The VideoLAN Forums

Just upgraded from v1.0.5 to v1.1.0 and have a problem.
When I close VLC, vlc.exe don't unload from memory on my Windows XP SP3, so if I want to play a new video, it doesn't work until I kill it using Process Explorer.

At this time I'm back to v1.0.5 which one I've no problem.

Anyway to solve this problem with v1.1.0 ?

thank you in advace

I can confirm that this also happens for me on XP Pro SP2, however I've noticed that VLC does unload eventually after an extended period of time.

Can you both delete %appdata%/vlc folder?

I'm running into the same problem with 1.10 under XP Pro SP3. When I close the window the interface closes, but the process does not terminate. The tray icon remains behind and if I click on the icon the process will then shut down. This anomaly did not exist in the RC. Deleting the %appdata%/vlc folder had no effect.

I too have run into this problem. I just upgraded from 1.0.5 to 1.1.0 tonight. Whether I start vlc from the Start Menu or from double-clicking a file, once I close it the GUI will close, but there is still a vlc.exe process running in Task Manager (only in the Processes tab, not in the Applications tab). I am running Windows XP Pro SP2 64-bit on a dual quad core xeon machine. I mention the processor because I saw another users name was Xeon2X and thought there might be a commonality there.

Also, I noticed that if I close VLC with Ctrl-Q, it does completely close. There is no vlc.exe process lingering around in Task Manager. However, when I close VLC using the X in the upper right hand corner, the GUI will close (all audio and video gone), but there is still a vlc.exe process hanging around in Task Manager. I tried deleting the %appdata%/vlc folder, but that did not change the behavior I noticed above. If anyone needs any more info to help debug or track down this problem, I'd be willing to help.

It can't be a coincidence we all got the same problem with 1.1.0 release
I'm running Windows XP Pro SP2 and after closing VLC with the "X" button, i can't play another vid until i delete the remaining process vlc.exe in the task manager (which i keep constantly opened for that reason since i installed 1.1.0)

Is it possible this problem could be linked with the vlc tray icon ?
Because i don't remember i ever had a vlc tray icon in the precedent releases

Now, with 1.1.0, i noticed a "default" ticked vlc tray icon : the icon remains in the tray icon even after closing vlc
So i went in the preferences to uncheck that preference ("no tray icon", i never did that with precedent releases) but even with the unchecked preference, vlc.exe stays in the task manager after i close it with the "x" button (please note this problem doesn't happen each time vlc is closed, so this fact complicates the problem)

I'm sure the developers will find same problem if they use vlc on XP, and other persons have noticed it too in other topics
Vlc staff will soon fix that issue, that's for sure

PS: Thx to Wraythex for suggesting the perfect Ctrl+Q workaround

Same Problem on XP VLK 32bit.
My Workaround (only for advanced Users recommended):
A .BAT File which is opened if I double click on a Media File (instead of vlc)
This File kills any open process of VLC and then starts a new one with the called File.
another trick: If you close the Gui with the "X" and the VLC Tray icon stays visible, just click it once, it causes VLC to immediately terminate its process.

I have the same problem - since installing 1.1.0 on WinXP SP3, when I close a VLC window, the process is still in memory & the task-bar icon shows in the tray. If I click the icon then the process closes.
I didn't have this problem in 1.0.5, so it's a bug introduced in the latest build.

STILL having this problem, a month later, even now w/ v.1.1.1!
Is anyone from VLC actually reading this and *doing something about it*?!?

Probably noone is able to reproduce...

I also have this problem with v1.1.0 and now v1.1.1, am running windows xp pro sp3. My work around is to use a custom skin, my choice is 'Askin' , this lets me exit normally when playing files, unless I have accessed the preferences menu or some of the other VLC style menus (opening any folder seems to force a complete exit when taskbar icons are stuck on after quitting with the X icon). Not ideal, but less frustrating than when using the standard VLC skin. Bit disappointing that this bug hasn't been fixed in this new update though.

Ctrl+Q doesn't make it work for you?
Does it happen only in fullscreen ?

I am seeing the same problem with VLC 1.1.0 and 1.1.1 as the others on my PC running WinXP Pro SP3. I never use full-screen mode. Here are more details on my experience with a fresh install of VLC 1.1.1 (preferences and cache deleted on uninstall of 1.1.0). I see the same behavior on the admin account and the limited/regular account.

With "Show systray icon" preference unchecked:
1. VLC unloads using Ctrl-Q.
2. VLC fails to unload when simply starting VLC from the desktop and then closing by clicking the X in the upper right corner.
3. VLC unloads when playing a video to completion with the Playlist preference "Play and exit" checked.
4. VLC fails to unload when closing by clicking the X in the upper right corner before the video completes, even with the Playlist preference "Play and exit" checked.
5. While the dead VLC process remains, I cannot re-open VLC or play another video in Firefox.

With "Show systray icon" preference checked:
1. VLC unloads immediately using Ctrl-Q.
2. VLC fails to unload immediately when simply starting VLC from the desktop and then closing by clicking the X in the upper right corner. However, the systray icon reflects the existence of the dead VLC process. Sometimes the systray icon terminates after some Windows event. The user can always terminate it immediately by right-clicking on the icon, and sometimes by left-clicking.
3. VLC unloads immediately when playing a video to completion with the Playlist preference "Play and exit" checked.
4. VLC unloads immediately when closing by clicking the X in the upper right corner before the video completes, with the Playlist preference "Play and exit" checked.
5. While the dead VLC process remains, I cannot re-open VLC or play another video in Firefox.

I noticed that the "Show systray icon" preference is checked by default. With VLC 1.0.5 and before, I unchecked this preference to reduce memory and CPU loading. With VLC 1.1.1, the dead VLC process problem is reduced with this preference checked.

Is anybody seeing the problem on Windows 7? I am especially interested in results for Windows 7 X64.

To echo the other recent posters, I still have the problem since updating to 1.1.1

Open VLC, do nothing and quit with the X doesn't unload it?

Open VLC, do nothing and quit with the X doesn't unload it?

Hi j-b,
No, quit with the red X button doesn't unload it, even doing nothing.
The orange Vlc icon stays in system tray and Vlc.exe in Task Manager (Windows XP SP2 - Vlc 1.1.1)

Clean install, clean preferences and clean install folders?

Yes j-b, even after clean install, clean preferences and clean install folder.
I just did that again (bye pref !) then reinstalled Vlc 1.1.1 and immediately launched it by clicking on its desktop shortcut, without doing anything else (not entering any menu or preference menu) : then quit using the red X button and orange Vlc icon stays in system tray and Vlc.exe in Task Manager (Windows XP SP2)

I have exactly the same problem. VLC 1.0.5 and all older versions works fine, but 1.1.0 and 1.1.1 dont unload from the proccess list when click on "x".

Ctrl + Q works.

I have XP sp2 32bits.

I'm jumping on this thread because I got the same problem after upgrading to 1.1.1

However Ctrl+Q works, but a fix would be better, since old habbits are hard to break

I installed VLC 1.1.1 on a PC running Win7 X64, and I found that it did not exhibit the unload bug, even with "Show systray icon" preference unchecked.

I hesitate to recommend VLC to my non-technical friends with this bug.

grumpf.
Ok, I will try to do special builds for you to test. Stay around this thread.

28July2010

Greetings.
Last night I noticed this same problem on my 12 year old XP laptop "T".
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=74624
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=80174
Closing the 1.1.x GUI does not immediately kill the VLC.exe.
The VLC.exe closes after some unknown period of time - 5+ minutes ... ???
I use the no-installer VLC build and regularly backup my VLC application data folder
and always do back it up before doing a VLC update ...

I have the same problem. Using X to exit/close VLC does not close it. My system tray shows, but right click on it makes VLC finally go away. If I use ctrl-q or its menu method to quit, then it closes correctly. It is definitely a bug. I am surprised that v1.1.1 (portable) still has it too. I am also using an old, updated Windows XP Pro. SP3 (IE6).

Another issue, I can't open Photoshop when VLC is running. Closing VLS (ctrl q), then Photoshop finish to load :/

Sorry for my bad english.