The VideoLAN Forums

Hi!

I've been using VLC for ages without any problem. I used to have it as my default player for all video formats. But now I just got a new computer, installed Windows XP from scratch and installed VLC as usual. Now, I'm unable to see any video! VLC only shows a black screen while the audio plays ok. VLC even adapts it's window size to the format the video is supposed to have, but still I can see only a black screen. This happens with ANY video, so with any codec. It definitely is not a problem with some codec not being supported...

I reset preferences to default, uninstalled and installed VLC again a lot of times, but no results. ANY IDEA???

Thanks,

Toni

Update your video and or audio drivers.

My video an audio drivers are the last ones available on the manufacturer web site...

I finally discovered that disabling Direct 3D and Direct Draw acceleration solves the problem. But still I don't think this is the solution because I definitely would like to have all accelerations on! Moreover, all other video players I've tested work without problem wiht acceleration on. VideoLAN is the only one that fails...

Yes Yes i have the same problem

cant you please tell me how to turn them off

Never mind i found it and ya now it works i think there may be a bug.

If either of these two work, it is time to UPDATE your VIDEO DRIVERS!

1. Try shutting off the video acceleration inside VLC. Settings, Preferences, Video, untick the "Overlay video output" box and save. Now close VLC and restart. Then try to call a file, within VLC.

2. Try opening VLC Settings, Preferences, Video, Output Modules and using the pull down to select "Windows GDI video output". Then save, restart VLC and try to call a file.

The exception (under 1 above) is trying to use VLC to display video on a second monitor as many cards do not support video acceleration on any thing but the main output.

A few users of nVidia cards have needed to step back in driver revisions.

It may also be smart to get the latest version of DirectX runtime. The last update was 6/9/06 and will not chance the version from 9c. They are not automatic updates.

hi i had the same problem and i tried your (^) solutions but im still getting the same problem, audio is fine but noe video?

hi i had the same problem and i tried your (^) solutions but im still getting the same problem, audio is fine but noe video?

What formats have you tried?

Please don't say AVI or MKV as these are containers. The format for audio and video may be found in Stream and Media Information -> Advanced. Then post it here along with the file type (extension of the file).

If either of these two work, it is time to UPDATE your VIDEO DRIVERS!

1. Try shutting off the video acceleration inside VLC. Settings, Preferences, Video, untick the "Overlay video output" box and save. Now close VLC and restart. Then try to call a file, within VLC.

2. Try opening VLC Settings, Preferences, Video, Output Modules and using the pull down to select "Windows GDI video output". Then save, restart VLC and try to call a file.

The exception (under 1 above) is trying to use VLC to display video on a second monitor as many cards do not support video acceleration on any thing but the main output.

A few users of nVidia cards have needed to step back in driver revisions.

It may also be smart to get the latest version of DirectX runtime. The last update was 6/9/06 and will not chance the version from 9c. They are not automatic updates.

Well, both solution 1 and 2 work. BUT I have just installed the latest drivers just downloaded from manufacturer web site. Also, I have de latest DirectX runtime...

My graphics card is an ATI RADEON X300, and the drivers I just installed are those in https://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBA ... tionID=640. My O.S. is Windows XP with all patches and actualizations. As I said, DirectX installer tells me I have the latest version and I don't need to update anything.

To resume: I seem to have everything up to date, but still VideoLAN refuses to play ANY video format showing me only a black screen with sound. My only solution seems to disable hardware acceleration, and obviously I'm not happy with it... Any idea would be appreciated because I don't want to stop using VideoLAN

Thanxs...

(I forgot to put my username on the above message, sorry)

You can disable overlay video output from VLC, and/or change to Windows GDI output module.
But the problem lies in your GXF or chipset drivers.

I seem to have the same problem. I did what you guys said to do: 1st I turned off the acceleration and it ran fine. Then I changed the Output modules to the Windwos GDI and it ran fine. After that I downloaded the latest DirectX and instlled it, and I also downloaded the latest drivers for my video card (NVidia GeForce FX 5200), went into safe-mode, uninstalled the old drivers, rebooted into save-mode again, installed the new drivers, rebooted into the normal mode, and reset the settings of VLC to default, and it still does not work. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

The person above said the problem could be in the GXF, what is the GXF? Also, which chipset driver are you talking about?

Thanks for the help.

Out of the two suggested options 1. shuts down video acceleration only for VLC and the video card in question would still use DirectX assuming you have turned it back on. This method does not put a lot of added weight on your CPU like shutting down DirectX does. But the video drivers are still the problem.

This is of coarse assuming you are trying to use your main monitor and NOT a secondary monitor as some video cards will not support video acceleration for a secondary monitor.

DJ, I'll go for option 1. But if the problem is with video drivers, then you should take note that it seems some well known video card makers have "buggy" drivers that only seem to fail with VideoLAN. Because, as I said, VLC is the only one failing to show video on my system... (And no, I'm not using a secondary monitor).

Ive tried both options and it does work but iot doesnt show the correct colors. When I watch something it shows the colors like they have been inverted or sun exposed. I have tried this on 2 different videos and I get the same results. I have tried all the above options and I treid installing DirectX.

DJ, I'll go for option 1. But if the problem is with video drivers, then you should take note that it seems some well known video card makers have "buggy" drivers that only seem to fail with VideoLAN. Because, as I said, VLC is the only one failing to show video on my system... (And no, I'm not using a secondary monitor).

Starting with VLC 0.8.4 the DirectX module was rebuilt to be more compatible with DirectX 9c and many people had problems. Most people received the new DirectX with SP2 for XP and Microsoft recommended updating your video and audio drivers at that time offering many people drivers on there web site.

There are several possibilities here:

1. The drivers for some cards are not fully compatible with 9c even though you have updated.

2. Microsoft releases notices to manufactures regarding future changes with a implementation date for new things and a cutoff date for things that are obsolete.

It is difficult to make changes without being able to prove the changes so Microsoft releases SDKs so that developers can prove their work. In the case of DirectX, runtime updated versions are available from Microsoft every few months. The last one was 6/9/06. These are not automatic and the version does NOT change.

It has been noted in the pages in this forum that a few people have need to step back in driver revisions in order to get their video card to work properly with VLC. This may be the reason.

3. When the issue first began showing up in VLC and not in all other types of media players, the developers made the statement that perhaps the implementation was to tight. ???

I think about that statement every time I see a new post on the topic. But I have noticed that VLC has the lowest CPU impact of all the rest of the media players I have tried (that also use DirectX). VLC will play media on many older machines running Windows 9x - Me when others will not play the files because of CPU restrictions. Perhaps the developer that made the changes was to forward thinking and thought, in a few months this should really resolve itself and indeed it should, given Microsoft's system and the way many manufactures respond to the changes and issue updates for drivers. There are a few, however that can't update the drivers for there cards because the manufacture is no longer supporting it and the issue has still not been fully resolved with time for newer cards. Although it does appear the problem is diminishing.

Now if you haven't gotten all of this it's OK! The bottom line is:

1. Update your Video and Audio card's drivers.

2. If this doesn't work for you, update DirectX using the latest runtime.

3. If there are no newer drivers available (should carry a date of at least Oct 04) VLC 0.8.2 should still work for you. If you must have the newer version of VLC, purchase a new video card.

http://downloads.videolan.org/pub/video ... 8.2/win32/
File name: vlc_0.8.2-win32.exe

I hope this is helpful

Ive tried both options and it does work but iot doesnt show the correct colors. When I watch something it shows the colors like they have been inverted or sun exposed. I have tried this on 2 different videos and I get the same results. I have tried all the above options and I treid installing DirectX.

1. Try erasing 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.

2. Some games store information by changing settings on your video card so it would be smart to reset your video card to its defaults for Direct 3D, OpenGL, Overlay and Color.

DJ, I fully understand your points. It's not that I MUST use the last VNC version... it's that I LIKE to always use latest versions of all the software I use. Anyway, I'll go for disabling "Overlay video output" on VNC and wait until a new version of either VLC, Directx or ATI video drivers come to the light. Then I hope the problems will be solved. Obviously, getting a new card is out of consideration...

Just one more thing: the 6/9/06 DirectX version should be downloaded from some special place or the "Get the Latest DirectX Here" link from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.mspx should work?

Don't get me wrong: I still think VLC is the best player, for many reasons. But having to "cut" some of it's capabilities just bothers me...

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.mspx

Get the Latest DirectX Here
DirectX (February 2006) improves the graphics, security, and performance of your operating system. Download and install this update for your Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, or Windows XP-based system.

This will take you to the right place. The Feb 06 to Jun 06 I guess has not been updated yet!

The Feb 06 to Jun 06 I guess has not been updated yet!

That made me doubt