VLC goes black

madman1980 · 30th October 2006, 21:05

Just installed VLC, latest version, and all videos I play just show a black picture. The sound works, and the display area matches the resolution of the video but it is black. Once in a while there are sublte flashes of color covering the whole picture which soon fade to black again. I even updated to the latest dev version, but the same thing happened there. This is really weird, and happens regardless of which video type i try. Any ideas?

unskinnyboy · 30th October 2006, 22:23

Try upgrading your video card drivers and DirectX. If that doesn't work, try disabling overlay (Settings -> Preferences -> Video -> uncheck Overlay video output).

If the picture shows up, but you experience jerky playback after this, try Settings -> Preferences -> Video -> Output modules -> DirectX -> check use video buffers in system memory. You will need to check Advanced Options to get this option displayed.

madman1980 · 1st November 2006, 18:06

No picture showed up by turning overlay on and off, exactly the same video symptooms, black with the occational color flash. I downgraded to the latest official nvidia driver (I had used a new beta driver) but that did nothing. I am using Windows XP x64 if that makes any difference.

unskinnyboy · 1st November 2006, 19:25

Hmm, second try - try changing the video output module to OpenGL video output or Windows GDI video output since I feel your DirectX is b0rked. (Settings -> Preferences -> Video -> Output modules -> video output module). You need to have the Advanced Options checked for the options to show up.

If that doesn't work either, try asking in the Official VLC forums where the devs hang out. Could be an x64 thing.

madman1980 · 1st November 2006, 19:35

OpenGL worked.

This is just weird...

I guess its not possible to reinstall DirectX either, not that I think its broken, but this is the version that came with the OS.

unskinnyboy · 1st November 2006, 21:03

DirectX 9.0c base version should be the one pre-installed on your x64. But since then, there have been frequent updates especially to the Direct3D core of it, so probably an upgrade to the latest build from the DirectX homepage is what you need. Direct3D should be able to do what OpenGL can.

bond · 1st November 2006, 21:11

i think directx 3d (the new default in vlc) isnt supported by old cards. you can also try to set it to directx output instead of opengl

madman1980 · 1st November 2006, 21:24

I used the MS webdownloader for DX, it said April 2006 when it was downloading (despite the file saying October on the download site). However, the same problem is still there.

Directx 3d mode doesn't work
Directx mode works
OpenGL works

bond · 1st November 2006, 22:27

same on my pc...

madman1980 · 1st November 2006, 22:37

I have an NVidia 7900GT btw, so hardware shouldn't be a problem.

30th October 2006, 21:05	#1 \| Link
madman1980 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 61	VLC goes black Just installed VLC, latest version, and all videos I play just show a black picture. The sound works, and the display area matches the resolution of the video but it is black. Once in a while there are sublte flashes of color covering the whole picture which soon fade to black again. I even updated to the latest dev version, but the same thing happened there. This is really weird, and happens regardless of which video type i try. Any ideas?

30th October 2006, 22:23	#2 \| Link
unskinnyboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NTSC R1 Posts: 2,046	Try upgrading your video card drivers and DirectX. If that doesn't work, try disabling overlay (Settings -> Preferences -> Video -> uncheck Overlay video output). If the picture shows up, but you experience jerky playback after this, try Settings -> Preferences -> Video -> Output modules -> DirectX -> check use video buffers in system memory. You will need to check Advanced Options to get this option displayed. __________________ I encode, therefore I am. Doom9 Toolbar Extension for Firefox [v3.1]

1st November 2006, 19:25	#4 \| Link
unskinnyboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NTSC R1 Posts: 2,046	Hmm, second try - try changing the video output module to OpenGL video output or Windows GDI video output since I feel your DirectX is b0rked. (Settings -> Preferences -> Video -> Output modules -> video output module). You need to have the Advanced Options checked for the options to show up. If that doesn't work either, try asking in the Official VLC forums where the devs hang out. Could be an x64 thing. __________________ I encode, therefore I am. Doom9 Toolbar Extension for Firefox [v3.1]

1st November 2006, 21:03	#6 \| Link
unskinnyboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NTSC R1 Posts: 2,046	DirectX 9.0c base version should be the one pre-installed on your x64. But since then, there have been frequent updates especially to the Direct3D core of it, so probably an upgrade to the latest build from the DirectX homepage is what you need. Direct3D should be able to do what OpenGL can. __________________ I encode, therefore I am. Doom9 Toolbar Extension for Firefox [v3.1]

1st November 2006, 21:11	#7 \| Link
bond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 9,770	i think directx 3d (the new default in vlc) isnt supported by old cards. you can also try to set it to directx output instead of opengl __________________ Between the weak and the strong one it is the freedom which oppresses and the law that liberates (Jean Jacques Rousseau) I know, that I know nothing (Socrates) MPEG-4 ASP FAQ \| AVC/H.264 FAQ \| AAC FAQ \| MP4 FAQ \| MP4Menu stores DVD Menus in MP4 (guide) Ogg Theora \| Ogg Vorbis use WM9 today and get Micro$oft controlling the A/V market tomorrow for free

1st November 2006, 18:06	#3 \| Link
madman1980 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 61	No picture showed up by turning overlay on and off, exactly the same video symptooms, black with the occational color flash. I downgraded to the latest official nvidia driver (I had used a new beta driver) but that did nothing. I am using Windows XP x64 if that makes any difference.

1st November 2006, 19:35	#5 \| Link
madman1980 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 61	OpenGL worked. This is just weird... I guess its not possible to reinstall DirectX either, not that I think its broken, but this is the version that came with the OS.

1st November 2006, 21:24	#8 \| Link
madman1980 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 61	I used the MS webdownloader for DX, it said April 2006 when it was downloading (despite the file saying October on the download site). However, the same problem is still there. Directx 3d mode doesn't work Directx mode works OpenGL works

1st November 2006, 22:27	#9 \| Link
bond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 9,770	same on my pc... __________________ Between the weak and the strong one it is the freedom which oppresses and the law that liberates (Jean Jacques Rousseau) I know, that I know nothing (Socrates) MPEG-4 ASP FAQ \| AVC/H.264 FAQ \| AAC FAQ \| MP4 FAQ \| MP4Menu stores DVD Menus in MP4 (guide) Ogg Theora \| Ogg Vorbis use WM9 today and get Micro$oft controlling the A/V market tomorrow for free

1st November 2006, 22:37	#10 \| Link
madman1980 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 61	I have an NVidia 7900GT btw, so hardware shouldn't be a problem.