Sound, but no video output.

[CloudStalker]

Sometimes Windows updates start to screw around with VLC. If you find this to be the case, go here: C:/Documents and Settings/User (You)/Application Data (this is hidden, make it visible)/vlc. Deleting the entire "vlc" folder will reset the preferences and allow you to start from scratch. Now you should be able to keep DirectX and hardware acceleration on.

[DJ]

I had the same issue - audio, but no video.
It seemed to happen out of the blue (some Windows update perhaps?).

Going to DirectX mode didn't seem to help.
However, turning hardware acceleration off in my video driver seemed to help. So I turned my hardware acceleration back on and started playing with my VLC settings.

After some trial and error, I found this shortcut in the Start Menu, which gave me a picture, but with a flickering.

Start Menu\Programs\VideoLAN\Quick Settings\Video\Set Video mode to DirectX (no hardware acceleration)

However, the flickering was bothering me. Accidentally, I tried another setting, and the flickering stopped. However, I had to turn off hardware acceleration FIRST, before turning off the video overlay.

Start Menu\Programs\VideoLAN\Quick Settings\Video\Set Video mode to DirectX (no video overlay)


Let us know if that helps any of you.

This is a video card or most likely a driver issue. Try updating your drivers to a WHQL certified set of drivers.

[DrunkPick3]

had the same problem with 1 computer try downloading multi res and change resolution and refresh rates
http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/multires.shtm

[patrickday]

Nothing that I know of changed. (Obviously, something did.) When I play in WMP6 or VLC, the sound is present and the video screen goes to the correct size, indicating it can read some of the video data, but is completely black. After trying to open stuff in a browser embedded wmp6, VLC turned on again, but only for a few minutes. Then, it quit working. It now is still all black. I tried deleting the Application Data files, but nothing happens. I have the most recent stable version of VLC. Is this blank screen different from the "grey screen"?

[CloudStalker]

This is a very well known problem with Window Vista users. Try changing the video output module: Preferences > Video > Output modules (check the "Advanced options" box), choose "DirectX video output" from the drop-down box, save and restart VLC media player.

The developers are working on giving further support for Windows Vista so you might want to try the latest version: vlc-0.8.6b-win32.exe

I believe that "Direct3D video output" should be working in this one as well.