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My wife's PC has Windows XP SP3 x32. What is the latest version of VLC that will run on her PC? I could install VLC 3.0.21 on her PC, but I could not get it to run. I was able to install and run VLC 3.0.18 on her PC.

All versions of VLC can run on Windows XP (http://ftp.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/), the latest version 3.0.21 has a bug that has been fixed in the nightly build: https://artifacts.videolan.org/vlc-3.0/ ... 0811-0223/

All versions of VLC can run on Windows XP (http://ftp.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/), the latest version 3.0.21 has a bug that has been fixed in the nightly build: https://artifacts.videolan.org/vlc-3.0/ ... 0811-0223/

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All versions? That's funny... I tried to upgrade a few years back (at some point between 2018-2020) but had no success, and have been stuck at v2.2.6 to this day.

This has not been a problem since everything worked just fine - UNTIL RECENTLY - now with this stupid new "AV1/VP9" video codec being forced into YouTube video downloads (which I do for offline viewing without buffering problems and ad interruptions that comes for online "live" viewing), I cannot get any video to display in VLC (audio is fine... for now). What was so bad about the old AVC? Nothing. Just more tech bullies trying to force their unsolicited "innovations" down our throats.
(Ever hear of "if it AINT BROKE, DO NOT FIX IT"?)

I tried looking for ways to reverse-convert from the new junk to good old AVC - by uploading it to an online converter or finding a different downloader - but as usual, the stupid Orwellian internet is useless. It keeps generating results on how to convert TO the new codecs rather than from, and directing me to the other whoored-out Online Download Conversion sites that force the AV1/VP9 all the same (also assuming they allow for 1080p HD quality).

Now I am hearing that VLC has worked just fine with Windows XP 32-bit systems all this time?
News to me.

I'll be honest, my memory is fuzzy on this one : maybe back when I tried to upgrade back in 2018-2020, it's possible the software launched & worked, but there was something I didn't like - probably a feature or customization that was removed or changed. If I stopped upgrading, it could be due to a massive interface overhaul that I did not like and/or the removal of options that I liked (replaced by garbage I hate).

Can anyone confirm if a product upgrade "today" will retain all previous customizations and settings of a v2.26 install?
Are the skins and options all still available and the same, just newer codecs and inner-tecchy stuff has been changed?

Despite its apparent "simplicity" to use, getting customizations put in place is complicated. I spent hours trying to figure out how to restore everything once. I do not wanna have to go through it all again, especially for naught (if the newer versions won't run or have changed their esthetics/customizations too much).

Here's a simpler question : Can I just DOWNLOAD and INSTALL (place in the appropriate directory folder) the necessary video codec[s] to work with my existing install?

~ W

Can I just DOWNLOAD and INSTALL (place in the appropriate directory folder) the necessary video codec[s] to work with my existing install?

No, you need to update the whole VLC installation.
But you can make a backup of your profile in case you want to revert back.

Can I just DOWNLOAD and INSTALL (place in the appropriate directory folder) the necessary video codec[s] to work with my existing install?

No, you need to update the whole VLC installation.
But you can make a backup of your profile in case you want to revert back.

Yeah, I fully planned to. I just hoped I wouldn't have to. Ugh. It's such a drag remembering to backup all the directories.

Would you or anyone else know if I can install VLC in a custom directory alongside my current existing installation so as not to disturb it? This way, if I don't like anything about the new version (other than its ability to play the new video codecs), I can still have my old trusty without having to roll anything back. I could also run whichever version is needed, as needed, and not be forced to decide one over the other for all eternity.

I know varying program versions can be installed in their own custom directory (I used to do this with many upgrading procedures til I was confident the new one was good and the old one was no longer needed), but I also know some programs can be weird and arrogant, and will overwrite anything that even smells like itself. I don't think VLC is like that, but who knows. I'll back everything up, of course, I'm just trying to get as much info as possible so I am not wasting my time on fruitless endeavors.

And to reiterate : Anyone know how to easily and quickly convert (or revert) these new stupid AV1/VP9 codecs back to AVC x264? I really do not want to develop a video file library of files encoded "before & after" my preferred codec.

Would you or anyone else know if I can install VLC in a custom directory alongside my current existing installation so as not to disturb it?

You can use a portable version of VLC.
For making VLC portable: download the ZIP or 7Zip archive of VLC, extract the archive to the folder of your choice, then create a folder named "portable" (without quotes) where VLC.exe is.
Done.

And to reiterate : Anyone know how to easily and quickly convert (or revert) these new stupid AV1/VP9 codecs back to AVC x264?

I'm not sure to understand what you mean. Are you talking about converting videos ? If so, then it won't be quick.

You can use a portable version of VLC.
For making VLC portable: download the ZIP or 7Zip archive of VLC, extract the archive to the folder of your choice, then create a folder named "portable" (without quotes) where VLC.exe is.
Done.

Cool - I will try that. Thanks!

And to reiterate : Anyone know how to easily and quickly convert (or revert) these new stupid AV1/VP9 codecs back to AVC x264?

I'm not sure to understand what you mean. Are you talking about converting videos ? If so, then it won't be quick.
[/quote]

Yeah, converting - specifically, converting "back" to what the should have been and used to be before this new garbage took over.

When I download a YouTube video these days (for the convenience of offline viewing), the codec being used is no longer that good old standard of AVC H264, but rather these new "innovations" of AV1 or VP9 (that's the codec cited in the video's properties via VLC, anyway). I want to know how to get those changed to AVC H264. My current conversion programs (Freemake, Avidemux) cannot make heads or tails of these new codecs. VLC won't convert anything no matter what I do.

If I try to convert in Freemake, it instantly hangs/freezes and has to be forced to close via Task Manager ("End/Kill Process").
I have loaded the file into Avidemux, but didn't bother to attempt a conversion cos the video preview is mostly black with a bar of "white noise" static along the bottom, so I presume any conversion attempts will fail or just put out junk.

I know conversions will not happen in mere minutes, just as long as it's not hours like Avidemux does.

A better (and easier) solution would be if anyone knows of any online downloader sites that will retrieve YouTube videos via their URL and generate a downloadable MP4 video file in 1080p quality and STILL uses the AVC codec.

Thanks in advance.

When I download a YouTube video these days (for the convenience of offline viewing), the codec being used is no longer that good old standard of AVC H264, but rather these new "innovations" of AV1 or VP9

A better (and easier) solution would be if anyone knows of any online downloader sites that will retrieve YouTube videos via their URL and generate a downloadable MP4 video file in 1080p quality and STILL uses the AVC codec.

The Youtube videos are still available with H.264/AVC video codec.
YT-DLP is what you're looking for but you won't get any help nor support about it on these forums.

The Youtube videos are still available with H.264/AVC video codec.
YT-DLP is what you're looking for but you won't get any help nor support about it on these forums.

The YouTube videos themselves may have/use those old standard codecs like AVC, but that is not what gets applied when they are converted to be downloaded as MP4s via the many sites that provide the service. Somewhere along the line, the resulting MP4 file gets those advanced codecs that are incompatible with anything that is not modern/advanced tech.

I've never heard of YT-DLP - is that a website or a program or what? I guess I'll Google it and find out...

I've never heard of YT-DLP - is that a website or a program or what?

It's a command line program which can download directly the H.264 stream.

I've never heard of YT-DLP - is that a website or a program or what?

It's a command line program which can download directly the H.264 stream.

Yeah. I'm still no wiser as to what that is or how it works.
Anything that involves some OG coding skills like "command line" stuff is beyond my current understanding.
I did a Web Search on that "YT-DLP" thing and still have no clue what the hell I was looking at or how to use it.

Newsflash, folks : all of us old dinosaurs who existed BEFORE the home computer have not all died out yet, so some layman's terms and user-friendly UI tools/utilities and solutions would be appreciated.

I wouldn't mind the downloaded MP4 file getting the incompatible codecs if I had a simple program to, in turn, drag/drop the file into, make some preferred selections on output results, and hit "go" to correct/modify the codec issue and not lose any quality or suffer other undesired changes to the file.

If I have to know HTML or other "code language" to run such a program, that leaves me out. I have my doubts there would be any simple tutorials (included with the program or found online) that would explain it in such a way that even a tech-dunce like me could get it.

For now, I found alternative downloader options that retain the proper H.264 codec (very similar to the ones I was using before), but those will probably be screwed with and eventually "sabotuerially modernized" as well.

I did a Web Search on that "YT-DLP" thing and still have no clue what the hell I was looking at or how to use it.

You need to find that out by yourself. We can't discuss about this program here.
There are some GUIs available for this program for making things easier.

I did a Web Search on that "YT-DLP" thing and still have no clue what the hell I was looking at or how to use it.

You need to find that out by yourself. We can't discuss about this program here.
There are some GUIs available for this program for making things easier.

That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard.
What is the point of a forum if it's verboten to discuss something? And what the hell is so damn top-secret special about this YT-DLP thing that it cannot be discussed?
If I were able to "figure it out for myself" I would not be in here. I guess it would be pointless to even ask what some of those GUIs might be?

Tell me this, genius : If you cannot discuss it here, then WHY MENTION/SUGGEST IT???

Does anybody know how to THINK and employ simple logic anymore?
I find it so ironic how clowns like you can "figure out" this tech crap, yet are so stupid that you can only put forth such useless, nonsensical, and condescending "advice" like that.

Sounds like some smug bullshit of pretentious little dipshits who have nothing else going for them in life except to lord their knowledge of something over others to feel superior.

Thanks for nothing. You're about as much help as teats on bulls.

What is the point of a forum if it's verboten to discuss something? And what the hell is so damn top-secret special about this YT-DLP thing that it cannot be discussed?

Because this is the VideoLAN forum, not the YT-DLP forum.
Because this section is called "VLC media player for Windows Troubleshooting", not help about anything else.
Because it's already taking me a LOT of my free time, EVERY DAY, to manage and answer this forum.
Because the use of YT-DLP might be illegal in some countries.
Because EVERYTHING you need is explained on the Github page of YT-DLP, so YOU have to make the effort to read it.
Because using insults will not help you in any way and will stop me to answer you. Full stop.