sound no picture

[redvette]

Hi Gang

Have a couple of older Pioneer DVD players, seem to work ok playing games/movies, etc. Went to play a Mini DVD and it gets the sound no picture. On one of the players it just starts to show a picture and it goes away, the other one plays sound only. Checked for driver/firmware updates-none. What would be different about playing reg DVD's and not a Mini. Could it have some thing to do with the correct Codecs.?

This is with XP SP2, tried Media player, Nero show time, etc.

Thanx........Gunny

[redvette]

Hi gang

Some thing more to add to the mix. To chase down the problem, to determine if it was the player or the Computer, I disconnected one of the DVD players, and connected another known working DVD player to this computer, and the disk still did not play, same as before. So this tells me it is not the player it is some missing in the computer. I even burned the mini disk to a CD and it plays every where I try it but not in this computer.

Now does this pin it down a little better.??? Could it be one of these codecs missing.?

Thanx........Gunny

[pam123]

minidvd : http://www.afterdawn.com/glossary/terms/minidvd.cfm

Does the computer play video cds (vcd) ?
That could be your problem.

[redvette]

Hi Pam

Thats a good question. The only thing I see about the disk is it is a DVD movie. It don't have anything about a CD. My big question is why will it play on all these players but not with that computer. Like it is missing some thing, that is what made me think of the codecs. And she has 2 DVD players on the same computer and neither of them will play it. But yet both players will play movies, games, etc.

Thanx.........Gunny

[redvette]

Hi Pam

One idea is some thing like I ran across another time about a DVD player and was advised to install another program, I think Nero. To pick up the codecs. We tried playing it with Windows media player, PowerDVD, Nero show time, Roxio, etc.

Thanx........Gunny

[pam123]

Right click on the drive and click Explore.
The MPEG-1 codec is widely compatible so a good look at the disk's files might explain why there's no video when you play it on a computer instead of a stand alone.

I'm really hesitant to recommend a codec pack.
Even though you'll set a restore point first they can still leave a mess behind if they don't solve the problem.

[redvette]

Hi Pam

I assume you are saying click on the drive with the mini disk in it.????

Thanx.........Gunny

[redvette]

Hi Again

I tried it is a reg DVD player connected to my TV, and it played just fine, I don't know if that confuses the issue more or makes it a little clearer as to what the problem is.

Thanx.......Gunny

[redvette]

HI Gang

I guess there are too many possibilities to solving this problem, or no one wants to voice an opinion as to what could be causing this.

No matter how slim your idea is I would appreciate any suggestions as to what might be causing this. If more explanation is needed I can give that also.

It is on my wifes computer, not this one. Tried several versions of Microsoft media player, no change. It will play correctly on her 98 version with Media player, I think it is 6.4 or some thing like that. She has XP and 98 on her computer and boots to the 98 to play some of her older games.

Thanx and take care.......Gunny

[pam123]

A voice in my ear is screaming "update!".
How old is the the DVD player software on that computer and is DX updated ?
If it plays in 98 but not XP it looks like you've skipped something there.

[redvette]

Hi Pam

Skipped some thing.????? Like what.? A voice is screaming, that is great. ha ha ha If their is a body attached to that voice send him or her buy here. ha ha ha

One thing though I did try a newer DVD player on her computer, and it would not play it either. I don't know if that counts for any thing. The DVD players she has is older units, but why would it do this all of a sudden, one day playing things all right and the next no go. Just trying to relate that to software updates. That is what makes me think it is the computer per-say, not the players. Make sense.?????

Thanks and take care.......Gunny

[pam123]

Originally Posted by redvette Hi Pam Skipped some thing.????? Like what.? A voice is screaming, that is great. ha ha ha If their is a body attached to that voice send him or her buy here. ha ha ha One thing though I did try a newer DVD player on her computer, and it would not play it either. I don't know if that counts for any thing. The DVD players she has is older units, but why would it do this all of a sudden, one day playing things all right and the next no go. Just trying to relate that to software updates. That is what makes me think it is the computer per-say, not the players. Make sense.????? Thanks and take care.......Gunny

Gunny,

Let me get this straight.
The computer played the mini-disk before and then just quit without warning?

[redvette]

Hi Pam

No the Mini disc does not play at all. It has been a while since she has tried a Mini disk, but last time she did it played ok. She uses Windows Media player as her default player. She cannot get anything to play/view on the Windows Media player, the audio is fine just no video.

So I know what you are thinking, fine download another version of Windows media player, tried that several times. Deleted the older version, installed the new versions. Still no work. Tried every version in the books, still no work. Like I said the 98 version Windows media player plays it fine, both audio and video. It is hard trying to remember just the last time she used the media player and it worked ok. All her games play good, on either DVD player. She plays some on XP and some on the older ones on 98. That is why she has both 98 and XP.

Thanx........Gunny

[redvette]

Hi Pam

I know this must becoming boring, but there has to be an answer to this. It will not play any video files on WMP, simple as that, others yes. She can go to her 98 and use the older version of WMP there and they will play. Now simple as that may seem as you are saying ah ha it has to be the version of WMP she is using in XP. If so then why trying all sorts of different versions of WMP on PX wont it work.?????????

Thanx........Gunny

[pam123]

It's not boring, just baffling.
One of the oldest and most stable of codecs, mpeg1, just up and quit working for you.
Something got it but most usual programs shouldn't effect it.
What other video software is on the computer ?

Like I said I'm hesitant to recommend a codec pack but that may be your best shot.

[redvette]

Hi Pam

I have tried so many codec packs, I cant remember how many. What about plug ins, does that ring any bells.??? If I only got an error that would I think make it simpler. But no errors. No runs no hits no errors. ha ha ha ha

This is indeed frustrating. This has been 3 days chasing my tail on this. You would think if nothing else an error code would pop up with all the stuff I have tried but no, not even with that. I am going to try rolling back some of my security updates to see if this will do any thing. They have been known to cause some strange problems through the years.

Thanx........Gunny

[liambl]

If it is WMP 11, look in the 'Now playing' list on the right. See if the file being playes has a 'red cross' to the left of it. If there is click it to find out the problem.

[redvette]

Hi Gang

Well I can thank my wife for this fix, sorry guys and ladies, but she beat you to the punch. I was sitting there watching TV, taking a break from trying to solve the problem. She comes out and says to me, lets try another monitor. To bring you up to date on that deal. We bought her a new 20.1" Viewsonic monitor about 3 weeks ago. At that time it came with a digital cable and a analog cable. So I hooked both of them up. Trying to remember back that seemed to be when the problem started, even though her games still played all right, and everything seemed ok. Till we tried to play this Mini disk.

I said naa that wont fix your problem but she insisted, so as I was walking back to her monitor I started thinking, and the same thing, (very similar) happened to me about a year ago. So I went back and disconnected the digital cable and it started working like normal. So although there is no real problem with hooking both cables up you can and do possibly have a problem with something. My problem with hooking up both was my DVD player/burner would not show any movies, just sound. So it happened so soon after I did this hook up, I immediately solved it by disconnecting one cable. Why this did not ring a bell with me and her problem, is probably this happened several weeks later, and it was her computer and not mine. We are always more familiar with one that we work with every day I guess. We know all its ups and downs, rattles and bangs and pops.

Case solved, thanx to all of you out there, and We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanx....Cissy, Dick, and Gunny. (dog who thinks he is human)

[glc]

Try hooking up just the digital cable - it will look slightly better.

[pam123]

I'll add that to my check list.
Glad you're up and running.

[Cissy]

I just wanted to stop by and thank Pam123 and GLC, as always, for helping "Gunny-Redvette" with my video problem. As always, PC Mech is there to help and it is appreciated!

That's all.........

Oh yeah, GLC, did ya ever organize your sock drawer? :::running away::

Cissy