[Help] PC hangs after playing AVI files !!

[lovelywaz]

Hi There!

I am facing this problem for a while now. When ever I play AVI files (not all but some files) and any DVD Disc using any of filters using Players like BSPlayer, Zoom Player, KMPlayer, or even with VLC Media Player, for DVDs I have tried WinDVD and PowerDVD, when I close the player my PC hangs. I must have to restart it to get it working.

I think there's some Codecs conflict there. I tried to remove all codecs I could using "Add/Remove Programs" but the problem is still there. I read on web that many codecs and filters can't be removed with "Add/Remove Programs" feature in windows but we have to remove it manually. Is there an easy way to do it. Also did anyone face same problem before? and maybe its not the codecs problem but something else.

Thanks for any help.

My System Detail:-
Windows XP Pro SP2
AMD Athlon XP2600+
1.5GB RAM

[redwudz]

Try Codec Sniper to remove broken codecs. Be careful though. You don't want to remove your OS system codecs or you may have more problems. Just take out any damaged ones.

That doesn't sound like a normal codec problem, though. Most of them surface when starting to play a video. The next time you play one of those videos, start Task Manager and watch your CPU usage under 'Performance'. If it hits 100% when you shut down the player, your problem may be something else in Windows. Also check which processes are running and using a lot of memory.

I'm assuming you have been doing regular virus/trojan scans. Malware of some sort is a possibility.

You might also try booting in 'Safe Mode' and see if the same problems occur. Safe Mode keeps most drivers from loading. If you are successful there, then I would suspect a driver problem. It may be a conflict between drivers or between video programs.

Those are a few things to examine anyway. Others may come up with some better ideas.

[lovelywaz]

Thanks for the tips, I am gonna try Codec Sniper and see if it solves the problem. I regularly update my Video Card [ATI All in Wonder 9600] Drivers and also scan PC for Viruses, Trojans and Malwares.

I will post here after using the above program.

Edit:

Error when tried to run the file



After I clicked OK, a window appeared with some empty columns !!

[Ai Haibara]

I'm guessing it isn't exactly a codec problem, either... sort of. lovelywaz, you mentioned the problem happens even with VLC, which uses its own internal codecs rather than rely on the codecs installed on the system. Have you noticed the system hanging at any other instance, outside of playing video? Or any sort of sluggishness?

Of course, video playback might be the most system-intensive task your system is doing (depending on the codecs used in the videos), so it could be more likely to cause problems; I couldn't say.

[lovelywaz]

It happens only when I play AVI Video Files or DVDs. And not all AVI files make this problem but only a few. I thought maybe AC3 Codecs Filters are causing this problem because DVDs also have AC3 Audio Stream and some AVI files too. I removed AC3 Filters but problem is still there and I can't check if there are still some conflicting Codecs/Filters that I have to remove manually.

All other video files, like WMV, ASF, MP4, NSV etc... work fine.

Or maybe its some Corrupted Registry Error?

[Soopafresh]

Could be DirectX needs a reinstall

[lovelywaz]

Thanks for the tip. But now how can I reinstall DX because it doesn't have any uninstall or reinstall option. If I run the DX Setup, it simply closes down after checking the system?

Thanks for any further help

[lovelywaz]

I reinstalled Windows (Did a fresh installation after Format) and the problem is STILL there but there's something more interesting

I installed ONLY Win DVD and KMPlayer without any Codecs. Now when I play DVD with WinDVD, the problem is same and STILL there but when I play it with KMPlayer, it doesn't hang the PC. It plays DVD smooth and nothing happens when I close it.

Looks like somthing weired is going on with my PC. Maybe its Hardware problem :S I have 2 DVD Drives and I have tried both with the same results.

Any help plzzzz

[Soopafresh]

You changed too many variables already. It'll be harder to pinpoint the culprit. I understand your enthusiasm, however Nothing like that "new Windows" smell

Next time around, start testing with a dead simple self contained player like gmplayer, which has no install routine and will tell you many useful things, depending on whether you crash or not.

http://ffdshow.faireal.net/mirror/mplayer/

Now that your system is relatively virgin, document the codecs currently in place. This app is really simple, and you can use it to disable a codec by right-clicking on it.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/mmview.zip

I'd uninstall WinDVD, but I'm afraid it'll still leave bits of itself in place even after de-installation, in particular the Intervideo Mpeg2 codecs. You can check this by re-running mmview after de-installation and disabling anything named Intervideo .


Using GMplayer only, start playing various media types, documenting your results. If you don't write the results down, you'll waste lots of time trying to pinpoint the problem.

Have a look at these postings, just in case your situation is related.

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=319660
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=321668

[lovelywaz]

Thanks for reply.

I uninstalled WinDVD using "Your Uninstaller" and it removed all registry entires also. I checked with the little Codecs viewer utility you posted above and found nothing named Intervideo.

I played a DVD using gmplayer and it was playing all fine. Closing and everything was OK.

Than I installed Power DVD and dang! when I stopped playing DVD, Windows hanged/freezed again

So the bottom line is, KMPlayer and gmplayer is playing DVDs fine without any problem but a Software DVD Player (Power DVD or WinDVD) plays them fine but once I stop the DVD, Windows hangs/freezes.

Any more help plzzz !!

PS:- Since I reinstalled Windows 2 days back so I can do it once again, IF you think I should do a fresh installation and than installing other Softwares in a sequence to avoid any conflict. (I didn't install ANY codecs till now)

Thanks for helping out

[Soopafresh]

Ever hear the one about the guy who goes to the doctor:

"Doc, it hurts when I do this"

"Well, then don't do this"

What's the version of WinDVD ?

Check out the user comments on V8
http://fileforum.betanews.com/review/1038489101/1/view

[lovelywaz]

WinDVD v7 and also Power DVD v7 both were working fine some weeks back

Now I have removed Power DVD also and if I need to watch any DVD I use KMPlayer. But I still didn't get whats wrong here because everything was fine. Also there are some good features in both Software DVD Players that I want to use while playing

PS: I read reviews and agree with most of them about WinDVD 8, although I don't have any personal experience other than I tried its trial version when it was released and after that NEVER thought to use it again

[Soopafresh]

Okay, you just installed XP, did you install DirectX 9.0c . That download I linked to above will "freshen" any of the older DirectX files on your system. Make sure you reboot after installation.


Next, BEFORE you try installing WinDVD, run this app - WhatChanged

http://www.portablefreeware.com/download.php?id=634

There are 3 steps for using What Changed: 1) First, take a snapshot of the state of the system. 2) Install WinDVD 3) Run What Changed again to see the differences from the previous snapshot.

That way, you'll be able to determine the files that get installed wth WinDVD. You'll see a folder on your C:\> drive called _WhatChanged_ or something to that effect.

Who knows, perhaps the DirectX 9 update will be the magic mullet.

[guns1inger]

After the reinstall, did you install the same graphics drivers that you had installed on the old version ?

All these programs use the graphics drivers and video overlays. If you have the same version of driver in play, that could be your issue.

[Bjs]

After the reinstall, did you install the same graphics drivers that you had installed on the old version ?

All these programs use the graphics drivers and video overlays. If you have the same version of driver in play, that could be your issue.

Thats the idea mate ... a rethink in the redirection of vga driver's is the way to go for starter's , when it's as clean as a whistle from a reload of the os .

Throw those retards that came with the vga out the window , there crap .

I'd also ask if there's been issue's with any other video intensive program's ... 3d game's , and dose it happen if the vga's acceleration is cut back .

If vga addon :

Update all motherboard driver's first .

Then turn the pc off , remove the power cord , carefully remove the vga card , reinstall it , and repower the system and try again , using the same process's that triggered the event's .

One last question ... Where are these video's being played from ?

I have seen this happen when aging optical driver's are engaged (playing video on pc from them) ... stopping cause's system lockup's .

[ssorg]

Hello,

I stumbled over this thread yesterday seeking to find a remedy for almost the EXACT problem the original poster had - after a fresh installation of XP PRO SP2 my system would freeze upon exiting PowerDVD.

Since I couldn't duplicate the issue in safe mode, I suspected a driver issue. Problem was solved with new audio drivers.

Easy fix, I got lucky. I agree with Mac, PC is good for figuring out how much time I just wasted.

Thanks to all posters for sharing the great ideas and links.

ssorg