XVID showing up "muggy"

[tgm4883]

I have searched the forums, installed/reinstalled/got a new version of xvid, tried different media players and now i am totally stumped. I am trying to get my new laptop to be able to play my movies that I have converted into xvid, but they are showing up "muggy" if thats a good word for it. I have tried different movies on it, and I have also tried these movies out on different machines. All the movies show up muggy on the new laptop, and all the movies show up perfectly on the other machines. I have a network shared directory with the exact same xvid,media player, and ac3 codec that i have used on all the other machines, but they just dont work on this laptop correctly. Any Ideas?

[Capmaster]

High humidity?

That's the only definition of "muggy" I'm aware of. Can you be more specific?

[tgm4883]

dark, colors are off, maybe a little to dark yellow? I tried to take a screenshot of it, but the video wasn't showing up. If someone could tell me what program to use to get a screenshot i will put one up.

[BJ_M]

typical for some LCD panels -- you might have no solution

[tgm4883]

even if the original dvd plays fine?

[BJ_M]

yes - unless you match the IRE and black levels in the source and xvid , xvids are not the same ..

[tgm4883]

would it show up correctly if i used the tv out and viewed it on a tv?

I mean, if the IRE and black levels didn't match, would it work on a tv?

[redwudz]

I haven't noticed any problems playing XVIDs on my laptop. They aren't as bright as a CRT, but are very good otherwise. Have you adjusted your monitor settings? There should be a lot you can tweak around. Most players also have similar adjustments.

For a screenshot, try the PRT SC button on your laptop. Then go to 'Paint' (In Accessories) and hit paste. (Assuming XP) You may need to trim and crop a little to reduce the filesize.

[tgm4883]

I still cannot get a screenshot, pastes into paint just fine, but the video isn't there, just a black background where the video should be

[redwudz]

You can probably do it better with a screenshot option in a video player. PRT SC may not work on video. PowerDVD among others has that option. (A little camera icon)

[tgm4883]

I tried hooking it up to a tv using the svideo out and it comes out very very red, no other color, just shades of red. Leading me to believe that this isn't a lcd screen problem, would I be correct in thinking this?

[tgm4883]

interestingly i just put in an original dvd and it is showing up incorrectly like the xvid so now i'm totally stumped, short of doing a complete reinstall of windows because i'm pulling out my hair. Does anyone have any ideas?

[BJ_M]

as i said - some lcd panels have this issue ... and many don't .

they also often have huge amounts of banding in any gradients .. can look awful ..

[tgm4883]

ok, but would the lcd panel affect the svideo out? Because the only color that comes out of that is red.

[Capmaster]

ok, but would the lcd panel affect the svideo out? Because the only color that comes out of that is red.

I think you have other problems.

[tgm4883]

That makes two of us. I guess im going to have to call dell and jump through there hoops.

[Capmaster]

That makes two of us. I guess im going to have to call dell and jump through there hoops.

My profound and heartfelt sympathies for anyone who has to call Dell about ....anything. What a half-assed operation that place is

Good luck tgm4883

[BJ_M]

i just called them and besides the stong accent - had no problem talking about doing a winxp home to pro upgrade on one of their boxs (which would crap out during the setup/upgrade, and was supposed to come with pro installed)

they were most helpfull in fact and fixed the problem ..

first time i ever called them though ..