VLC won't play .mkv files anymore

[Maxim22]

Hi, since yesterday VLC won't play mkv files. When I open 1, it just loads forever...
I can't really remember what I did in the time between it still worked and now except that I downloaded a mac os x software update but I think that can't be the problem.
I've already tried rebooting my computer, deleting the preferences and deleting vlc and redownloading it but the problem doesn't change..

Can someone help me with this?

ty

[fkuehne]

Did you also delete the folder "org.videolan.vlc.plist" or just "VLC" in ~/Library/Preferences? Try that!

[Maxim22]

I just tried it but nothing changed...

[lenalena]

same with me. vlc since update to 1.19 no mkv anymore. starts but does not load the movie to play.
system os x 10.6.
how can i downgrade to vlc 1.18?

[fkuehne]

Debug messages would be really useful (see Window -> Messages), especially since mkv files play nicely with VLC 1.1.9 for me (on Mac, no idea about Windows or Linux).

Older releases of VLC are linked on the download for Mac OS X page (keyword: browse the archive).

[Maxim22]

here is the debug message:

| | + Seek
| - unknown seekhead reference at 114843086
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 114973917
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 115067635
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 115178012
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 115260476
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 115350955
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 115441837
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 115519965
mkv debug: | | + Seek

... it goes on like this

[blinkboy211]

This happened to me a few months ago, and every single time I think I find a loop hole I end up in the same hole. Can't even find what could be the problem....

[cdb]

I'm in the same boat... I have a 2 GB mkv file that will not play in either version 1.1.8 or 1.1.9. Everything seems fine until it's 9 seconds into the playback and then VLC freezes. I'm certain I've been able to play mkv files in the past. Any suggestions will be most appreciated.

[cslhk05]

I use the version 1.1.9. it play .mkv video without sound, any setting I missed?

[blinkboy211]

Well I got a few .mkv files to work by going to Preferences, then input and Codex, then hit all instead of being in basic, then Demuxers, then Matroska, and finally I unchecked everything in the list. This allowed me to open the few mkv files I tried without problem, but I have tried one other that still caused it to crash so doubtful that it is more than a temporary fix.

[cdb]

Thanks for the info, blinkboy211. I tried your method and my mkv file still won't play. I'll try searching for an avi instead.

[whhaatt]

Hi I had this problem

This is how I fixed it (mkv h264)

download this setting file
https://rapidshare.com/files/3100757058/vlcrc.zip

extract file - ignore the pictures in the zip

copy the vlcrc file into location

c:\users\username\application data\vlc

overwite the existing vlcrc file

hey presto VLC will now play x264 files without crashing

[cdb]

The link above led me to a youtube page which then redirected me to Google docs which stated "Sorry, we are unable to retrieve this document."

[whhaatt]

I have re-upped the file via rapidshare

[imageWIS]

I've been having a similar issue:

I downloaded 4 different MKV versions of a movie and they won't play past 6 - 14 seconds using VLC. I then downloaded another different movie and that one stops after 44 seconds. All my old MKV files work perfectly. I uninstalled VLC and reinstalled, but it didn't solve the problem.

Also, has anyone tried the file that whhaatt uploaded?

[miahwebb]

whaat,

i downloaded your file and ignored the jpg's, but cannot seem to get it to work. Can you be more specific on how to extract and copy into something. I just double clicked it with sarchiver and a terminal pulled up and completed something. Then nothing. Not sure what to do. I like your idea and thanks for re-loading the file. But how do i use it?

[whhaatt]

The file that is not a jpg (vlcrc), simply extract/move it to

(using winrar - click on vlcrc, then click the extract button, point to 1 of the following directories - depending on your windows version

Windows Vista / 7
c:\users\your username\application data\vlc

Windows XP
C:\documents and settings\your user name\application data\vlc

Press ok)

Alternatively open up my computer and go to the above location, then move the windows to one side, open up the downloaded file, make sure you can see both windows at the same time, then drag the vlcrc file for the winrar/winzip into the other window, and confirm overwrite when asked.

and then run vlc (it is a config file for vlc)

[vonrahrah]

I've followed the above instructions word for word and I still can't get .mkv files to play.

Is anyone else still experiencing this issue?

[camahule]

Just had this problem after upgrading to 1.1.11 where the first few seconds of an mkv file would loop (audio was fine).

For anyone else with the issue, I managed to fix it by going to tools>preferences>Inputs & Codecs and un-ticking "use GPU acceleration".

[mrhussain0334]

well nothing helped plz anyone help me.
i can play mkv format files with vlc but it plays slow.
Plz guys help me i hav 10 movies i want to watch and they all play slow except the flv videos downloaded from youtube.

[tuxitop]

This is how I've fixed this issue:

In Tools > Preferences, check "all" on the bottom right (under the list of categories). Now, expand "Input / Codecs" on the list and choose "Demuxers". After that in front of "Demux Module" choose "FFmpeg Demux" from the drop down menu.

I am using Arch Linux and you might need to choose different modules on other platforms. but as it seems the problem is with the default demuxer.

[qslinger]

This is how I've fixed this issue:

In Tools > Preferences, check "all" on the bottom right (under the list of categories). Now, expand "Input / Codecs" on the list and choose "Demuxers". After that in front of "Demux Module" choose "FFmpeg Demux" from the drop down menu.

I am using Arch Linux and you might need to choose different modules on other platforms. but as it seems the problem is with the default demuxer.

It works beautifully!!! Thanks tuxitop!!!!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

This is not a good general advice, be careful.

[j.benes]

Hi all! I have the same problem. Since update to 1.3... and up the mkv files cannot be openned / played / whatever.
I use vlc daily from http://ppa.launchpad.net/videolan/master-daily/ubuntu (2.1.0-git Rincewind)
My system is Ubuntu 10.10 64-bit, kernel 2.6.35-31. Any mkv (previously normally playable) get stuck with error:
mkv demux error: cannot find KaxSegment or missing mandatory KaxInfo
Any suggestions will he very appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[TypX]

Well it seems to use a too old compiler so basically this packages are broken for mkv. I'll report that.