The VideoLAN Forums

For some odd reason, VLC has suddenly stopped playing any video files. It shows me a grey screen and I can hear the correct sounds playing, that's it. I already rebooted and reset my preferences. Any help?

I'm using Vlc player 0.8.2 with windows XP, btw.

I got the same problem: From one day to another my VLC Player is not willing to play any files he used to play days before - no reinstallation or installation of an earlier version could fix the problem. You hear the sound, but only a grey programm window. both versions, the newest and an older one, used to run perfectly. I work with a 7950GT graficboard and I didnt change any preferences or something that could have an comprehensibly effect that makes any VLC version unusable. I searched today for 2 hours in forums and I found many posts, and only answers like "you got a codec problem" or something like that, but thats not right!
How in the hell do I keep my VLC running like it always did, when it still got no video output when I reinstall it?

Thanks for help! Cheers

Erase the preferences directory. C:\Documents and Settings\Owner (this is you)\Application Data\VLC Erase VLC, Application Data is a hidden directory so you will need to make it visible.

If you are using a version earlier than 0.8.6 you may need to reboot your machine.

Thanks a lot, but the folder you described isnt on my computer, yet. Because I deleted -the program asked for- the preferences and cache by deinstalling.
But any version, doesnt matter if new or old, doesnt run on this system.
I cant understand, cause theres nothing I can do I think! The vlc never ever have made such an undescribeable bullsh.... and I´m very sad because I liked the program very much and cant find an alternative.

greatings

I did it once again this moment.

Deinstall and delete preferences + cache, Install Ver. 8.6a from Videolan HP, Directionary (D:) Patiton (Same Effekt on (C:)- delux installed an supercool sound, but grey window with two black stripes left and right.

What the ...

So you say that you have audio but no video huh? Try changing the video output modules: Preferences > Video > Output modules (Check the “Advanced options” box), and restart VLC each time you choose a different output.

the folder you described isnt on my computer, yet. Because I deleted -the program asked for- the preferences and cache by deinstalling.
But any version, doesnt matter if new or old, doesnt run on this system.

Really? That folder should be there, plus uninstalling VLC and checking the box “Delete preferences and cache” doesn't remove the vlc folder under your user.

Are you sure you have the latest drivers for you’re video card? And how do these videos run under different media players?

Oh and thanks for helping me reach the 300 post mark.

Hey, I dont really know what you mean with: changing the output modules?
Some weeks ago my vlc runs like it always did. And I wouldnt know a reason that gets me to change options in this section weeks before, hm.

But, I installed the newest Nvidia driver an got -no effekt-

Other progs?
like on any else computer:

media player 11
avi: are no problem
mpgs: Sound-yes, video-codec problem.
vob: audio deluxe, but no video

quicktime: I got the sucking version which installs automatically when i installed itunes. tries always to connect to the net. I tried drag + drop, open with.. and so on, shorter: doesnt run

power dvd 7: yes works sometimes...sometimes black screen, when you move the window you see the film, when you stop its black again...
but only 30 days and no 3pg and the other fat stuff that my vlc did support! I really miss it!

about the preferences and cache folder:
when I install the vlc its there, when I uninstall it, its no longer there:)

How many users do you have on you’re computer? Sometimes the “vlc” folder is stored under another user, as was the case with the computer I’m using, and you might have to search the Application Data of one of the other users.

quicktime: I got the sucking version which installs automatically when i installed itunes.

You can get the none –whatever it is you said version— here (it’s the second one down): Quicktime 7.1.5 for Windows.
Then again, I guess they all…you know, in comparison to VLC media player.

I am the only one user. got an C, for system partition, a D for programms, and E for datas.. but no chance when I install it on C or D...

now I tried the divx player:

great sound, great video, but he gets an completely overdose when you drag + drop vts vob mpg files and so on, which are all including in a dvd package, in the program list. it plays the first, no.. now the last part.. oh no, just the third part from the beginning, or is it the end, yet? kollega, kollega...

yes, thanks for the link, but thats the same... when I start quicktime..LOADING... LOADING... Than preferences: all kind of files...
and no chance to run a vob vts or dvd...

This is a very scary problem I tell you...

I've posted this in the Vista post, maybe this will help:

Hi.

Just to let you know: I've upgraded my NVidia driver (GEForce 7600GT PCI-E) to the latest 100.65 and lost the video output in VLC. Sound was stil ok, but no video.
I tried the Forceware beta 101.41, still no image.
I rolled back to the version 97.46 and everything works fine again.
So... be carefull when upgrading your NVidia Geforce Forceware driver.

how can i install forceware? i have radeon 1950xtx.. but same problem gray window. sometimes brown or red. but when people speak there comes subtitle and everything looks normal. then they stop speaking and everything is gray or brown or some other color.

how can i install forceware? i have radeon 1950xtx.. but same problem gray window. sometimes brown or red. but when people speak there comes subtitle and everything looks normal. then they stop speaking and everything is gray or brown or some other color.

Forceware is a NVidia driver that works only with NVidia cards. It will not work with ATI products.

MOTHER...ING!!!!

It seems like its the driver! Installed yesterday, I just deinstalled the newest 91.47 forceware driver from the nvidia server, restarted, and just tried to watch a movie in 800x600 resolution or something like that. IT WORKS!!! Brilliant! (in 800x600...pfffft)

So now I installed the "older" driver on my CD from EVGA which came with the videocard, and what about friends: EVERYTHING GREY IN THE WINDOW. What should I say? (Everything I like to say is not for ears from kids under 16)
But now I´ve a new information where the problems come from!
Well, we will see...

Is there a possibility to get an other solution than the forceware driver to get the card workin?

May be the end of March as both nVidia and ATI promise new drivers for VISTA

viewtopic.php?t=32513

However, this should have nothing to do with XP users.

same problem as others...
HP laptop with GMA950 video.
fresh install of xp
everything worked fine last week.
updated to newer intel video drivers
plugged my monitor into the second video output
now it doesn't work. (black video, audio ok)

WMP9 and 11 didn't work either.

right now, VLC ONLY works when I use OpenGL mode, which seems slower than it should be.


thoughts? (WMP11 has no video, nor does VLC in Dx mode)

I've tried moving back and forth between the driver versions
installed WMP11
installed Dx9 runtime

also, running vlc from "dos prompt" with the -vvv cmd didn't produce any debug info, am I looking in the right places?

Most video cards do not support video acceleration for the second monitor. Try shutting off "Overlay video output" in Preferences, Video then press Save and close the player.

i have the same problem, i have a 6800 GT and i Just renistalled vlc, what codecs do i need?

what codecs do i need?

None, VLC uses its own built-in codecs. Did you try referring to some of the previous posts (Change video output, update drivers, ect)?

i am going to do that right now.

IT WORKS!!, TY

Hi, I also have this issue, but I'm able to do a temporary fix, what I do is this, I play first the .avi video on in windows media player, then I play the video on VLC without closing the windows media player, when I{m able to see the video on VLC I close the and windows media player it works fine.

PS ---> If I stopped the video and then play it again I have the grey window again

Farewell

For some odd reason, VLC has suddenly stopped playing any video files. It shows me a grey screen and I can hear the correct sounds playing, that's it. I already rebooted and reset my preferences. Any help?

Just to let you know that I had the same problem and here's how I solved it. First, I deleted the settings folder (as suggested in the beginning posts) but the problem was still there.

Then, I found some usefull stuff in the Start Menu (windows, probably only available if you did a installation instead of just unzipping the VLC files) : VLC folder > Quick Settings > Video. Then I tried them all and now it works perfectly!

Hi, I also have this issue, but I'm able to do a temporary fix, what I do is this, I play first the .avi video on in windows media player, then I play the video on VLC without closing the windows media player, when I{m able to see the video on VLC I close the and windows media player it works fine.

PS ---> If I stopped the video and then play it again I have the grey window again

Farewell

Try shutting off "Overlay video output" in Preferences, Video then press Save and close the player.

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.