Problem playing .mkv (matroska)

[mk2006]

I am having a lot of difficulties playing this one file, encoded with h264 and vorbis in a matroska container. The only program that opens this file without any problem is ConvertXtoDVD. AVIDemux can also open it but, for some reason, the file, as well as any other h264 file I ever tried with this prog, comes up looking really fuzzy. I have been able to play other h264 files on my computer, albeit in .mp4 container. This is the first .mkv file for me. I'd appreciate any help.

I have Haali Media Splitter and DTS x264 vfw. I also have Nero which comes with NeroAVC.

Here is info from MediaInfo:
Complete name : abc.mkv
File size : 449 MiB
Format : Matroska
Overal BitRate : 713 Kbps
PlayTime : 1h 28mn
Encoded date : UTC 2007-07-13 05:26:07
Writing application : mkvmerge v2.0.2 ('You're My Flame') built on Feb 21 2007 23:40:55
Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1
Video
Codec : MPEG-4 AVC
Info : MPEG4 ISO advanced profile
Bit rate : 696 Kbps
Width : 720
Height : 304
Aspect ratio : 2.35
Frame rate : 25 fps
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.127
Language : English
Audio
Codec : Vorbis
Bit rate mode : VBR
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48 KHz
Text
Codec : ASS
Info : Advanced Sub Station Alpha


Following is a list of error messages that I get when trying to open the file with various apps:
Media Player Classic
Media Type 0:
--------------------------
Video: MPEG4 Video (H264) 720x304 25.00fps
AM_MEDIA_TYPE:
majortype: MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {31435641-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_MPEG2_VIDEO {E06D80E3-DB46-11CF-B4D1-00805F6CBBEA}
bFixedSizeSamples: 1
bTemporalCompression: 0
lSampleSize: 1
cbFormat: 256
VIDEOINFOHEADER:
rcSource: (0,0)-(0,0)
rcTarget: (0,0)-(0,0)
dwBitRate: 0
dwBitErrorRate: 0
AvgTimePerFrame: 400000
VIDEOINFOHEADER2:
dwInterlaceFlags: 0x00000000
dwCopyProtectFlags: 0x00000000
dwPictAspectRatioX: 45
dwPictAspectRatioY: 19
dwControlFlags: 0x00000000
dwReserved2: 0x00000000
MPEG2VIDEOINFO:
dwStartTimeCode: 0
cbSequenceHeader: 124
dwProfile: 0x00000064
dwLevel: 0x00000033
dwFlags: 0x00000004
BITMAPINFOHEADER:
biSize: 40
biWidth: 720
biHeight: 304
biPlanes: 1
biBitCount: 24
biCompression: AVC1
biSizeImage: 0
biXPelsPerMeter: 0
biYPelsPerMeter: 0
biYPelsPerMeter: 0
biClrUsed: 0
biClrImportant: 0
pbFormat:
0000: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 1a 06 00 00 00 00 00 ........€.......
0030: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 2d 00 00 00 13 00 00 00 ........-.......
0040: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 28 00 00 00 d0 02 00 00 ........(...Ð...
0050: 30 01 00 00 01 00 18 00 41 56 43 31 00 00 00 00 0.......AVC1....
0060: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0070: 00 00 00 00 7c 00 00 00 64 00 00 00 33 00 00 00 ....|...d...3...
0080: 04 00 00 00|00 19 67 64 00 33 ac 34 e7 02 d0 9e ......gd.3¬4ç.О
0090: 84 00 00 03 00 04 00 00 03 00 ca 3c 60 c6 78 00 „.........Ê<`Æx.
00a0: 5f 68 ee bc e5 34 42 63 15 84 13 08 47 4a 22 29 _hî¼å4Bc.„..GJ")
00b0: 31 4a c7 26 32 12 66 88 4c 52 b1 c9 84 23 b3 45 1JÇ&2.fˆLR±É„#³E
00c0: 26 29 58 c4 c2 11 c9 55 26 45 64 49 b2 25 6c 94 &)XÄÂ.ÉU&EdI²%l”
00d0: 9b 92 95 b9 12 4d b2 11 59 44 11 32 88 11 12 10 ›’•¹.M².YD.2ˆ...
00e0: 08 04 43 90 51 aa 4c 8a c8 93 64 4a d9 a9 37 25 ..C�QªLŠÈ“dJÙ©7%
00f0: 2b 72 52 6e 44 ad 8e 49 b0 82 b0 c2 61 88 20 c0 +rRnD*ŽI°‚°Âaˆ À

NeroShowTime crashes with this message:
Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library Runtime error! Program: C:\....\ShowTime.exe This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.

VirtualDubMod:
[!] MKV: A frame of stream 1 (at 80 ms) had only a forward reference (maybe
broken file).
[!] MKV: A frame of stream 1 (at 40 ms) had only a forward reference (maybe
broken file).
[!] MKV: A frame of stream 1 (at 240 ms) had only a forward reference (maybe
broken file).
[!] MKV: A frame of stream 1 (at 200 ms) had only a forward reference (maybe
broken file).
.
. LOTS MORE LIKE THESE
.
[!] MKV: A frame of stream 1 (at 5284080 ms) had only a forward reference
(maybe broken file).
[!] MKV: A frame of stream 1 (at 5284040 ms) had only a forward reference
(maybe broken file).
[!] MKV: A frame of stream 1 (at 5284240 ms) had only a forward reference
(maybe broken file).
[!] MKV: A frame of stream 1 (at 5284200 ms) had only a forward reference
(maybe broken file).
[!] MKV: Video frames seems to be weirdly ordered.
[!] Couldn't locate decompressor for format 'ÿÿÿÿ' (unknown).
VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to
decompress video. DirectShow codecs, such as those used by Windows Media
Player, are not suitable. Only 'Direct stream copy' is available for this
video.

DGAVCIndex, for the .h264 file demuxed with MKVToolNix, gives me this message:
Cannot open Annex B ByteStream type file.

[theewizard]

try VLC player, the new h264 MKV are a royal pain

maybe you can watch it that way

good luck with converting it too DVD

[mk2006]

try VLC player, the new h264 MKV are a royal pain

maybe you can watch it that way

good luck with converting it too DVD

Thank you. I am hoping to understand the problem though. Especially if it's something as simple as installing a different codec or something.

[guns1inger]

Make sure you are running the latest version of the splitter, and perhaps try the latest FFDShow as well.

[mk2006]

Yep. installing FFDShow solved it. Thanks.
I was kinda hoping not having to install this one. Oh well...

[guns1inger]

I had similar problems with ConvertxtoDVD and one AVC mkv file. Same sort of error messages. FFDShow allowed me to use FAVC to encode it instead.