VLC crashes after update to 2.2.0 under Win 8.1

[HarryW]

I have just updated VLC from 2.1.5 to 2.2.0 (after an update reminder from Secunia PSI). My desktop's operating System is Windows 8.1. VLC 2.1.5 has always run without problems. VLC 2.2.0 crashes and gives the message: 'VLC media player just crashed'. What should I do? Many thanks in advance for your help.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

What CPU is that?

[HarryW]

The CPU used is: Intel Core i7-4770 @ 3.40GHz

[legionbre]

I am having the same issue:
Running Windows 8.1
Intel Core i7-3632QM CPU @ 2.20GHz
64-bit operating system, x64 based processor, 8GB RAM

Previously no problems. After new update to 2.2.0 the program will open and it can play music files fine (mp3) but whenever it tries to open any video files (avi,mp4,flv,mkv) it crashes every time instantly before the file plays, with the message "VLC media player just crashed". I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling. I have tried regular and 64 bit versions. I have deleted preferences and cache. I have reset to default preferences. I have tried downgrading to version 2.1.5 and 2.1.2 (in both 32 and 64 bit versions) all with the same problem. Running with administrative privileges or in compatibility mode for Windows 8 does not help.

I will also just mention that AVG was originally installed around the time that the new VLC was installed and subsequently crashed, but all these attempted fixes have been after AVG has been uninstalled and the computer restarted.

Here is the vlc crashdump:
[version]
OS=6.2.9200.2.
VLC=2.1.5 Rincewind

[exceptions]
c0000005 at 6b93af75x | 00000000 | 00000014

[context]
EDI:05e9ea20x
ESI:00000000x
EBX:04c7f430x
EDX:00000000x
ECX:05e9ea20x
EAX:00000000x
EBP:04c7f3e0x
EIP:6b93af75x
ESP:04c7f36cx

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

The CPU used is: Intel Core i7-4770 @ 3.40GHz

When does it happen? On start or on playback start?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

I am having the same issue:

No, you probably don't.

[HarryW]

Answer to Jean-Baptiste Kempf's question "When does it happen? On start or on playback start?":
After new update to 2.2.0 the program will open and it can play music files fine (mp3) but whenever it tries to open any video files (e.g. mp4) it crashes every time instantly before the file plays, with the message "VLC media player just crashed". This is very similar to legionbre's experience. Sofar I have not taken the effort of uninstalling and reinstalling.

[legionbre]

I am having the same issue:

No, you probably don't.

After new update to 2.2.0 the program will open and it can play music files fine (mp3) but whenever it tries to open any video files (e.g. mp4) it crashes every time instantly before the file plays, with the message "VLC media player just crashed". This is very similar to legionbre's experience....

So considering every part of our problem behaves the same, I presume it is the same issue. I have tried, as far as I know, all the basic fixes - is there anything else we can try to resolve this?

As a side note - I will just add a little more information about how the error occurs. If you double click a VLC associated file, the VLC crashed message comes up immediately. After selecting no to sending a report (always fails to make a connection if you say yes), VLC player pops up for a second, with the file loaded - correctly displaying the length of the file playtime, but then as it goes to actually play the file, it closes immediately before displaying any image or sound.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Answer to Jean-Baptiste Kempf's question "When does it happen? On start or on playback start?":
After new update to 2.2.0 the program will open and it can play music files fine (mp3) but whenever it tries to open any video files (e.g. mp4) it crashes every time instantly before the file plays, with the message "VLC media player just crashed".

Try a different video output in preferences and restart VLC.

[legionbre]

Try a different video output in preferences and restart VLC.

I tried the following video preferences:

Automatic - fails
Direct3D video output - fails
DirectX (DirectDraw) video output - Runs with sound - but static pink screen
Direct2D video output - Runs with sound and video

PS: To HarryW
To change to this setting go to
Tools > Preferences > Video > Display > Output (drop down menu)

So we have a winner. Now that its working - do you know why this might have happened in the first place?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Looks like buggy display drivers.

[HarryW]

Try a different video output in preferences and restart VLC.

I tried the following video preferences:

Automatic - fails
Direct3D video output - fails
DirectX (DirectDraw) video output - Runs with sound - but static pink screen
Direct2D video output - Runs with sound and video

PS: To HarryW
To change to this setting go to
Tools > Preferences > Video > Display > Output (drop down menu)

So we have a winner. Now that its working - do you know why this might have happened in the first place?

Many thanks guys for your help! I was away from home for some time, so I was not able to respond any earlier. I applied the winner found by legionbre and it works at my PC as well.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

This is very bad, because Direct2D has very low quality.

[HarryW]

This is very bad, because Direct2D has very low quality.

Are there any alternative solutions, which do not push us into low quality?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Update video drivers, I guess. Or OpenGL?

[HarryW]

Update video drivers, I guess. Or OpenGL?

Many thanks for your answer.
Can you please explain to me how I can do so? For this is a completely unknown area to me. Where / How can I find the video drivers and OpenGL? How can I check if an update is available? Which steps should I take to update?
I am most gratefull for your help.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Preferences->Video output.

[HarryW]

Preferences->Video output.

Dear Jean-Baptiste,

I don't understand your answer. When (in VLC) I follow the steps Tools > Preferences > Video > Display > Output (drop down menu), I find no way to check if an update of a video driver is available; I find just the drop down list with Automatic, Direct3D video output, DirectX (DirectDraw) video output, Direct2D video output etc.

As this is a completely unknown area to me, please explain step by step where / how I can find the video drivers and OpenGL, how can I check if an update is available and which steps I should take to update. Without such a cookbook approach I am quite lost. I am most gratefull for your help.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

In the drop down list, there is an OpenGL choice.

[Joshy]

In order to resolve my similar issue (post topic: VLC 2.1.0 crashing issue) I also tried the suggestions on this page, to no avail... Different video outputs; e.g. Direct2D, OpenGL, etc...