the problem is. I cannot do a system restore at this point. The reason I didn't notice the problem if you ask right away is because this affects only a portion of my movie files...

Anybody had this problem? Any ideas on how to solve it? Thanks.

8T8

At a guess it might be the splitter has changed that handled avi files when you installed something else.

Try installing Haali Media Splitter and tick the box for AVI support when installing to see what happens.

liamw

Doesn't work. Any other ideas?

Anti

uninstall wmp11, and then reinstall wmp10.

Or before that, try installing the klite mega codec pack.

8T8

Download graphedit & run it then from the menu select render media, point it to one of the files in question and post a screenshot of it if possible (e.g via Imageshack).

Graphedit will show the chain of decoders used for the file.

(You haven't installed Nero by an chance recently ?)

liamw

I've already tried reinstalling K-lite codec pack.
I used graphedit on the AVI and the render outputted the following:
http://liamwhelan.com/x/render.rar

Hmmmm now that you mention it I did install Nero recently enough. I guess Nero's own decoders are interfering? So ye it's probably Nero... although i'd prefer not to have to get rid of it

8T8

Not quite what I meant, use Winsnap to take a screenshot of the Window as I cannot open the graph file you saved.

You wont have to uninstall Nero but you can de-register it's filters so it no longer sticks it's oar into the decoding process (if it turns out Nero is the cause).

If you wanted to try Nero this is Nero's AVI splitter (I think) anyway put this into the run box;
regsvr32 /u "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\DSFilter\NeSplitter.ax"


To re-register it if you want it back simply type;
regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\DSFilter\NeSplitter.ax"

Also when you mentioned WMP Classic in your first post you meant Media Player Classic right the open source player not the old version of WMP that is buried within XP ?

liamw

I don't understand why you can't open the grf file but here is the screenshot:
http://liamwhelan.com/x/render.jpg

Unregistering that nero filter didn't work. I opened a lot of avi's with the graph editor and it seems that the movies which play have audio encoded in mp3 and those that don't use AC3 filter, which is quite strange.

Yes I meant WMP Classic... version 6.4 actually, plays the files back fine (So does Media Player Classic).

So it seems ever since I installed WMP11 (still perhaps Nero?) the new versions won't playback files with AC3 filter. (At least I know for sure there's no problem playing back avi's with mp3 audio).

Very strange indeed but there must be an explanation...

Thanks for your help thus far

8T8

Ah well that narrows things down. Uninstall the Morgan Stream Switcher from what I have seen, it is an out of date piece of software that causes various audio playback problems.
(screenshot from graphedit with ffdshow & AC3Filter)

The AVI container is quite old and not meant for use with MPEG-4 or AC3 but through unfortunate means a lot of people persist in using it because they assume it is the norm (and many hacks are built into players to facilitate playback).

Ideally to avoid these problems encode everything into MKV containers and you will avoid any such issues as AC3 is supported in MKV.

Anyway WMP has always had issues with AC3 in AVI & certainly I have seen playback issues in WMP10 even before WMP11.

Have you got the latest build of AC3Filter from it's site and tried re-installing it ?

Also try uninstalling AC3Filter and go into the ffdshow/audio decoder config & set AC3 to enabled to see if it can playback content.

(Somewhat coincidently I had to do the opposite recently as WMP would not playback an AVI with AC3 using ffdshow & I had to use AC3Filter instead)

liamw

Thanks 8T8. You have been a great help. I have finally solved the problem by unregistering the Morgan Stream Switcher filter using command:
regsvr32 /u mmswitch.ax

Graphedit shows an identical decoder chain for the AVI with AC3 as yours now. I guess I would have either expected WMP update to either remove or suggest removal of this problematic filter... or Klite Codec pack to do the same. Anyways thanks again

8T8

No problem, I'm curious as to what installed the morgan filter though was it the K-lite pack I always advise against installing that as it installs too many unnecessary filters.