Videolan - rebooting PC when playing video...

[gig02]

Hi all,

I have been using VideoLan for a long time now - but I have recently spruced up an old PC of mine and Videolan seems to reboot the PC when playing a video - any ideas what is wrong?

All versions (including the .8.5 beta) seem to do this - from version 0.8.2 and upwards...

However 0.8.1 works without issue...

If you have any ideas I would be most greatful.

PC Specs.

AMD Athlon 1400
768MB SDRAM PC133
A-Bit K7a Motherboard
GeForce FX5200 64MB AGP 2x
Windows XP SP2

Also Installed - although probably doesn't affect the drivers already configured in Videolan

DivX 6 (play)
Koepi Xvid Binary 1.1 (Stable)
Ac3 Filter 0.7b

Many thanks

Giles

[DJ]

From what you have said I would expect 0.8.2 to work also. The DirectX interface was rebuilt starting in 0.8.4 forcing many to update the sound and video drivers after SP2 (this really should be done anyway). It would also be smart to update DirectX. last runtime update was Feb 06 and is not automatic. If you are not current with MS updates, I would strongly suggest this. The only thing that may be difficult is the FX5200. If you cant find updates for your video that are dated later than Oct 04 you may end up shutting down DirectX to get VLC to work. This can be accomplished in Preferences, Video, Output Modules and using the pull down to select "Windows GDI video output". Then save, restart VLC and try to call a file.

I could give you a rather long list of tests, if you would rather do that. But often it is better to start here.

You are correct, none of the Direct Show codecs will effect VLC, but you must be current with WMP 10 to use WMv or WMa from Microsoft and remember, VLC does not support DRM.

[gig02]

I shall go off and try the drivers and options you suggested and post back my results...

Many thanks

[gig02]

Hi again,

Unfortunatly the driver updates and changing the video output to something other than DirectX did not work

in all versions from 0.8.3 and up... 0.8.2 also had the same problems...

you mentioned some tests... or is there anyway I can put VLC into some kind of logging mode so i can monitor any errors that may be occuring...

Many thanks for your help so far...

Regards

Gig

[gworf]

Hi again,

Unfortunatly the driver updates and changing the video output to something other than DirectX did not work

in all versions from 0.8.3 and up... 0.8.2 also had the same problems...

you mentioned some tests... or is there anyway I can put VLC into some kind of logging mode so i can monitor any errors that may be occuring...

Many thanks for your help so far...

Regards

Gig

I had the same problems.... version 0.8.5-test appears to have fixed the problem

[DJ]

Well guys,while I haven't had the problem you are describing in any of the versions. There is always the possibility of a corrupted video. This generally gives you some warning withe static in the audio and weird blocks in the picture and from time to time I have had every player I have ever tried crash with this.

Have you tried looking at Messages?

Is the problem consistent in time?

Have you tried another player?

Is it possible there is something running in the background causing your CPU usage to max out?

It sounds like you have tried a few of the general things without success but I will list them here for convenience.

1. Run your Virus and Spyware packages. If it has been a while it would be smart to look for updates first. Clear all the caches on your machine. Don't forget the recent files list. Then defragment your hard drive.

2. go to your Start menu and select Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information when the program opens, select the Tools pull down and then select the File Signature Verification Utility then run the check. This does more than just check for windows file signatures it checks for corrupted files. While you are there select the same Tools pull down and run the DirectX diagnostic Utility and all the tests. The version should be 9c and the last runtime update was in Dec 05 but this does not install automatically and the version number will not reflect the update. So you may need to go to Microsoft's web site and find it. Unless you know you are current. Last runtime update was Feb 06 and is not automatic and the version does not change from 9c.

3. Go to your Video Utilities and reset the defaults for your Video Card. This is OpenGL, Direct3D and Overlay.

I have assumed that you have recent drivers for your Video and Sound card. If you have SP2 installed the drivers should carry a date later than Oct 04. If they do not then by all means update the drivers.

The only other thing I can think of at the moment would be any other major Graphics or Video program you have installed recently that may be older than SP2. Generally speaking VLC does not interfere with other programs and other programs don't interfere with VLC. As VLC is not a Direct Show player. The only exception I have found thus far is the Haali multimedia splitter giving problems with VLC's transcode functions. At the moment this is not your problem.

Here are a few more, but generally intended to find video or audio problems that are consistant. Like no picture, a player that will not open, strange colors on screen, sometimes sync problems or a video card that has marginal memory.

Assuming that you have tried to reset the defaults or better yet erase the preferences directory. C:\Documents and Settings\Owner (this is you)\Application Data\VLC Erase VLC, Application Data is a hidden directory so you will need to make it visible. Reset can be accomplished external to VLC by going to Start Menu. Programs, VideoLAN and selecting the reset icon or internal to VLC through Miscellaneous, Preferences, reset. Then you must restart VLC.

You can try the following:

1. Open VLC, Be sure you are in the wxWidgets (this is the default) mode, from the "Settings" pull down check "Extend GUI", on the video tab check "enable" and then "restore defaults". Now try calling a file into VLC. If you have just reset VLC I would not suspect this one.

2. Some games store information by changing settings on your video card so it would be smart to reset your video card to its defaults for 3D, OpenGL and Overlay

3. change resolutions of your video card. If you are at 1024x768 for example go to 800x600.

4. Change color depths of your video card. If you are at 32 bit color try 24 bit or 16 bit.

5. Try shutting off the video acceleration inside VLC. Settings, Preferences, Video, untick the "Overlay video output" box and save. Now close VLC and restart. Then try to call a file, within VLC.

6. As a last resort, try opening VLC Settings, Preferences, Video, Output Modules and using the pull down to select "Windows GDI video output". Then save, restart VLC and try to call a file.

Most of these things are tests to try to expose your problem. So it is suggested to put things back the way it was if it had no change to your problem. Also always call a file into VLC to rule out a possible Windows interface problem.

[Kal]

Computers to tend to reboot when there overheated, maby you got some cooling problems?

AMD is wel known of having lots of problems with overheating.

First off, download some sofware to check your cpu/mb and vga °.

--> http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3301.html

If it is overheated....

Open the case up and check if the cpu is dust free (dust can block the fans)
Remove the dust by using a dust remover or anything else.

If the heatsink and fans cant handle the heat you can always get some better models to cool it beter like Zalman or Artic...


Kal

[AnD]

If you have a new pentium cpu then you got to check that, they are more worse then an AMD cpu.