pixelated, poor quality video in Windows 7 RTM

[Ezza]

Since installing Windows 7 RTM I have noticed that the video quality in VLC player is terrible, it basically looks pixelated, with lots of small blocks visible - most apparent on diagonal lines.
The lower the resolution of the original video the worse it looks.
It affects all video formats, Xvid, wmv, x264 etc.
Playing the same video in Windows Media Player looks fine.

I have tried VLC v1.0.1 and v0.9.8a both have the same problem.
In v1.0.1 if I set video output mode to DirectX it looks good but Windows complains and turns off the Aero theme (annoying as hell).
I never had this problem before in Windows XP 32bit.

Someone posted about this same issue before but there was no fix or explanation provided and the topic was locked, so I didn't know if their issue was resolved or not.

I'm running this:
Windows 7 Ultimate RTM 64bit
VLC 1.0.1 & 0.9.8a
Radeon 4850
Catalyst Drivers 9.8

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Know issue.

[jack_steel]

Same problems with VLC and Windows 7 RTM x64. Is there a workaround available?

[Ezza]

You can change the video output to Direct X, the video output should look ok then but it will disable windows Aero.

Is there a page where I can see the 'known issues' with VLC?

[jack_steel]

My current workaround is: SMPlayer
No poor video quality with this player and Windows 7 RTM and no need for installing additional codecs.

[VLC_help]

Is there a page where I can see the 'known issues' with VLC?

This forum. And trac. trac-test.videolan.org/vlc/

[Bapabooiee]

Just chiming-in, 'cause I have Windows 7, and have this exact same issue also. In fact, I found this thread by Googling about it.

Good to know this is a known issue, and hopefully, a fix may be around the corner. But for now, I'll have to use other software for watching videos.

Thanks =]

Edit: Also, going to [Tools > Preferences > Video], and setting the output to OpenGL is a good fix for this problem, without causing you to lose Windows Aero.

[LightspeedNZL]

I'm also using Windows 7. What dramatically improved video quality for me (after changing to DX Output) was ensuring that my deinterlace setting was set to 'Bob'.

Probably anything other than 'disable' would produce a better result.

That's from a DVD.

[quimkaos]

setting the output to OpenGL removes the playback control on full screen mode... anyone knows any fix/workaround?

i'm using vista 64bits

[daWsOn_s]

Only DirectX output. They just need to fix it that's all

[danyeldanes]

In v1.0.1 if I set video output mode to DirectX it looks good but Windows complains and turns off the Aero theme (annoying as hell).
I never had this problem before in Windows XP 32bit.

Hi,

Have you tried to change the compatibility mode of VLC to Windows Vista SP2? Right click on VLC > Properties > Compatibility > check "run this program in compatibility for" and choose Windows Vista SP2. This should prevent the Aero theme from turning off....

But this will only work if the Video Output is set to DEFAULT (not Direct X). Ouch! If you're watching high-def DivX vids, the difference would be negligible but if you have a trained eye, you'll see the pixelation a bit.

Daniel

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Try:
http://nightlies.videolan.org/build/win ... 1019-1828/

[VLC_help]

Fixed for me at least.
With patch
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7661/v ... 1828ou.jpg

Without it
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3516 ... entout.jpg

[Shivek]

What patch?

[Shivek]

So when can we expect a final 1.1 version with the patch?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

No, we will have a 1.0.3 before that with the correction. ETA is not known yet.

[Shivek]

Do the new ATI drivers 9.10 fix this problem?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

No, but VLC next release will fix it.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

http://people.videolan.org/~jb/vlc-1.0.3-win32.exe is a test release.

[felixalias]

http://people.videolan.org/~jb/vlc-1.0.3-win32.exe is a test release.

Works perfectly as default, thanks.

I couldn't use OpenGL mode because with an NVIDIA card/Windows 7 and more than 1 accelerated app open (in this case, WoW and VLC), both would stutter with decreased FPS (even sound would skip).

Just out of curiosity, is this due to a new EVR renderer or a different fix?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Different fix in our renderer.

[jack_steel]

What about 1.0.3 RC1? Is the problem fixed with this version?

[VLC_help]

jack_steel: Did you even check the changelog?

Changes between 1.0.2 and 1.0.3-rc:
--------------------------------

Video outputs:
* Fix video quality when resizing the video on Windows Vista and 7, due to
regressions in most popular drivers

[bleuiko]

Hi Everyone,

I had pixelation problem on 1.0.2 so I installed the 1.0.3-rc. The pixelation problem went away and it works great on my primary monitor (laptop). I have a secondary monitor attached to my laptop and when I fullscreen VLC on that monitor, I run into a weird problem. The video doesn't cover the whole screen but leave the background showing through on one side. The black bars on top and bottom does cover the screen though. Here are my spec:

Lenovo T61p with Quadro FX 570m (running nVidia 190.07 reference drivers)
Windows 7 Professional 32-bit

The problem doesn't happen with 1.0.2 but 1.0.2 has pixelation. I will try to install the 1.1 nightly and report back. Anyone else have similar problems?
I am attaching an image to show you what I mean.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2112/78491358.jpg

UPDATE: Just wanted to add that I tested the latest nightly built and I still have the same problem. I retested it with VLC 1.0.2 and the cutoff problem is gone and replaced with pixelation. I also tried the same AVI file with windows media player and it is working fine on the secondary monitor. I appreciate any help I could get on this issue!

[VLC_help]

I have a secondary monitor attached to my laptop and when I fullscreen VLC on that monitor, I run into a weird problem. The video doesn't cover the whole screen but leave the background showing through on one side. The black bars on top and bottom does cover the screen though.

Someone else also reported this, so it is a side effect of the fix. We try to address it later.