WMV videos have sound but no picture, just blackness

[Ozzylator]

^ This

[Jimmy]

What media player are you using? If it's Windows Media Player, then it sometimes has that problem because it's missing a codec or something. I don't know why, because WMV is Windows Media Video, but meh. Try donloading something like VLC to play it.

[Ozzylator]

Tried WMV and VLC, both have identical problem.

[Jimmy]

Borked file then, methinks. Not much you can do.

[Ozzylator]

Meh, cheers.

[terrorbite]

Its not necessarily a borked file.

I had the same prob playing certain .wmv files in windows media player. It was definitely a codec-related issue. I'd been messing around with too many of those all-in-one codec packs (never a good idea really). In the end, I got the picture back but it wasn't 100% perfect.

[MONKEY050]

I have the same issue not with a file, but whenever I go to view windows media video that's on websites. :confused:

Any solutions for that???

[skoo]

This is not a borked file issue but a codec issue as TB said. Google and download 'defiler pack' it is a codec pack and has most of the shit you need.

[Ozzylator]

Still doesn't work. Do I need to reboot? I don't really want to reboot.

[doctor_fruitbat]

Try the K-Lite codec pack; if that doesn't work and the defiler pack doesn't work, then I'm right stumped.

EDIT: wait, you haven't even rebooted? I'd say yes, give it a reboot first; it's the kick in the pants that Windows traditionally needs to get problem fixes to work.

[skoo]

Of course you need a reboot... and also, use media player classic that comes with the defiler pack because it's awesome.

[terrorbite]

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about though. Trying out all these all-in-one codec packs just messes up your comp eventually.

[skoo]

Bull. It's one of the first things I install on my PC. You need defiler OR (not and) K-lite if you're running XP, and as an optional extra Real and Quicktime Alternate (google it if you care) because those 2 are crap in their normal form. If you get dodgy copies of them, you might have problems, but the same goes for anything.

If you are saying you've installed more than one codec pack and are having problems, I'm not at all surprised. Try using two toasters at once to make breakfast. Okay that's a terrible analogy.

[Ozzylator]

Installed this defiler pak and rebooted. Still doesn't fucking work. I want to cry.

[skoo]

Get this: http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

drag and drop the wmv into it

find out what video codec it needs

get the codec.

if no codec is listed, the file is at fault, not your pc.

[Ozzylator]

Helpfully, it tells me "Codec status undetermined."

¬_¬

[skoo]

Try it on a file that works and compare the results.

Edit: I am starting to think it is the file at fault here.

[Ozzylator]

the only videos on my computer that play are any that use the DivX codec to play. DVDs don't work and neither do my few WMVs.

[skoo]

What software are you using to play the file and have you tried media player classic? (comes with defiler pack I believe).

[Ozzylator]

Tried WMP, VLC and WinDVD for the DVD. None worked.

Oh, and the DivX player.

[The Grim Reaper]

IMO and according to others K-Lite is rubbish because it's bloated. It gave me codec conflicts in WMP. It has too much crap in it.

I use the Combined Community Codec Pack which is a lot easier and plays everything i could ever need. One codec (filter) per format pretty much, not 5 like k-lite.
http://www.cccp-project.net/
I know i sound like a shitty commercial, but it is really quite good. It uses a modified 'ffdshow tryouts', which is good enough by itself.

Use the 'insurgent' to detect other codec packs and then uninstall them. Once the insurgent detects no other codec packs, install CCCP. Untick players in the installer if you dont want them.


But more on topic, i think if all of those cant play the file, it may be something like the video driver. I've found that videos wont play on your second monitor with dual monitors unless setup correctly, just a black square, perhaps this is similar? If only DivX is working in any of those players then i think theres a problem beyond codecs.

[doctor_fruitbat]

I might give CCCP a try; I've not had any problems with K-Lite, but let it not be said that I won't try new things.