new version 3.0.12 on win XP - Subtitles loaded but not shown

[kondoril]

new version 3.0.12 on win XP - Subtitles loaded but not shown

[Lotesdelere]

It works on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 though.

Please open Tools -> Messages (set Verbosity to 2) before you start the playback, and then paste the full resulting log here or on Pastebin.com if it's too long.

You should create a new ticket on the VLC Trac with your above report and the link to this thread:
https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/

[mederi]

ticket 25411
Just like a problem with OSD: https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=156209

[gregvlc2020]

Hi,
I have similar problem but on Win 7 German VLC 3.0.11 - I can choose (add) a file with subtitles (.srt), on PC subs are OK, but on Chromecast NOT (Playback rederrer > chromecast). Multimedia file: *.mkv with 2 audio tracks and 1 subs track.

[KES]

Same here. Downgraded to previous version. Never in 40 years of computing have I had to do that. Very disappointed.

[Hitchhiker]

Same here. Downgraded to previous version. Never in 40 years of computing have I had to do that. Very disappointed.

It's the operating system which is the culprit here not vlc. I have Win 8.1 installed and can view subs without a problem in 3.0.12


(click to enlage)

There comes a time unfortunately when old technology no longer works with modern apps and an upgrade to a later version of Windows becomes a necessity. For example the minimum system requirements to run the forthcoming vlc 4.0 is Windows 7. https://www.ghacks.net/2019/02/06/vlc-media-player-4-0/

Either that or switch to a Linux distro.

[mederi]

Developers of VLC need logs from an XP user. Please somebody get the logs and provide them in the ticket 25411. You can use VLC 3.0.12 as a portable one without installation, just extract VLC (vlc-3.0.12-win32.7z) and manually create empty "portable" folder in VLC dir where "vlc.exe" is.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Same here. Downgraded to previous version. Never in 40 years of computing have I had to do that. Very disappointed.

This wouldn't be happening if somebody actually cared to test VLC nightlies on XP, or pay an IT support company to maintain VLC properly... instead of complaining when it is too late.

The VideoLAN foundation does not have resources to spare on testing for regression with ancient OS versions. It hardly has the resources to test stable releases at all.

[KES]

Same here. Downgraded to previous version. Never in 40 years of computing have I had to do that. Very disappointed.

It's the operating system which is the culprit here not vlc. I have Win 8.1 installed and can view subs without a problem in 3.0.12


(click to enlage)

There comes a time unfortunately when old technology no longer works with modern apps and an upgrade to a later version of Windows becomes a necessity. For example the minimum system requirements to run the forthcoming vlc 4.0 is Windows 7. https://www.ghacks.net/2019/02/06/vlc-media-player-4-0/

Either that or switch to a Linux distro.

But it was said to work. And it still says it will work.

Windows requirements

VLC runs on all versions of Windows, from Windows XP SP3 to the last version of Windows 10.

Therefore it is VLC at fault not the OS.

If version 4 fails to work with XP then it is VLC's loss as I'll not change OS. Sure to be plenty of other apps that will do the job or I could just stick with my current VLC version. XP is still IMO the best OS MickySoft have ever made and probably ever will. That dirty trick they played on my 80 year old friend when he clicked the close button on a Win 7 to 10 upgrade but they went on and did it anyway made me some money fixing it but they lost what little reputation they had with at least two people.

And don't tell me what OS to use. I choose my apps accordingly. VLC promised to work but failed to.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

So you can choose to use XP and blame it on VLC, but VLC developers cannot choose which OS they spend their free time supporting? This looks pretty hypocritical to me.

Windows XP display drivers are notoriously buggy. Microsoft and device vendors don't bother fixing drivers for XP since it is no longer supported. It's as simple as that. It's also not getting security updates, so it's pretty dangerous and irresponsible to use on the Internet at this point.

And VLC never promised to work. The license clearly states (emphasis added):

NO WARRANTY

11. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY
FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN
OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES
PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS
TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE
PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING,
REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

12. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING
WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR
REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES,
INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING
OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY
YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER
PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

You are most welcome to assume the cost of all necessary (...) correction to restore subtitles on Windows XP. I'm sure some IT consultants would charge you for it.

[Vampiros]

This seems to be getting worked on a bit (see https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc/-/issues/25411). I would be happy to test any corrected versions on XP.

[Hitchhiker]

This seems to be getting worked on a bit (see https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc/-/issues/25411). I would be happy to test any corrected versions on XP.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's being "worked on".

On Github where you've contributed a couple of screenshots you mentioned that the font can't be changed, but that's not the case at all. Follow instructions in this tutorial to change the font which you should do anyway since MS Shell dlg 2 - shown in one of the screenshots - is only used to display Greek glyphs.

Here's a pix of the menu where you can change the font.


(click to enlarge)

[Vampiros]

This seems to be getting worked on a bit (see https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc/-/issues/25411). I would be happy to test any corrected versions on XP.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's being "worked on".

On Github where you've contributed a couple of screenshots you mentioned that the font can't be changed, but that's not the case at all. Follow instructions in this tutorial to change the font which you should do anyway since MS Shell dlg 2 - shown in one of the screenshots - is only used to display Greek glyphs.

Here's a pix of the menu where you can change the font.


(click to enlarge)

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, changing to "All" settings rather than "Simple" settings does not work any better... with version 3.0.12 on Windows XP. Indeed, the Freetype2 font renderer is not even displayed - there is nothing after "Subsdelay" (see screenshot below). This appears to be consistent with the analysis (here) that "The freetype module does not seem to load".

[Hitchhiker]

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, changing to "All" settings rather than "Simple" settings does not work any better... with version 3.0.12 on Windows XP. Indeed, the Freetype2 font renderer is not even displayed - there is nothing after "Subsdelay" (see screenshot below). This appears to be consistent with the analysis (here) that "The freetype module does not seem to load".

Unfortunately I can't view your screenshot because it requires a login to Google.

Upload it to the same free image hosting I use which is https://postimages.org/ No account login required there.

In the "All" settings type text renderer and it should take you directly to the menu shown in the picture.


(click to enlarge)

[Vampiros]

Unfortunately I can't view your screenshot because it requires a login to Google.

Upload it to the same free image hosting I use which is https://postimages.org/ No account login required there.

In the "All" settings type text renderer and it should take you directly to the menu shown in the picture.


(click to enlarge)

Sorry about that - I can see my screenshot without being logged in to any Google account, but apparently this is not true for everyone. And thanks for the tip about Postimages. The screenshot hosted there is right here :

[Hitchhiker]

Did you try typing "Text Renderer" (without quotes) in the Search field top left?

[Vampiros]

No, I will have to reinstall version 3.0.12 to test that, so I will do it another day. I just tried to fix the Google image link from before, I am hoping that will work now.

[Hitchhiker]

Are you using Classic Shell? The only reason I'm asking is because you don't appear to be using the default XP interface in your screenshots.

If you are, try disabling it since these kind of applications can prevent third party applications like vlc from functioning properly.

[Lotesdelere]

Are you using Classic Shell? The only reason I'm asking is because you don't appear to be using the default XP interface in your screenshots.

It's the Classic theme, nothing fancy there.
I have the feeling the module is just not loaded, usually because of some missing instruction or not compiled with NT 5.1 compatibility.

[Hitchhiker]

Are you using Classic Shell? The only reason I'm asking is because you don't appear to be using the default XP interface in your screenshots.

It's the Classic theme, nothing fancy there.
I have the feeling the module is just not loaded, usually because of some missing instruction or not compiled with NT 5.1 compatibility.

Could be.

Ms Shell Dlg 2 appears in the registry at this location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes but not in the vlc text renderer.



You're probably right on the missing instruction supposition since it seems a bit odd that vlc would load a substitute font instead of a standard one.

[Vampiros]

Right, here is the latest screenshot, typing "text renderer" in "All" settings and using the ugly default XP interface. The Freetype2 font renderer is unfortunately still missing. Again, this supports the idea that "The freetype module does not seem to load". Any other ideas would be welcome.

[Lotesdelere]

The problem may lie in the SSA subtitles plugin of v3.0.12, even on Windows 10, according to this report:
https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.ph ... 06#p516006

Or is it linked to the codec being used or anything else ? Because v3.0.12 works for me so far with the few MKV+SSA sample files I have.

[Vampiros]

I have only tried SRT subtitle files, and they don't work. Additionally, there is no on-screen display of any kind, which suggests that this is in fact the same problem as the one reported here:
https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=156209

[Hitchhiker]

That's odd: the complete Video menu is missing in your screenshot. Does it appear in the Simple mode?

[Vampiros]

That's odd: the complete Video menu is missing in your screenshot. Does it appear in the Simple mode?

Yes, there is a Video section in "Simple" settings as well as in "All" settings (see screenshots below). However, when you start to type in the Search area (in "All" settings), only certain menus (considered "relevant") are displayed. Since the Freetype2 font renderer cannot be found, the only "relevant" result is "ARIB subtitles", which is in the "Input / Codecs" menu. At least, that is how I would explain it.


(click to enlarge)