The VideoLAN Forums

When i try to stream a http stream i notice that a tmp file is generated in the temporary folder for Windows. This tmp file just keeps growing and thus causes a problem when the drive goes empty of free space.

In other words the maximum time i can watch a stream depends on how much free space i have on my windows drive.

Can this some how be resolved?

I Have a new Version of VLS, but the TMP File Grow still again. Can i turn it off?

 

VLC media player (vlc-1.1.11-win32.exe) still have this problem.

It creates Temp file with random name which grows in size "indefinitely" (maybe stops at 4 GB ?)
(tested during play of tv7.asx file saved from http://iptv.bg/watch )






If you are curious - tv7.asx file contents (but the problem exists with every TV stream):

One time I watched the VLC Temp file size become ~2.2 GB and the free space on the Windows partition as low as 3 MB at which time I exited VLC.
In the case of crash this will leave an unexperienced user with full disk and even with unbootable Windows!

To not check the free space on the Windows partition and use it all is a BUG for me.
Please, correct it.

This problem obviously exists for many years as the first post in this thread is from 2005
As I don't know how to properly fill the "Trac ticket" - somebody of you who knows, please report this bug where and how it is properly.


I see several possible solutions:

1) Do not use Temp file at all - use memory buffer (e.g. 8-32 MB)

2) When the Temp file is close to e.g. 64 MB - create another Temp file (where points the Write pointer) and after the Read pointer jumps to the 2nd file - delete the 1st Temp file.

3) Use the approach implemented by Inhatch Webplugins (which I think is based on some parts/modules of VLC media player ):
http://inhatch.com/
http://inhatch.com/Download

I like the management of the Temp files in Inhatch:
They create 64 MB file and reuse it from the beginning when pointers go to the end-of-file.
As the filename is the same every time (for the same TV channel) - in a case of crash the file will be automatically reused and deleted at the next time the user watches the same TV channel.


 

There shouldn't be any temp file generation in VLC. Timeshift can do this, but you have to enable it manually.

I will test this during weekend.

 

There shouldn't be any temp file generation in VLC.

I documented this using Opened Files View (53 KB):
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.html
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/opened_files_view.html


To get the screenshots use this link (382 KB, 11 .png files (1600 x 1144 Pixels) in .rar):
http://www.datafilehost.com/download-918a1f16.html

( DataFileHost have No download timer, very lite/simple site)

In the screenshots look at the last (pink) line.
They show the process name (vlc.exe) which owns the file and that in about 30 minutes the .tmp file becomes 400 MB

This is (link to) the last screenshot:

Timeshift can do this, but you have to enable it manually.

Are these the settings for Timeshift?:
Are these the defaults?




I don't remember changing anything here.

(But when I install every new VLC version I choose to install over the previous (and not uninstall first).
And choose to preserve the settings (so I do not lose e.g. subtitle settings (font size/position, Cyrillic, ...))

Will uninstall of previous VLC (as proposed by newer installations) remove the current settings?
Is there a way to [Reset Preferences] only for the current page (or even for a single item)?
)

 

I meant that timeshift doesn't store anything automatically, you have to use pause to start it (so Media -> Open URL shouldn't do anything like that).

I will test this tomorrow when I have my network configured.

I can't replicate this. Do VLC messages (Tools -> Messages, set Verbosity to 2) complain something during the playback? And when you stop the playback, are there any errors or debug message related to that?

Best way to reset VLC settings is to remove %appdata%\vlc folder.

I meant that timeshift doesn't store anything automatically, you have to use pause to start it (so Media -> Open URL shouldn't do anything like that).

If I Pause the TV play - the file stops to grow (after 1 sec)

And I see in NetMeter:
http://www.metal-machine.de/readerror/i ... ;dl=item26

that Internet traffic stops (red) so nothing comes from outside to be saved anywhere:
(the green is the small upload from µTorrent)




If I resume TV Play in < 3 sec TV continues OK and the .tmp file starts to grow again.
If I resume TV Play in > 20 sec the .tmp file is deleted and VLC shrinks to normal player window (no TV embedded in the interface)
If I click on Play button again - VLC connects and starts to play the TV and new .tmp file is created.

 

I can't replicate this.
Do VLC messages (Tools -> Messages, set Verbosity to 2) complain something during the playback?
And when you stop the playback, are there any errors or debug message related to that?

The messages at Verbosity 2:
main debug: auto hidding mouse
main debug: auto hidding mouse
main debug: auto hidding mouse

Here I pressed the Stop button:
TV Play was about 1-2 minutes, and .tmp file was created and grow.

I notice the line:
main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record"

Is this relevant?:

Best way to reset VLC settings is to remove %appdata%\vlc folder.

In:
D:\Documents and Settings\A & L\Application Data\vlc\

there are files like:
vlc-qt-interface.ini
ml.xspf
...


I removed this vlc\ folder (moved it to another drive).
Started VLC (it started in Bulgarian interface (instead of US English) and asked about Internet permissions (art/update check))

I started TV and a .tmp file is created again in:
D:\Documents and Settings\A & L\Local Settings\Temp\

(As this "reset" have no effect I moved back the vlc\ folder to restore my settings.
And made copy of it in .rar file to have backup of the settings.
)


Do you test with version vlc-1.1.11-win32.exe ?
Do you test in XP 32 bit?

Do you believe me when I say that I am sure I see VLC creating a .tmp file when I watch TV?

(I wonder "Do you believe me" because You refuse to get my screenshots from Opened Files View.
I usually look in Total Commander in real time how the .tmp file grows and the remaining free HDD space to be able to Stop or Exit VLC (and VLC deletes the .tmp file at Stop/Exit)
)

Can you give me the URL of some TV stream to test?
(if possible - the same you used for testing, I can use Proxy or Hotspot Shield (VPN) (which gives USA IP addresses) if the URL can't work from Bulgarian IP)

 

I believe you since the screenshot shows that the temp file is created by VLC.
I tested with VLC 1.1.11 under Vista 32 bit, but there shouldn't that kind of OS related differences in Win32 builds.

stream_filter_record should be started automatically, but it shouldn't record to temp. It should record to my videos or to my music folder (and it requires manual start via red recoding button, and it won't output random filename).

I believe you since the screenshot shows that the temp file is created by VLC.
I tested with VLC 1.1.11 under Vista 32 bit, but there shouldn't that kind of OS related differences in Win32 builds.

It looks like this is NOT only related to VLC

I tested the same TV link in Windows Media Player - and Temp file is generated

Picture is 1 600 x 1 144 pixels so I give URL instead of IMG:
http://picbg.net/u/65251/47727/586758.png


Maybe some common module/DLL/software installed here is causing this.
(maybe the first 2 posts here also involve some interference with 3-rd party software?)

I will test on other OSes/computers when I have time...

***

OK - I FOUND THE GUILTY MODULE
(I looked in Process Explorer (Ctrl+L or Ctrl+D or Alt+Enter) for possible offenders)

It is NOD32 - IMON - if I switch IMON OFF the .tmp file is NOT generated:




This list is generated automatically and the settings (red) are by default:
(Changing vlc/1.1.11 to "Higher efficiency" have no effect)




I Enabled IMON again but created Exclude list (so no more .tmp files with VLC or Windows Media Player)




On this computer/OS I use NOD32 2.70.39 (will stop working/update in a few months - ESET declared it as obsolete)

When I have time I will test to check if the newer versions of ESET NOD32 Antivirus with the default settings (= IMON Enabled) will cause the same:
On this same (multi-boot) computer in Vista 64 bit where I will install ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 - 4.2.71.2 - 64 bit
On another computer in Win XP 32 bit with already installed ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 - 4.2.71.2 - 32 bit

If you have access to a computer with ESET NOD32 Antivirus installed you can try the test if you are curious.
ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 is very widely used - we'll see if its IMON module conflicts (makes BIG .tmp files) when using video/audio streams.

 

yo
I'm using VLC for video and DVB-T television (V 1.1.11, Win7 64b). I was wondering today why my root drive was full and found 874 timeshift buffer files for VLC at a size of ~50MB each and 42GB (!) in sum, the oldest dating to 4 months ago. The VLC GUI itself does not offer an option to replay even the last timeshift buffers, so this makes hardly sense and is a serious bug. I was checking the VLCs version today, but it seems up to date. Is there a workaround? Will it be fixed?
thanks, Christof

Latest VLC version is 2.0.0
and VLC shouldn't not write anything to c:\ by default.

I thought this was a bug with VLC, until I discovered I was sometimes leaning over the keyboard and accidentally pushing the space key with my stomach, which would pause the stream (coming from a CCTV DVR) and causing my hard disk to fill up with temporary files. Oops!