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Major Problem playing videos?

  • 21-03-2012 02:27PM
    #1
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭


    Hi,
    Today my laptop (Acer Aspire 5920) decided to stop playing video properly.
    Now I'm talking everything; Windows media player will play music files no problem but any video file be it wmv,avi,mpeg none will open. I get the "Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file."

    So I thought ok must be a codec error or something, downloaded a new codec pack and updated everything, no joy. I turned media player off/on through program and feature's "windows features" to no avail. I downloaded VLC player and it plays video files with only sound.
    The funny thing is though that PowerPoint can play videos with no problem so I dont know what is up with the other programs.
    Can anyone give an insight as to what I could do to fix this problem?
    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    Odaise Gaelach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,235 ✭✭✭Odaise Gaelach


    Do the videos work on another computer?


  • #3
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭Mick_Grif


    Odaise Gaelach wrote: »
    Do the videos work on another computer?

    Yes with no problems


  • #4
    yoyo
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,017 Mod ✭✭✭✭yoyo


    Its a codec issue, either (my reccomendation) download VLC Player or download a codec pack, such as K-Lite, standard will do

    Nick

    My Beer Glass collection site 🍺

    My Irish Callcards site



  • #5
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    yoyo wrote: »
    Its a codec issue, either (my reccomendation) download VLC Player or download a codec pack, such as K-Lite, standard will do

    Nick

    Hmm... ;)
    Mick_Grif wrote: »
    downloaded a new codec pack and updated everything, no joy.

    I downloaded VLC player and it plays video files with only sound.

    Problem with VLC here, if codecs (even broken ones) are installed, it will by default use them.

    Run the Codec Tweak Tool to detect/remove/fix broken codecs first, and then try again.


  • #6
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    NirSoft's InstalledCodecs is a handy (portable) utility to disable codecs manually. Helps tracking down the culprit.

    Disable all codecs, then try VLC again.


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  • #7
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Torqay wrote: »
    Problem with VLC here, if codecs (even broken ones) are installed, it will by default use them.

    No. It wont.


  • #8
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Voodu Child wrote: »
    No. It wont.

    You're right there, my bad.

    Yet conflicts with ffmpeg if previously installed are not unheard of.


  • #9
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭Mick_Grif


    Thanks all for the suggestions

    Torqay wrote: »
    Hmm... ;)



    Problem with VLC here, if codecs (even broken ones) are installed, it will by default use them.

    Run the Codec Tweak Tool to detect/remove/fix broken codecs first, and then try again.
    Problem with VLC here, if codecs (even broken ones) are installed, it will by default use them.

    Run the Codec Tweak Tool to detect/remove/fix broken codecs first, and then try again.

    Tried both these programs and had no luck in sorting the problem out :(


  • #10
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Do a system restore to a date before the 21st.

    That should hopefully fix the video issue and also remove whatever codec pack you have installed.

    Then just reinstall VLC and use it for videos.


  • #11
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    OK, let's try this:

    Open VLC, go to Tools > Preferences > Video and change the Output from Default to OpenGL and see if it will now play video.

    CrcgY.jpg


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  • #12
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Also, go to Start > Run, type dxdiag and click OK. This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Go to the Display tab and make sure the DirectX Features are enabled.

    JihI5.jpg


  • #13
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭Mick_Grif


    Torqay wrote: »
    OK, let's try this:

    Open VLC, go to Tools > Preferences > Video and change the Output from Default to OpenGL and see if it will now play video.

    You have no idea how much of a legend you are!
    Videos now work fine in VLC!!
    Also, go to Start > Run, type dxdiag and click OK. This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Go to the Display tab and make sure the DirectX Features are enabled.

    Hmm when I checked this out I got that

    DirectDraw Acceleration: Disabled
    Direct3D Acceleration: Disable
    AGP Texture Acceleration: Not Available

    Perhaps this is the problem with Windows Media Player? ( I dont know much about DirectDraw to say myself)
    Sorry to ask but how would you go about enabling these?


  • #14
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Mick_Grif wrote: »
    You have no idea how much of a legend you are!
    Videos now work fine in VLC!!



    Hmm when I checked this out I got that

    DirectDraw Acceleration: Disabled
    Direct3D Acceleration: Disable
    AGP Texture Acceleration: Not Available

    Perhaps this is the problem with Windows Media Player? ( I dont know much about DirectDraw to say myself)
    Sorry to ask but how would you go about enabling these?

    That is indeed the cause, and knowing your luck, the buttons to enable the features are "greyed out", right? ;)

    Well, it's not the end of the world, can you tell us more about your display adapter?


  • #15
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭Mick_Grif


    Torqay wrote: »
    That is indeed the cause, and knowing your luck, the buttons to enable the features are "greyed out", right? ;)

    Well, it's not the end of the world, can you tell us more about your display adapter?

    Even better there are not buttons there:rolleyes:

    Here is the info for the adapter
    iy1j5j.jpg


    EDIT: gah sorry for the size of that image!


  • #16
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    OK, download the latest driver for your card, uninstall the ATI software first before reinstalling.

    Then remove the monitor listed in the device manager (worry not, it will be picked up after the restart).

    If that doesn't fix it, you will have to use a more drastic method to remove the old driver (i.e. AtiCimUn) and repeat the procedure.

    Ah yes, run dxdiag again, what is the amount of memory reported under the Display tab?


  • #17
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭Mick_Grif


    Torqay wrote: »
    OK, download the latest driver for your card, uninstall the ATI software first before reinstalling.

    Then remove the monitor listed in the device manager (worry not, it will be picked up after the restart).

    If that doesn't fix it, you will have to use a more drastic method to remove the old driver (i.e. AtiCimUn) and repeat the procedure.

    Ah yes, run dxdiag again, what is the amount of memory reported under the Display tab?

    Downloading the driver at the minute (one word, eircom :|)
    You mentioned uninstalling ATI software, as far as I can tell I don't think I have any installed, certainty none show up in program files or programs and features, would that be possible?
    As for memory, approx total memory : 1531MB


  • #18
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    That would be possible if you have installed just the basic driver.

    It's Windows 7, right? Was the card automatically detected and installed?


  • #19
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭Mick_Grif


    Torqay wrote: »
    That would be possible if you have installed just the basic driver.

    It's Windows 7, right? Was the card automatically detected and installed?

    Yes it is, I assume so, I bought it ready to go from a shop so not 100%, but have it for a good 6 months without incident


  • #20
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭Mick_Grif


    Torqay wrote: »
    OK, download the latest driver for your card, uninstall the ATI software first before reinstalling.

    Then remove the monitor listed in the device manager (worry not, it will be picked up after the restart).

    If that doesn't fix it, you will have to use a more drastic method to remove the old driver (i.e. AtiCimUn) and repeat the procedure.

    Ah yes, run dxdiag again, what is the amount of memory reported under the Display tab?

    Ok I have done what you said and it didnt work :confused:, still no change on the status of DirectDraw


  • #21
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Some more options here:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/191660

    Download and re-install DirectX.


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  • #22
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    If all this fails, try the Omega ATI Drivers instead. (Again, uninstall the ATI drivers first, if this is an option)

    IIRC that has fixed this issue once before for me.


  • #23
    Mick_Grif
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭Mick_Grif


    Torqay wrote: »
    If all this fails, try the Omega ATI Drivers instead. (Again, uninstall the ATI drivers first, if this is an option)

    IIRC that has fixed this issue once before for me.


    Ill try this later today
    Some more options here:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/191660

    Download and re-install DirectX.

    Tried most of this to no avail...At least however I can play videos with VLC so Im happy ! Thanks a million for sorting it out for me


  • #24
    CptSternn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,530 ✭✭✭CptSternn


    Install the K-Lite codec pack, it will sort out the issue.

    www.codecguide.com


  • #25
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    CptSternn wrote: »
    Install the K-Lite codec pack, it will sort out the issue.

    www.codecguide.com

    We have already established that it is not a codec issue. Either DirectX is broken or the graphics drivers. DirectDraw (and Direct3D) is not available, that's why none of the players is playing video, except VLC if changed to OpenGL.


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