Help - no video in Windows Media Player (only audio)

[BTB 500]

Suddenly when I play a video file (tried .wmv, .mpg, .mpeg) I only get audio ... no picture. This is Media Player 11, under XP Pro.

Tried a reboot, no difference.

Not tinkered with anything or changed any settings. But I did capture some DV video via FireWire this morning using Windows Movie Maker 5.1 ... noticed then that the 'preview' while capturing wasn't working. Have captured video (same camera, same cable, same version of WMM) many times before without issue.

Web video in Youtube etc. plays fine.

Got a flight simulator, which also works fine. So not a problem with the graphics card?

Couldn't see any option in Media Player that looked like it would give audio only.

Any help much appreciated!

TIA

 

[wemorgan]

A bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut but, try reinstalling Windows Media Player 11

 

[hitenhirani]

seen this a few times, try this:
In WMP11:
Tools -> Options -> Performance tab -> Advanced Button at the bottom.
UNTICK/UNCHECK the first box, which should grey out the two beneath it.
Apply -> OK, restart WMP11.

Should work.

P.S. I cant remember the exact names of the check boxes, as I'm now on Vista, and the dialog boxes are different. But I think its something along the lines of Video Acceleration/Rendering etc.

 

[BTB 500]

seen this a few times, try this:
In WMP11:
Tools -> Options -> Performance tab -> Advanced Button at the bottom.
UNTICK/UNCHECK the first box, which should grey out the two beneath it.
Apply -> OK, restart WMP11.

Should work.

P.S. I cant remember the exact names of the check boxes, as I'm now on Vista, and the dialog boxes are different. But I think its something along the lines of Video Acceleration/Rendering etc.

Thanks, but didn't make any difference

 

[BTB 500]

A bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut but, try reinstalling Windows Media Player 11

Thanks for the link, will try that as a last resort as I think it will remove the media server settings that give streaming to our PS3.

 

[BTB 500]

Well ... managed to fix it by changing 'Video Acceleration' in WMP from 'full' to the middle setting (under Tools, Options, Performance).

Wonder why I needed to change this ??

 

[clegsr]

Are you sure you didn't install anything ?

I had similar issues after I installed some software for my samsung mobile phone - it had messed up the video codecs for media player.

...from memory when I uninstalled the mobile phone software (which was used to back up the phone) it was OK.

Otherwise you can try installing FFDshow which will play just about anything.

 

[BTB 500]

No, not installed anything. Nothing shown since May 21 under Microsoft Update ... although it did want me to take IE8 recently (and I declined). Maybe it was punishment for that?!

 

[whizzkid11]

Download and install VLC Media Player - it plays back pretty much anything and everything....

Just Google VLC PLAYER DOWNLOAD

 

[BTB 500]

I need Windows Media Server though (part of WMP 11) to stream content to my PS3 via the wireless router.

 

[clegsr]

glad you got it sorted, FFdshow is just a set of codecs so you can watch divx/xvid other movies in WMP, its not a seprate player.

Things could be worse, in vista you can't uninstall/reinstall media player (or internet explorer for that matter) as its built in to the operating system...

 

[BTB 500]

Thanks.

It didn't look like you could uninstall WMP in XP either ... just go back to the previous version. And no 'repair' option??

But I've no plans to go to Vista in the near future!

 

[hitenhirani]

glad its sorted.
I've seen so many issues relating to video acceleration, speaking to one of the graphics tech's he reckons its something to do with video overlay settings, and that video acceleration tinkers with the overlay settings.....
all a bit confusing really!!!!!

 

[whizzkid11]

I need Windows Media Server though (part of WMP 11) to stream content to my PS3 via the wireless router.

Tversity works a treat! and its free... I have Tversity streaming media/ HD def movies, music and photos to my PS3 and and other PCs in the house... as well as the PSP...

 

[whizzkid11]

I need Windows Media Server though (part of WMP 11) to stream content to my PS3 via the wireless router.

Thanks.

It didn't look like you could uninstall WMP in XP either ... just go back to the previous version. And no 'repair' option??

But I've no plans to go to Vista in the near future!

Control Panel --> Add/remove Programs --> Select WINDOWS COMPONENTS on left hand side - then in the new windows uncheck Media player...