GSpot indicates I need Help!

[digitaldick]

My story is probably the same as many others. I cannot get a movie to play. I get great audio but no video from WMP 7.1. I get no response at all from the Divx Player (2.0 alpha). Just a Player Error- Failed to open response. No other information. A GSpot review of this avi file indicates that a codec is not installed. The Video Format Codec box shows 4CC as xvid and the NAME as XviD. The Status is Codec Not Installed-no details available. In the DirectShow Render box I see this info: Source- MEDIASUBTYPE_Avi, VideoMedia- blank (empty box), Splitter/Other- AVI Splitter, Video Codec Box- blank (empty box), Status- 0x00040257;VFW_S_VIDEO_NOT_RENDERED- cannot playback the video stream- no suitable decompressor could be found. I'd like to be able to understand this GSpot analysis for future reference, so can I pose a few specific questions about it? 1. When it says "codec is not installed" what is it referring to and where is "it" not installed?. 2. Can I assume that the movie has been "compressed" using this xvid codec and thus what I need is not a compressor but a decompressor? 3. What decompressor do I need then? Do I look to download something called a decompressor or something called a filter? I find references to all sorts of programs at: http://www.divx-digest.com/software/index2.html#codecs
but I don't know what it is I am looking for? I did find the Xvid Codec link but isn't this what was used to compress the movie? So it would do me no good-right? 4. I tried to install the FFDSHOW as was recommended as something that can "play almost anything", yet the description for this program says it is a "filter"...again, the semantics ! Anyway, I installed it and noted that the DIRECTSHOW Filter (required) indication was "grayed" during the installation. The program installed anyway but when I tried to "run" the program I got a RUNDLL ERROR- Error loading ffdshow.ax-one of the library files needed to run this application cannot be found! There was no other information provided! What library file do you think is missing? Thanks for any help.

[UncasMS]

install tsunami 397 via CUSTOM routine and keep all default settings

click my upper anigif to download 397 from my page

[Enchanter]

Download and install the XviD codec from either Koepi (stable and recommended for sub-GHz systems) or Nic (recommended ONLY if your system is 1GHz or faster).

[digitaldick]

GSpot....cont.

Hi and thanks for the followups. I appreciate the suggestions but I'm trying hard to understand just what it is that is wrong with my configuration and how I can correct it before I go ahead and install stuff to fix it. This is a good example. I've now got 2 different Forum members suggesting 2 different programs to solve the same problem, which is, why won't this movie play? If you could help me understand a little bit more by answering a few of my questions I'd really appreciate it. Thank you so much.

[UncasMS]

well, those different postings are not necessarily different suggestions.

the filterPACK 397 from tsunami that i suggested contains these codecs:

XviD Codec (Koepi) 04.October 2002
XviD Playback Filter (Nic) 03.October 2002

tsunamis filterpack has always comprised those filters/codecs which have proven reliable since not always the latest filters are the best (c.f. the latest 5.0.3 which i consider worse than its predecessor).

thus installing this particular filterpack is in most cases a very good choice

[setarip]

"If you could help me understand a little bit more by answering a few of my questions I'd really appreciate it."

All of your questions really amount to just one question - the answer to which is (as both Enchanter and UncasMS have provided) that you have to download and install the XviD codec - either individually or, if you prefer, as part of a codec/filter "pack"...

[digitaldick]

GSpot and help...cont.

UncasMS- after I download the Tsunami 397 filterpack and open it, what happens next? Will the XviD codec (Koepi) conflict with or simply overwrite the XviD codec that came with the ffdshow bundle? Once executed, will this codec act as a decompressor? Then should I be able to view the movie in either WMP or Divx Player or both players? I'd just kinda like to know what will happen or is supposed to happen once I install a program and is there a way to uninstall it if does not work. Again , Thank you. Note- I originally posted this on the Newbie Board, for obvious reasons. Why it got moved here I don't know.

[Enchanter]

Re: GSpot and help...cont.

Originally posted by digitaldick
UncasMS- after I download the Tsunami 397 filterpack and open it, what happens next? Will the XviD codec (Koepi) conflict with or simply overwrite the XviD codec that came with the ffdshow bundle? Once executed, will this codec act as a decompressor? Then should I be able to view the movie in either WMP or Divx Player or both players? I'd just kinda like to know what will happen or is supposed to happen once I install a program and is there a way to uninstall it if does not work. Again , Thank you. Note- I originally posted this on the Newbie Board, for obvious reasons. Why it got moved here I don't know.

Provided you have disabled XviD playback from within FFDShow configuration, the XviD codec will play XviD contents.

A codec is basically a COmpressor/DECompressor. Hence installing it will enable you to compress (create) AND decompress (play) XviD-compressed video files.

[UncasMS]

Re: GSpot and help...cont.

Originally posted by digitaldick
UncasMS- after I download the Tsunami 397 filterpack and open it, what happens next?

as i said: install it via custom routine keeping all defaults!

Originally posted by digitaldick
Will the XviD codec (Koepi) conflict with or simply overwrite the XviD codec that came with the ffdshow bundle? Once executed, will this codec act as a decompressor?

it does not conflict and as stated in my previous posting: two different codec/filters will be used for encoding and decoding:
koepi + nic!

Originally posted by digitaldick
Then should I be able to view the movie in either WMP or Divx Player or both players? I'd just kinda like to know what will happen or is supposed to happen once I install a program and is there a way to uninstall it if does not work. Again , Thank you. Note- I originally posted this on the Newbie Board, for obvious reasons. Why it got moved here I don't know.

- any player will be able to handle xvid thereafter.
- whether or not you use ffdshow or nics decoder filter is up 2 u and can be change any given time.
- of course you can uninstall tsunami whenever you want

- no idea why this thread was moved. but since we do have different specific forums whoever moved it will definitely have considered it a better idea to have this posting here, since it not just plain newbee stuff but most definitely related to playback issues.

it's no help posting just about ANYWHERE but reading a little in a board and THEN posting in the apropriate forums should always be rule #1!

[digitaldick]

more about the GSpot report

Hi. I'm back and before coming back I tried reviewing my steps to figure out just where i've been and why this thread got to this board in the 1st place. Maybe it will help others who take this path and get confused as I did.

When you enter the forum you see numerous Boards: General Discussions, Boycotts/Protests/Petitions/Rants, and then Junior Members/Newbies, which describes itself as "new to the topics discussed in this community? post your concerns here.... "

This invitation was exactly what I wanted so I clicked to open the Board and then saw this sticky: No Sound or no Video ? Read This First! (underlined and in red!). The thread starter was UncasMS. This was exactly my problem and being an obedient servant I clicked on the link provided and was confronted by yet another link, this time to a thread with the threadid = 15326. When I then clicked on this thread I read the thread as No Sound Or No Video? Read This First! but as I began to study the information I noted that my wherabouts was now in the DIVX>PLAYBACK BOARD! This thread specifically asks that results of the GSpot analysis be posted "here" and since here is here, that is where my post was moved. End of that mystery (at least for me). Hope it helps somebody else. Now, since my questions were meant to help me with newbie issues and since I am very new to the many topics discussed in this community, I think it best that I try again on the Newbie Board and maybe post just one specific question at a time instead of a big bundle. I need to get a grip on such terms as decoding, decompressing, filtering, and just what codecs do and how they do it- in a general sense! I'm not interested in learning how to write code but I can understand concepts and follow procedures. For example, if I need the xvid codec because GSpot tells me it is not installed, I can follow a procedure to install it. I assumed that the ffdshow program that is recommended on thread 15326 would do this. I assumed wrong! I also assumed that recommendation to try the Nandub program would be helpful. Again, I was wrong. The link provided takes me to a download for nandub-binary-1.0rc2.rar. This downloads ok but when I tried to "run" this, my Winamp Player opened! So, IMHO, thread 15326 should be reorganized or the newbie taken to a more "elementary" help page when he/she first ventures into the digital-digest community. Thanks for listening!

< - no idea why this thread was moved. but since we do have different specific forums whoever moved it will definitely have considered it a better idea to have this posting here, since it not just plain newbee stuff but most definitely related to playback issues.

it's no help posting just about ANYWHERE but reading a little in a board and THEN posting in the apropriate forums should always be rule #1!>

[setarip]

I, for one, am glad you got that off your chest!

I'm sure I speak for all in wishing you only pleasant visits here ;>}

[UncasMS]

since some people in here spend quite some time trying to help others, i dont think it is asked too much that people asking questions try to read through the forums a little, using the search function and dont get offended that easily.

since i was fed up with answering the same questions over and over again (simply because noobs sometimes dont try to read in this forum but ask the same question again, which can be found some lines below) i posted some sort of helpful information in ONE apropriate forum and LINKED to that posting in those forums, where these kind of question do occur ever now and then.

so please stop complaining that i used links to one certain posting which might have mislead you.

so far everyone tried to help you as best they could though i'm kind of regretting that reading this kind of follow-up to a posting with which i tried to help but not accuse you!

why not take a minute thinking and reading?

[Enchanter]

I second UncasMS's words.

Be thankful you can ask newbie's questions in this forum. Try doing the same in Doom9's forum and see what sort of responses you'll get . . .

[digitaldick]

More about that!

Hello- Well Enchanter- I see from your followup that both you and UncasMS missed my point! The point I am referring to is my suggestion that this "Community" be better organized for use by newbies. I used my experience as an example. What better way to learn how to help the newbie than listen to a newbie explain just how confusing it can be here upon 1st visit! At the very least the point that a post NOT be moved from one board to another without some kind of notation on the original board should be an idea worth considering! And, although I can understand how thread id=15326 is considered "hallowed ground" and that any suggestion that re-organizing it a bit for the newbie might spark some hostility, it was a suggestion only, not meant as a criticism. This "Community" deals with subject matter that is very complex and, for many, little understood. If you want participation by the newbie level user, then, IMHO, consider some changes. If not, don't! But, please, don't misunderstand my suggestions as being ungrateful for the help. That was never the intent.

[UncasMS]

you might be right, that sometimes a newbie might have a hard time reading through all the information that are provided here and maybe gets lost a little.

still, i think that most of us try to help as best as we can and so was i.

i actually had no idea what was going on with your posting and so i told you.

i think making yourself familiar by reading and of course asing questions in a forum is your task and ours will be to provide possible help.

we are no mind readers and we spend some of our spare time here helping other people thus please do take or p-o-v into consideration as well.