Cannot view .wmv files in WMP 11 or VLAN players

[wahnula]

Hello,

I have researched the dickens out of this baby, but still no joy. Not a huge deal, as it is my business PC, but when I am sent a .wmv file I cannot view it, either in Windows Media Player 11 or Vlan player. I can hear the sounds, but there is a dark static box where the video should be.

The PC is a Home-brew Asus M6N laptop with integrated ATI Radeon Mobility 9600/9700. I tried to update to the latest driver but ATI's "Installation Verification Software" told me my notebook was not compatible with the latest Catalyst 8.1 driver.

I am running the current stable driver from Asus dated 2004. When I go to .wmv test page:

http://home.att.net/~cherokee68/wmvtest.html

there is no picture, only sound. Embedded video like YouTube test .wmv:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtzjZwCkIcY

works fine in Firefox 2.0.0.11, but this one does not:

http://home.att.net/~cherokee68/wmvtest2.html

Yesterday I uninstalled and reinstalled the latest WMP 11 with no changes. WMP Update tells me I have the latest version.

Like I said, it's not a huge deal, but inquiring minds want to know...

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[BadBigBen]

the reason why the YouTube video works, is that it is not WMV but SWF (Flash)...

as to the WMV... Hmmm... have you already checked through DXDIAG? but what buggers me is that VLC is not playing them either, which would indicate that there is something wrong with the settings for the GFX card (had a similar prob with an nVidia, just don't remember how I fixed it)...

back to subject at hand, I believe that the DirectShow filters may have become damaged... solution is to reinstall the the DirectShow Filters(or try a good Codec Pack like the KLite Mega Codec Pack, which comes with all codecs you will ever need)...

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 3.7.0

http://www.codecguide.com/

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[wahnula]

BBBen,

Thanks for the reply. DXDIAG says everything is fine. I tried re-enabling the ATI startup apps and that did nothing. I tried the codec pack, nothing. I tried to open a .wmv file with the included Classic Media Player, again nothing.

It's gotta be something at the card level. Can I borrow your sledgehammer????

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[BadBigBen]

LOL...

how about this:

first try the Hardware Acceleration and turn it off...
see the following link for further info:

http://www.driverheaven.net/laptop-...-ati-mobility-9600-driver-video-playback.html

if no go try:

deinstall the ATI driver, before you reboot, use Driver Cleaner to get rid of all ATI driver remnants in the OS...

reboot, let windows install its default driver, then freshly install the ATI driver (latest for your laptop, ergo ATI Mobile) or the one suggested in the above link...

as this would get rid of corrupted driver files/filters...

and if that does not clear things up, then I presume it to be an overlay problem...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[wahnula]

I have a copy of ATI's "Software Uninstall Utility" and might try this next week...work, you know

I am the only one in the office on deadline (3 projects by tomorrow 11:00 am) and Fridays are quite distracting on their own, so I won't be mucking about the PC today. Since it is, after all, company property I would not feel right working on it during non-company hours. Then again why would I need WMP for office duties? Oh yeah to view important presentations that vendors might send. Never has, but it COULD happen

Thanks for your suggestions, I will report back next week with the results.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[RexxSysProg]

There is a known bug in VLC that in some cases it has a green box overlaying the picture. Perhaps your dark box is related to that. I suggest you post also to the Videolan Forum:

http://forum.videolan.org/index.php