MPC/BSP rejecting FFDSHOW? (solved)

[Lincoln Burrows]

This week I just updated my BSPlayer Pro version to the last one available. Then I downloaded the DIVX codec (also latest version), but at the same time I uninstalled the package (reasons described here (http://bsplayer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13138)).

Now I am facing one unusual problem. MPC is not using FFDShow anymore. When I was updating BSPlayer, a new FFDshow version was installed, and all settings from FFDshow were lost.

The problem with MPC is that all DiVX files have no image, but sound. And the rest is playing fine. When the DivX codec was reinstalled, all files were playing with image on MPC!

But this is wrong! DiVx files can be played on XP even if you don't install the codec, so this is not required. It wasn't working that way before.

When the DiVx bundle is removed, MPC is relying on these filters to play the DiVX file:

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5901/mpcba1.gif

Please note: BSPlayer can play all DiVX files no matter if the codec is installed or not! And BSPlayer is also using FFDshow in order to achieve this.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Now I am facing one unusual problem. MPC is not using FFDShow anymore. When I was updating BSPlayer, a new FFDshow version was installed, and all settings from FFDshow were lost.

Make sure the desired video format is enabled in ffdshow's "Video decoder configuration". See the "Codecs" page and make sure the "Decoder" is set to "libavcodec" (not "disabled").

If MPC doesn't use ffdshow, but another filter instead, goto "Options" -> "External Filters" in MPC, add "ffdshow Video Decoder" to the list and make it "prefer".

But this is wrong! DiVx files can be played on XP even if you don't install the codec, so this is not required. It wasn't working that way before.

No, that's wrong. WindowsXP requires additional software to play MPEG-4 ASP (DivX, Xvid, etc). Either ffdshow, the DivX Codec, the Xvid's Decoder Filter or another suitable decoder.

At least when we talk about DirectShow-based players, which MPC is. You can easily avoid any "Codec" trouble by using MPlayer or VLC Player...

[Lincoln Burrows]

Make sure the desired video format is enabled in ffdshow's "Video decoder configuration". See the "Codecs" page and make sure the "Decoder" is set to "libavcodec" (not "disabled").I already tried this. Can you list what options are dealing with AVI when it comes to DiVX 3/4/5 archives? Because I changed all of them.

If MPC doesn't use ffdshow, but another filter instead, goto "Options" -> "External Filters" in MPC, add "ffdshow Video Decoder" to the lest and make it "prefer".FFdshow is not on this list! That's very strange. I tried to add the "XVID Decoder" as a filter and using "Prefer" and nothing changed. Still using that Pinnacle Decoder that I never saw before:

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5901/mpcba1.gif

No, that's wrong. WindowsXP requires additional software to play MPEG-4 ASP (DivX, Xvid, etc). Either ffdshow, the DivX Codec, the Xvid's Decoder Filter or another suitable decoder.If that's the case, how can you say for sure what exact codec each file is using? I am seeing the specs on GSpot and MPC (Propts.), but I need to be sure.

I can only assume the removal of DiVX Codec caused this issue, there is no other explanation, not even installing a new FFDshow might have caused this (unless I am playing too much XVID files and never noticed that so far). I don't use MPC very often, but it is also necessary here.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I already tried this. Can you list what options are dealing with AVI when it comes to DiVX 3/4/5 archives? Because I changed all of them.

There are no container specific options in ffdshow, as ffdshow is a decoder and not a splitter!

Just make sure "Xvid", "DivX 4/5/6", "Other MPEG4", "DivX 3" and the "MP4x" formats are set to "libavcodec" in the ffdshow configuration ("Codecs" page).

FFdshow is not on this list! That's very strange.

That's why you need to add it to the list :p

In MPC options goto "External Filters", click the "Add Filter" button, choose "ffdshow Video Decoder", click "OK" and then set it to "prefer".

If "ffdshow Video Decoder" is not available, you must (re-)install it! Download the latest version from ffdshow homepage!

http://ffdshow-tryout.sourceforge.net/

If that's the case, how can you say for sure what exact codec each file is using?

If several filters for the same format are available, DirectShow will choose the filter with the highest "merit" value.

MPC's "prefer" and "block" options allow you to overwrite the merit. Filters set as "prefer" will always be preferred over all other filters.

[clsid]

BS.Player messes up the installation. Don't let it install anything. Use the official installers instead.

[Lincoln Burrows]

Great, now BSPlayer is rejecting FFDshow, and MPC is not! :rolleyes:

Now the DiVX files are being played on MPC with image, and the FFDshow Video-Decoder is being used for this job. No more Pinnacle.

BSPlayer is just using the XVID Decoder to adjust the settings. I think I have a clue of what is going on. When you are installing BSPlayer, it offers you to update your codecs. I believe the FFDshow used by BSplayer was somehow exclusive, and at the same time, it was removing the default one from Windows.

Now that I have installed a new FFDshow version on the Windows/system32 directory, somehow the connection between the zombie-one :rolleyes: with BSPlayer was severed.

I will try to ask the BSPlayer team to look into this issue/thread, if someone here doesn't know what seems to be the problem.

EDIT: clsid, thanks for posting. Perhaps you're right. But the question is: will the FFDshow work on BSPlayer Pro 2.34 if not updated while you are installing?

EDIT²: Installing BSPlayer again will not solve this problem. It's still not loading FFDshow.

[Lincoln Burrows]

I don't know how, but now both MPC and BSPlayer are working.

What I did was:

- I removed XVID - in order to force both of them to use FFDshow - the result was they were both not using - then I was trying to "register" the filter on BSPlayer and I noticed FFDshow was not there anymore. Neither the DLL/AX file from FFDShow on Windows/system32 folder - that's why I knew FFdshow was missing;

- After Reinstalling FFDshow again, both BSPlayer and Media Player Classic worked, and now they were using FFDShow as before.

I didn't changed anything on BSP or MPC to achieve this. Perhaps this issue was caused by some internal error? I never realized that installing/reinstalling XVID/DIVX codecs might have affected FFDshow.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I didn't changed anything on BSP or MPC to achieve this. Perhaps this issue was caused by some internal error? I never realized that installing/reinstalling XVID/DIVX codecs might have affected FFDshow.

(Un)Installing the DivX or Xvid Codec doesn't effect ffdshow. At least it shouldn't. If it really does, their installer is buggy!

Also note that ffdshow.ax is not copied to "SYSTEM32" folder, but to the ffdshow install directory.

You can register, unregister or re-register ffdshow at any time by running the following command from the ffdshow folder:

regsvr32 ffdshow.ax -or- regsvr32 /u ffdshow.ax

[clsid]

BS.Player does not register the stuff that it installs. It loads the filters manually, similar to what some players do with internal filters. That is why other applications can use those filters.

[Lincoln Burrows]

It's confirmed, once and for all: BSPlayer is really messing with FFDshow if you let the installer download and install a new FFDshow version by itself. Avoid that at all costs!

I tried to install BSP PRO 2.35 (last version) and FFDshow was disabled for good. It only returned when I uninstalled both BSP and FFDshow and installed them manually, preventing BSP from even trying to download anything.

What was said earlier on this thread it's still valid:

BS.Player messes up the installation. Don't let it install anything. Use the official installers instead. Explanation from the BSP moderator:

BSPlayer installs ffdshow.ax in a separate folder (local install just to be used by BSPlayer). If you want to modify smth, you must uninstall BSPlayer's install and afterwards do anything you want.

[Lincoln Burrows]

For the record, the new BSP version, 2.36, fixed this issue:

Version 2.36.988

Improvements:
- improved compatibility with Windows 7
- fixed problem when system installed FFDshow was uninstalled
- fixed problem with command line arguments
- Improved BS.ControlBar and BSplayer-search.com powered by Google:)