DivX video doesn't play after a few seconds

[alexb76]

I downloaded this divX and when I play it, it starts fine for 10 seconds but then the video freezes and only audio plays, forwarding it gets to the right point of audio, but no video.

I have checked it with DivFix, no errors, did AviDefreeze, no help, in GSpot it shows proper data and filesize and everything is ok. In Virtual dub when I fast foward to different points, it shows that "one" frame but stops from playing it, but audio works.

What is wrong? how can I fix this video? any tools, ideas?

Thnx

[guns1inger]

Download it again. You have pretty much exhaustede the other options.

About the only thing I can think of that you haven't tried are VLC, a very robust player with it's own codecs built in, and avisynth. If avisynth can read it you might be able to use it to remove the corrupted section.

[alexb76]

How do I check for errors with AviSynth?

[guns1inger]

You can't check for errors, but you can use the trim function to cut out sections. Work out where it stops playing, and use trim to keep up to that section, then from a point past it to the end. You will have to use trial and error to work out exactly how much needs to be cut. You will probably lose at least one GOP, and maybe more.

[alexb76]

Thanks... what else I tried was to re-encode parts of the video with VDub. It stpos at 10 seconds... so I started from minute 5, and re-encoded 5 minutes of video. Same problem?! It basically shows the 1st frame and then nothing after that?!

[alexb76]

I just got VLC and it plays in there fine!?!?! Very bizarre! Why is that? I dont have that problem with any other video?

ideas?

[guns1inger]

VLC is built to view partial downloads, stream intermittent video etc. It is very robust, and uses it's own internal codecs. It is not fool proof, but it can make a good fist of most video.

The problem is that the video is probably useless for anything else. That VLC can play it means you can watch it, but I suspect you won't be able to convert it to anything because the encode will choke at the same point everything else has.

VLC does have the ability to act as a streaming server, but I have not had a need to explore this side of it. It may be possible to stream out to something that can capture the output and save the video. I'll leave that to you to exploere, as I haven't seen it offered here as a possible solution before.

[alexb76]

ok... I see if I can stream using VCL... thnx for the help!

[redwudz]

VLC is a very good player for odd video files. It can play about any video file, even incomplete or damaged ones. I spent a week off and on trying to convert a partial file that only VLC could play to a usable format for other players, trying a lot of tools, and finally gave up.

It can transcode some files to other formats, but I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope. If the file is corrupted, you can try to fix it, but if it's messed up bad or missing a lot of info, you may only be able to play it with VLC.

If you like VLC, take time to thank the authors, it's a great freeware program.

[alexb76]

Ok, it seems there's something wrong with my WindowsMediaPlayer... The same video plays in my Pioneer DivX standalone player! I also found a few other videos that don't play in a similar fashion.

What now? I was not able to uninstall Windows Media player...

[guns1inger]

Do you need to use WMP ?

You can always download wmp10 from M$ and reinstall, but if you have VLC, why use WMP ?

[mats.hogberg]

Try finding a more recent/other build of the video codec used in the AVI. This seems more to be a codec problem than a problem with WMP (even if WMP is really only HDD land fill IMO). VLC doesn't use DirectShow codecs (unlike most all other media players) but handles decoding internally - that's why VLC handles stuff other players choke on. OTOH, the whole VLC app has to be updated to handle new/updated formats/codecs, whereas WPM et al will handle "anything" as long as there is a DirectShow filter for it.

/Mats

[alexb76]

umm... so re-install DivX and stuff?

[mats.hogberg]

Uninstall XviD, DivX & c. Then, first, I'd try ffdshow only.
Then most recent versions of DivX and XviD.

/Mats