VLC player crashes after few seconds

[gast]

Hello,

I used VLCplayer some months and unfortunately I got the idea to install Microsoft Mediaplayer for MAC, too.

System is iBook G4, OSX.4, 512 MB RAM...

Well, since this time VLC doesn't work any more. It always crashes down after some time, 5 up to 20 seconds. Sometimes I'm able to watch some seconds of film, sometimes nothings happens.

There is no specificic error message.

Is there someone able to help me? Thanks!!!

[fkuehne]

Please use the script on our disk-image to delete your preferences and try again. VLC should work as previously afterwards. If this doesn't help, provide your versions of VLC, of QuickTime and of Mac OS X please.

[Guest]

The same here. Just downloaded the latest version (0.8.4a), deleted all previous VLC preferences (with the AppleScript provided with the VLC) and cleared Trash, opened VLC, and added Mac OS X interface in it's Preferences settings. Closed VLC, re-opened, and ... it crashes every time I try to open it.

This is from crash log:
2005-12-14 02:08:35.862 VLC[12597] *** Uncaught exception: <NSInvalidArgumentException> *** -[NSPlaceholderDictionary initWithObjects:forKeys:count:]: attempt to insert nil value
Dec 14 02:08:47 Guntis-Mac crashdump[12598]: VLC crashed
Dec 14 02:08:50 Guntis-Mac crashdump[12598]: crash report written to: /Users/Guntis/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/VLC.crash.log

My system: PowerBook G4 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM, 20GB free disk space, Mac OS X 10.4.3, QT 7.0.3.

[fkuehne]

Well, the interesting stuff is inside that crash-log. Could you post the section about the latest crash here?

[Guntis]

I sent crash log in private message.

[dusan-at-bits.net]

Hi!

I jsut downloaded version 0.8.4.a and it will not load - it reports a crash during load process...

I have an iBook 700Mhz which used to run older version of VLC fine...

Please advise.

Thanx.

[fkuehne]

@dusan-at-bits.net: we can't help you unless you post your version of OSX and of QuickTime and your crash-log.

[fkuehne]

@Guntis: I've just checked your crash-log. This very error is only triggered by a certain kind of broken preferences-files. Could you go to Library/Preferences inside your personal folder and delete a folder called "VLC" by hand? If this doesn't help, could you use spotlight to find any other VLC-related files (except VLC.app and its content) and delete them?

[dusan-at-bits.net]

Here we go:
Hardware Overview:

Machine Model: iBook
CPU Type: PowerPC 750 (1.12)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 700 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 640 MB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.3.6f3
Serial Number: UV23753FLQ3

OS: 10.3.9 OS X


**********

Host Name: iBook.local
Date/Time: 2005-12-14 14:53:16 -0500
OS Version: 10.3.9 (Build 7W98)
Report Version: 2

Command: VLC
Path: /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC
Version: 0.8.4 (0.8.4)
PID: 2715
Thread: Unknown

Link (dyld) error:

dyld: /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC can't open library: /Users/holger/Desktop/vlc-0.8.4/extras/contrib/lib/libmpcdec.3.dylib (No such file or directory, errno = 2)

**********

Host Name: iBook.local
Date/Time: 2005-12-14 14:53:36 -0500
OS Version: 10.3.9 (Build 7W98)
Report Version: 2

Command: VLC
Path: /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC
Version: 0.8.4 (0.8.4)
PID: 2718
Thread: Unknown

Link (dyld) error:

dyld: /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC can't open library: /Users/holger/Desktop/vlc-0.8.4/extras/contrib/lib/libmpcdec.3.dylib (No such file or directory, errno = 2)

**********

Host Name: iBook.local
Date/Time: 2005-12-14 14:53:51 -0500
OS Version: 10.3.9 (Build 7W98)
Report Version: 2

Command: VLC
Path: /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC
Version: 0.8.4 (0.8.4)
PID: 2720
Thread: Unknown

Link (dyld) error:

dyld: /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC can't open library: /Users/holger/Desktop/vlc-0.8.4/extras/contrib/lib/libmpcdec.3.dylib (No such file or directory, errno = 2)

**********

Host Name: iBook.local
Date/Time: 2005-12-14 15:00:12 -0500
OS Version: 10.3.9 (Build 7W98)
Report Version: 2

Command: VLC
Path: /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC
Version: 0.8.4 (0.8.4)
PID: 380
Thread: Unknown

Link (dyld) error:

dyld: /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC can't open library: /Users/holger/Desktop/vlc-0.8.4/extras/contrib/lib/libmpcdec.3.dylib (No such file or directory, errno = 2)

[The DJ]

CRAP. this is a missing "INSTALL_NAME" command in the contrib setup....
We should fix this for the next release.

FK: Every contrib that has dylibs that we use needs to execute the INSTALL_NAME script

[Guntis]

@Guntis: I've just checked your crash-log. This very error is only triggered by a certain kind of broken preferences-files. Could you go to Library/Preferences inside your personal folder and delete a folder called "VLC" by hand? If this doesn't help, could you use spotlight to find any other VLC-related files (except VLC.app and its content) and delete them?

OK, I deleted all I could delete, and launched VLC, everything was fine. I opened preferences, opened Interface section, General subsection, set Interface module to Mac OS X Interface, and also checked check-box in front of the Mac OS X Interface line in the list below. So far so good. I closed VLC, opened again, and... the same crash again. So something is created broken by the VLC program. I can send you another crash log as a PM.

[fkuehne]

Is there a special reason why you set the Mac OS X interface? That's not necessary on OSX and is probably the reason for your crashes. Your behaviour might trigger VLC to launch a 2nd instance of the OSX-interface-module, which crashes everything.

@TheDJ: I'm currently testing a fix for that library. Thanks for the hint.

[Guntis]

Is there a special reason why you set the Mac OS X interface? That's not necessary on OSX and is probably the reason for your crashes. Your behaviour might trigger VLC to launch a 2nd instance of the OSX-interface-module, which crashes everything.

Why do I use? I don't know... If it's there, why shouldn't I try to use it? I just tried and it crash VLC on the next launch. So this must be a bug. If it's not necessary, then you should remove it so that other stupid users wouldn't use it unnecessary... That's my thinking...

[r]

Still experiencing the same problem (Mac OS X, 10.3.9, 1.33 GHz Power PC G4, 1.25 GB SDRAM), after trying everything that has been recommended on this forum. This is what I got the last time:

main debug: CPU has capabilities AltiVec FPU
main debug: looking for memcpy module: 2 candidates
main debug: using memcpy module "memcpyaltivec"
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 42036736 (playlist) created at priority -47 (src/playlist/playlist.c:182)
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 42113024 (preparser) created at priority -47 (src/playlist/playlist.c:208)
main debug: looking for interface module: 1 candidate
main debug: using interface module "hotkeys"
main debug: interface initialized
main debug: thread 42735104 (interface) created at priority -47 (src/interface/interface.c:179)
main debug: looking for interface module: 2 candidates
main debug: using interface module "macosx"
main debug: interface initialized
main debug: thread 42752000 (manager) created at priority -47 (src/interface/interface.c:153)
main debug: adding playlist item `D093288' ( /dev/rdisk2 )
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 43120640 (input) created at priority 37 (src/input/input.c:250)
main debug: `/dev/rdisk2' gives access `' demux `' path `/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 0 candidates
main warning: no access_demux module matched "any"
main debug: creating access '' path='/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: looking for access2 module: 6 candidates
vcd error: search for kIOCDMediaClass came up empty
vcd error: failed to get the TOC
vcd error: no movie tracks found
access_file debug: opening file `/dev/rdisk2'
access_file error: file /dev/rdisk2 is empty, aborting
cdda error: search for kIOCDMediaClass came up empty
cdda error: failed to get the TOC
cdda error: no audio tracks found
cddax warning: could not open /dev/rdisk2
main debug: creating access '' path='/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: looking for access2 module: 6 candidates
vcd error: search for kIOCDMediaClass came up empty
vcd error: failed to get the TOC
vcd error: no movie tracks found
access_file debug: opening file `/dev/rdisk2'
access_file error: file /dev/rdisk2 is empty, aborting
cdda error: search for kIOCDMediaClass came up empty
cdda error: failed to get the TOC
cdda error: no audio tracks found
cddax warning: could not open /dev/rdisk2
main error: no suitable access module for `/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: initializing interaction system
macosx debug: input has changed, refreshing interface
main debug: thread 43120640 joined (src/input/input.c:387)
main: nothing to play

Any ideas? Thank you for your help.

[Sportyyyy]

I had the version previous to 0.8.4a, I'm guessing 0.8.3 since I got pissed and trashed the bastard. 0.8.3 worked great yesterday, then it began crashing a few seconds after opening.

Why the hell it would start freaking out now, I have no idea. It may be coincidence, but stuffit expander 10 disappeared off my computer the same day. Anyway, today I downloaded & installed 0.8.4a ; same problem.

Went in & deleted VLC preferences by hand in the library, VLC crashed once more. Now I'm watching Firefly, about a quarter into it and its fine.

Anyway, thank you guys for posting help in the forum; this program is how I spend my days procrastinating on homework.

In case anyone's interested,
1 Ghz G4 powerbook
1 Gb Ram
OS 10.4.3

Thanks again!

[Guest]

I was having the same problem (crash after 3-5s) when I installed 0.8.4a and activated the MacOSX interface. Trashing prefs and leaving MacOSX interface inactive fixed the problem.

So, why wouldn't MacOSX users want to have the MacOSX interface active?

[fkuehne]

Well, it isn't inactive at all Otherwise you wouldn't see anything.

You just may not run it as an extra-interface for technical reasons.