The VideoLAN Forums

My sister has a new Dell laptop with windows xp. She installed VLC and could get no video, just a grey screen while the audio works fine. I was told she had the same issue with WMP. Someone else installed WMP Classic which does give her video. I tried installing the new VLC, I did not check to see what version I was replacing, may have been the same one, but had the same results.

Is there a setting or known issue causing this?

Change video output module and try to deactivate overlay.

Correct thing is to update display adapter drivers.

This is a Dell XPS M1530 Laptop

Correct thing is to update display adapter drivers.

The display adapter drivers were already updated.

Change video output module and try to deactivate overlay.

I could not find how to do this. Could you please guide me to where I find this option to change.

ok, Just go to preferences, then go to the bottom left corner and click on all (its in a box that says show settings) then you just click on the item "video" on your left (should be the last item) then on your right it should say on the top "general video settings" go down till you find "overlay video output" and uncheck it, then you can also click on the little triangle (or "+") that's next to the item called "video" on your left then click on output modules and on your right should be a drop down list, choose one that you think is the best (usually directx or open gl works fine)
Good luck
Kevin

ok, Just go to preferences, then go to the bottom left corner and click on all (its in a box that says show settings) then you just click on the item "video" on your left (should be the last item) then on your right it should say on the top "general video settings" go down till you find "overlay video output" and uncheck it, then you can also click on the little triangle (or "+") that's next to the item called "video" on your left then click on output modules and on your right should be a drop down list, choose one that you think is the best (usually directx or open gl works fine)

That worked, solved the problem. Thank you all for your assistance in the solution.

Thank you all for your assistance in the solution.

No problem

I am having a similar problem so I figured I would not open another thread. My video freezes and the audio continues. I tried different discs to no avail. I tried your suggestions and I still had the problem. I reset Preferences, shut down VLC then opened it again and attempted to play a movie DVD with the same result. This discs play in other video software. I grabbed some messages:

main info: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
a52 info: A/52 channels:2 samplerate:48000 bitrate:192000
main error: decoder is leaking pictures, resetting the heap
main error: decoder is leaking pictures, resetting the heap
main error: decoder is leaking pictures, resetting the heap
main error: decoder is leaking pictures, resetting the heap
main error: decoder is leaking pictures, resetting the heap
main error: decoder is leaking pictures, resetting the heap
main error: decoder is leaking pictures, resetting the heap

I am running Windows XP SP2 Home Edition, Version.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600, Dell Dimension 3000, Processor x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1 GenuineIntel ~2793 Mhz, Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB.

If I am in the wrong place, please direct me to the correct place. I have not been very successful with Search.

Thank you.

Your issue is not a similar one. In your case the video or audio stream causes issues to decoder. So either it is faulty one or you have found stream that shows decoder bug. Could you share us short sample file that shows the issue?

I would be glad to provide you with whatever you ask. I don't know how to take this movie DVD and grab what you need from it. If you could provide instructions, I will comply. I am a simple user that uses VLC to watch movies and take a few snapshots. I am not very technical savvy with type of software.

I apologize for my ignorance.

I did have the same problem as dcixvi but the fix suggested by kevkid did not work at first. Finally when I went to the directx line in the drop down menu under output modules and checked the box "Use video buffers in system memory" with the overlays unchecked as first suggested, presto, the video popped open!

StarDew: You can use for example DVDfab decrypter or AnyDVD to rip DVD movies to hard drive. If the playback from hard drive causes same issue, you can use any binary splitter to take like 10 megs sample file and upload it.

I am unable to provide the requested information. I checked out the software and I would have to purchase it. I am disabled and living on a fixed income. This is one of the reasons friends recommended VLC as great software and it was free open source. Watching and capturing stills from DVD movies and then making collages and the such are what keeps me busy and happy.

I did check my PC and the Windows utility said I had no DVD coder hence I cannot watch DVD movies on Media Player either. My PC will be 5 years old next month and I am in no way able to replace it so I wouldn't have these issues. I had a similar issue with Version 8.6h during the summer and was told the issue, buffer overflow, would be addressed in a future release. I am apprehensive that this problem and the older problem are different tho they seem similar to me.

Thank you for your time and patience. It is obvious that I am not savvy enough to understand this software, the terminology, and the file formats. I am very disappointed and wish I could just provide you what you need so I can watch DVDs again.

Can I copy one of the TS files on the DVD and provide that? They seem rather large and I wouldn't know where to upload it to. Alas, perhaps this was not meant to be.

Hi,

I have WinXP SP3.
I had VLC 8 which worked just great, then decided to update. I first uninstalled mine, then installed the latest (0.9.8a), keeping my settings and unchecking associations with all audio formats I use (I'd rather use WinAmp for that).

No video.

Tried everything suggested in this thread (including an update to my video adapter).
Still no video.

I admit that almost all options in Preferences are Mandarin to me.....
Please advise.....
R.

StarDew,

I dunno how none "computer savvy" you are, but there are free DVD ripping programs available, such as:
http://www.freewarezoom.com/archives/free-dvd-ripper
They should probably have help, and some might have related Wiki pages, and you can ask around. I would help you if I could, but I don't use DVDs (not the DVD - one movie per disk - format, I burn multiple files to one DVD), and I'm not familiar with the relevant software.

But it should be easier to figure out than the VLC preferences (almost anything is ).

And for the experts here, a couple of questions:
1) Do you need to restart VLC (close & open again) in order for changes in preferences to take effects? Because that was the case with 0.8.x.
2) I like everything to remain the way I set it the last time I used a program. In the case of VLC, it's the last place I was in preferences (each time I open preferences I have to select the "all" radio button again, a little annoying); when I open a file, I want the Open File dialogue to open the last folder in which I had opened a file. Instead it keeps going to "My Documents". Is there a way to set a different default location?

Thx,
R.

StarDew:
http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm DVDFab should be free. And you cannot copy files from VIDEO_TS folder if the disc is commercial one (that is why there are these tools). And you don't have to do anything, if this seems too difficult or frustrating you can skip this part.

rodent:

1) Do you need to restart VLC (close & open again) in order for changes in preferences to take effects? Because that was the case with 0.8.x.

For most options, yes.

Is there a way to set a different default location?

No.
Media -> Advanced Open File... should remember last location. And if you don't see any video in VLC, then
http://wiki.videolan.org/WindowsFAQ-0.9 ... _output.3F

Advanced Open File...... Uch.....
But I guess I can get used to it.
I'll go read the FAQ you've linked to, thanks a lot, man!
Will come back to report.
R.

No good.
It repeats almost word for word everything that's already been suggested in this thread.
I've also tried modules that were not mentioned in the FAQ - no good.
I could have tried all combinations of checking/unchecking the 4 checkboxes under DirectX (in output module), but.... well.....
Other than to start reading the documentation, which will probably take many many hours, and may lead me nowhere, or just giving up, I dunno what to do.
..............
The Advanced Open File is not very convenient. It keeps trying to access my A drive each time I open files from C:\ (root folder on drive C) and often when I click "My Computer" in the left pane.
All I can think of is imitating Eddy Murphy and pleading in a plaintive, inebriated-like voice:
"Why Guss, Why? You take things too far....."

I dunno how none "computer savvy" you are, but there are free DVD ripping programs available, such as:
http://www.freewarezoom.com/archives/free-dvd-ripper
They should probably have help, and some might have related Wiki pages, and you can ask around. I would help you if I could, but I don't use DVDs (not the DVD - one movie per disk - format, I burn multiple files to one DVD), and I'm not familiar with the relevant software.

I went to the site you mentioned and my jaw dropped. It is the same thing as audio4fun and make4fun webpages. They are not what I am looking for. I d/l their software, it crashed and there was no way to get assistance. I wish I could delete any info they have on me. lol

StarDew:
http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm DVDFab should be free. And you cannot copy files from VIDEO_TS folder if the disc is commercial one (that is why there are these tools). And you don't have to do anything, if this seems too difficult or frustrating you can skip this part.

I d/l DVDFab HD Decrypter 5.2.3.0 and it is no longer free. It has a 30 day trial then costs $49.99. I did rip the main movie to a folder and it plays in VLC. Yippie! ) Now I need to try and d/l the FreeDVD and see if it copies or just removes information from a folder that already has the movie in it. I don't know but I will d/l and see. Too bad the the package I d/l is no longer free. It is very nice. Seems the free ended 12/31/2008 yet it still shows up on the free page.

I will let you know how I fare. I really need to find a free ripper that is safe so if I encounter this problem again, I can just rip and then watch in VLC and get my caps. This home bound woman is ready to smile a little smile. The big smile occurs when I find a free ripper that works like this trial version software does.

Thank you so much for your patience with me. I am fairly well versed in IT since I worked in the arena for 30y before I retired however I was not part of the web, networking, UNIX, video, or audio side of the business.

I wanted to return to say I misspoke in my last post. When I did the DVD Fab 5 d/l it d/l more than 1 option. I have 30 days to trial the Gold and Platinum products or use the Decrypter which is free. I apologize. Now I have a means to watch DVDs again. I should have said now I am looking for burner software not ripping software.

Once again thank you for all your help. I will let you know how I fare over the next several days. Cheers!

StarDew

I wish I could delete any info they have on me. lol

As long as they don't sell your email addy to spammers, you're pretty safe : )

The problem with free software is that it often is quite patchy & unstable. Gotta look around, test a few and hope you get lucky.... some come with malware attached (BSPlayer, for instance), and some sites try to infect your computer while offering you "free" services, so be sure you have a firewall, a good anti-virus prog and some anti-spyware installed. The holy trinity of internet security. Not using IE is also a plus : )

R.

rodent: VLC snapshot feature provides working snapshots from the video you are playing?

ETA: Cannot delete post so I am removing the text. I figured out my error. I really feel dumb today. Must be Monday.

My apologies.

I checked in Preferences -> Hotkeys to get the hotkey for taking snapshots (no option in the menus). It was Shift+s.
Opened an avi file, clicked Shift+d, and nothing happened.

I mean I pressed Shift+s.