Windows Media Player

[Noel A]

In the past I have had no problem playing video files
on my Windows Media player 10. Now, all of a sudden
I cannot see the video but I can hear the sound.
This was also the case with the two other players
I use - Real and VLC - but having deleted and reinstalled
VLC it now won't work at all.

Having discovered the problem,
I have downloaded some codecs from
http://www.free-codecs.com/K_Lite_Co...k_download.htm
in case the codecs are corrupt but it makes no difference.
I cannot delete or cut & paste the WMP folder or its contents
from the Program Files folder. It tells me that it is
being used by another person or program although as
far as I am aware it is not. I have tried to install
WMP10 and get this message

"This version of Windows Media Technologies is
incompatible with this version of Windows.
For more information, view the information
at the Microsoft web site."

I can install WMP11 OK but have the same problem -
video sound but no picture. However unlike WMP10,
at least WMP11 shows up in the Add & Remove.
I have really hit a brick wall so if anyone can
help I would be very grateful.

Can anyone please tell me what might be wrong and what
I should do to get the picture back. I have tried several
videos and they are all the same - sound but no picture.

My computer has an AMD Athlon processor 1.20 GHz, 1GB of RAM
& Win XP Home.
Thanks

 

[Heisenberg]

The fact that Real and VLC don't work makes it a video driver, and not a codec problem IMO. Try updating/reinstalling your video drivers and make sure DirectX is up to date.

 

[stars]

You could also try ffdshow as an alternative to the current codecs you're using.

 

[ktwebb]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
The fact that Real and VLC don't work makes it a video driver, and not a codec problem IMO. Try updating/reinstalling your video drivers and make sure DirectX is up to date.

The opposite is true. Well, it wouldn't be a video card driver anyway.

OP, is it all media types? In other words, are you having issues with mpegs, avi's, divx avi's, or will nothing play on your player(s)?

 

[Eska]

try http://www.cccp-project.net/

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: ktwebb

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
The fact that Real and VLC don't work makes it a video driver, and not a codec problem IMO. Try updating/reinstalling your video drivers and make sure DirectX is up to date.

The opposite is true. Well, it wouldn't be a video card driver anyway.

OP, is it all media types? In other words, are you having issues with mpegs, avi's, divx avi's, or will nothing play on your player(s)?

If Realplayer doesn't work that pretty much rules out a codec problem, since it uses its own proprietary stuff. My guess would be that it's some kind of overlay/video acceleration issue, which is a driver/OS problem.

 

[Noel A]

Thanks for the above which I have just read but not yet acted upon. An update on the problem:
1. Windows Media Player does not show up in the Add & Remove. I am unable to delete the WMP file in my Programs Folder - I get the message that the program is being used elsewhere.
2. I have deleted VLC and Real player.
3. 99% of the time during the past couple of days I have not been able to get any sound or picture when I play a video although something is happening as the progress bar moves across the screen. However, once today & once yesterday I managed to play 3 videos (sound and picture)!! All very odd.
If anyone has any bright ideas after reading the above I would be very grateful for the advice. Thanks