Problem with videos

Viro · 10-29-2003, 02:53 AM

For some reason, Windows has started giving me the strangest problem. Well, both Windows Media Player and DivX are only showing a small portion of the video files when I try to play them. Like, less than 1/4 the picture.

Does anyone have *any* idea what could be causing this.

System specs:

2.4 Ghz Pentium 4
800 FSB
512 MB RAM (3200)
WMP 9.0
Latest DivX

So far I've tried limiting the output to a single monitor, closing all other programs, and messing with every single option that sounded like it might do something in WMP.

Viro
Confused as ****.

Scorpius · 10-29-2003, 01:12 PM

I would suggest going to www.divx.com and download the latest divx codecs. See what that does. Also, while you're playing them his ALT Enter and see if it goes full screen with a respectable amount of detail.

Viro · 10-30-2003, 03:18 AM

Double-checked just in case, but all my codecs (at least DivX are up to date). I should add that I had been playing the videos *fine* previously, and it's *all* my videos having this problem, not just some of them. I installed various softwares, and one of them *could* have done something, but I doubt it (not ignoring the possibility though).

And alt+enter didn't work as a fix. Had tried before, and tried again.

Thanks though. I do hope someone can help, being unable to watch movies and such is *so* annoying.

Viro

Inaris · 10-30-2003, 03:29 PM

what software did you install of late?

Viro · 10-31-2003, 02:47 AM

Nero StartSmart, Steam (valve software), maybe Enter the Matrix, Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Think that's all of them.

Viro

Inaris · 10-31-2003, 07:19 PM

Check your codecs from device manager and see what are new. If you have any that were installed near the time that the problem occured, see about removing them and try again... Aside from divx, WMP will find and install almost any codec if you need it. I have never used the DivX Player cause I just don't like it, so I have no idea on that one. I tend to use the ATI player most of the time anyway, but WMP tends to be pretty fool proof.
If it comes down to it, try checking the config for zooming. I had an odd problem with the ATI player where the file would open really streched out. It would take like 100 Screen sized resizes before you could see the image clearly. and it was caused by a very odd IE plugin codec. Might be something that came with Enter the Matrix, cause doesn't that have a lot of video files?

Just a few thoughts.

Viro · 11-01-2003, 02:42 AM

Thanks for that, however I can't sort the codecs by date installed (it just lists them in no order and properties doesn't even give an install date). It looks like Kazaa Lite was also installed, so if I can't figure things out soon, Enter the Matrix is going to get uninstalled (beat it with both characters already anyways). If that doesn't work, time to start randomly uninstalling codecs, since I can get them back easily enough.

But, I'll probably wait a day or two longer, in case somebody reading this knows what's up with my video players.

Oh, and I messed with any and all available zoom options on my player, to no avail. No matter what screen size is displayed inside the viewer, I get the same portion of the actual video. *sigh*

Viro
Thanks for the help so far, I hope it doesn't come down to reinstalling Windows. I've already installed Windows onto 3 computers in the last month, and I'm quite tired of getting all the settings updated and so forth...

roho · 11-01-2003, 09:07 AM

You may have corrupted video card drivers (they can cause this sort of problem).

Try uninstalling your gfx card drivers then re-install with an older or known good driver for your card. Always uninstall the drivers before updating (sometimes you can be lucky other times..........).

Go here for drivers and other tools:

http://www.guru3d.com/

Viro · 11-03-2003, 04:05 AM

Reinstalled video card drives. No change.
Uninstalled Enter The Marix. No change.

Tried running videos using the old Windows Media Player (mplayer2.exe). Ran properly first 2-4 times, then started running blank screen. When I check WMP 9.0, it was running black/blank as well. Restarted the computer, and now both are once again running at the portion view.

I'm sure there are no hardware issues, and I think its safe to say that the drivers are all fine (I just got the computer 2-3 weeks ago, and have reupdated drivers for this problem a couple times).

To my knowledge, that just leaves codecs, so can someone tell me how to fully uninstall all codecs (I'm a bit stuck there), or suggest some other solution?

I have started looking into the possibility of a problem caused by internet explorer. And it very well could be, since I tried viewing a file directly through it, probably about the time the problem began. Any information on this venue would be appreciated.

Viro

Inaris · 11-03-2003, 02:37 PM

in Iexplore if you view properties from the desktop icon or under tools, internet options of the program, if you go to the temp files area, and then view settings, and then view objects, you can delete anything in there. Just be aware that doing so will require reinstalling the files later if you need them. They are all Iexplorer based stuff, but some like flash will be in add/remove programs too.

10-29-2003, 02:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Viro Newb Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8	Problem with videos For some reason, Windows has started giving me the strangest problem. Well, both Windows Media Player and DivX are only showing a small portion of the video files when I try to play them. Like, less than 1/4 the picture. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this. System specs: 2.4 Ghz Pentium 4 800 FSB 512 MB RAM (3200) WMP 9.0 Latest DivX So far I've tried limiting the output to a single monitor, closing all other programs, and messing with every single option that sounded like it might do something in WMP. Viro Confused as ****.

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10-29-2003, 01:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Scorpius Newb Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 6	I would suggest going to www.divx.com and download the latest divx codecs. See what that does. Also, while you're playing them his ALT Enter and see if it goes full screen with a respectable amount of detail.

10-30-2003, 03:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
Viro Newb Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8	Double-checked just in case, but all my codecs (at least DivX are up to date). I should add that I had been playing the videos fine previously, and it's all my videos having this problem, not just some of them. I installed various softwares, and one of them could have done something, but I doubt it (not ignoring the possibility though). And alt+enter didn't work as a fix. Had tried before, and tried again. Thanks though. I do hope someone can help, being unable to watch movies and such is so annoying. Viro

10-30-2003, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Inaris Master Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,258	what software did you install of late?

10-31-2003, 02:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
Viro Newb Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8	Nero StartSmart, Steam (valve software), maybe Enter the Matrix, Adobe Acrobat Reader. Think that's all of them. Viro

10-31-2003, 07:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Inaris Master Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,258	Check your codecs from device manager and see what are new. If you have any that were installed near the time that the problem occured, see about removing them and try again... Aside from divx, WMP will find and install almost any codec if you need it. I have never used the DivX Player cause I just don't like it, so I have no idea on that one. I tend to use the ATI player most of the time anyway, but WMP tends to be pretty fool proof. If it comes down to it, try checking the config for zooming. I had an odd problem with the ATI player where the file would open really streched out. It would take like 100 Screen sized resizes before you could see the image clearly. and it was caused by a very odd IE plugin codec. Might be something that came with Enter the Matrix, cause doesn't that have a lot of video files? Just a few thoughts.

11-01-2003, 02:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Viro Newb Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8	Thanks for that, however I can't sort the codecs by date installed (it just lists them in no order and properties doesn't even give an install date). It looks like Kazaa Lite was also installed, so if I can't figure things out soon, Enter the Matrix is going to get uninstalled (beat it with both characters already anyways). If that doesn't work, time to start randomly uninstalling codecs, since I can get them back easily enough. But, I'll probably wait a day or two longer, in case somebody reading this knows what's up with my video players. Oh, and I messed with any and all available zoom options on my player, to no avail. No matter what screen size is displayed inside the viewer, I get the same portion of the actual video. sigh Viro Thanks for the help so far, I hope it doesn't come down to reinstalling Windows. I've already installed Windows onto 3 computers in the last month, and I'm quite tired of getting all the settings updated and so forth...

11-01-2003, 09:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
roho Super Techie Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 268	You may have corrupted video card drivers (they can cause this sort of problem). Try uninstalling your gfx card drivers then re-install with an older or known good driver for your card. Always uninstall the drivers before updating (sometimes you can be lucky other times..........). Go here for drivers and other tools: http://www.guru3d.com/

11-03-2003, 04:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
Viro Newb Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8	Reinstalled video card drives. No change. Uninstalled Enter The Marix. No change. Tried running videos using the old Windows Media Player (mplayer2.exe). Ran properly first 2-4 times, then started running blank screen. When I check WMP 9.0, it was running black/blank as well. Restarted the computer, and now both are once again running at the portion view. I'm sure there are no hardware issues, and I think its safe to say that the drivers are all fine (I just got the computer 2-3 weeks ago, and have reupdated drivers for this problem a couple times). To my knowledge, that just leaves codecs, so can someone tell me how to fully uninstall all codecs (I'm a bit stuck there), or suggest some other solution? I have started looking into the possibility of a problem caused by internet explorer. And it very well could be, since I tried viewing a file directly through it, probably about the time the problem began. Any information on this venue would be appreciated. Viro

11-03-2003, 02:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
Inaris Master Techie Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,258	in Iexplore if you view properties from the desktop icon or under tools, internet options of the program, if you go to the temp files area, and then view settings, and then view objects, you can delete anything in there. Just be aware that doing so will require reinstalling the files later if you need them. They are all Iexplorer based stuff, but some like flash will be in add/remove programs too.