MediaPlayer Classic - wrong aspect?

[terrypin]

I have MPG files associated in XP with Media Player Classic. But today I noticed it had started opening 16:9 MPG movies in 4:3 ratio. So I experimented with Open With, and with Folder Options >File Types and found various inconsistencies.

For example, d-clicking an MPG opens it in MPC 6.4.9.1 (with the wrong AR). And that remains true even after I use Open With and then browse to MPC 6.4.9.0 before I set that wiyj 'Always open with this program'. Yet if I first open 6.4.9.0 and then drag the MPG to it, I get the correct AR, just as it has always been up till now.

All my other players still open these MPGs at the correct AR.

Anyone have any idea what might be going on here please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[jagabo]

View -> Video Frame -> Keep Aspect Ratio set?

[terrypin]

Thanks jagabo, appreciate the fast reply, but that was one of the first things I checked.

Anyone else with MPC 6.4.9.1 who can check how 16:9 MPGs open please?

It could be some weird scrambling of XP file associations. I've had several occasions in the past where there seems a mis-match between what'simplied by:
1) File Types
2) Open With
3) Actual reality

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[jagabo]

MPC always maintains the correct DAR for me.

Are you using MPC's internal MPEG2 splitter and decoder? For DAR information to propogate through the filter chain all the filters need to support it. If you are using DirectShow MPEG spitters and decoders you might have recently installed something that messed them up.

[terrypin]

MPC always maintains the correct DAR for me.

Are you using MPC's internal MPEG2 splitter and decoder?

Not sure - how can I find out please?

For DAR information to propogate through the filter chain all the filters need to support it. If you are using DirectShow MPEG spitters and decoders you might have recently installed something that messed them up.

Although I'm not at all comfortable with ffDShow, which I find very complex/obscure, I just went into its Video configuration in view of your comments and changed the MPEG2 setting from disabled in a spirit of experiment:



And MPC now opens at the correct AR! But it didn't used to need help from DirectShow or ffDShow. And on my old PC which I've just checked, that entry in ffDShow is still disabled yet MPC is working correctly.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[jagabo]

In MPC go to View -> Options -> Internal Filters. In the Source Filters section make sure that MPEG PS/TS/PVA is selected (this is the MPEG reader/splitter). In the Transform Filters section make sure that MPEG-2 Video is enabled (this is the MPEG 2 decoder).

After this MPC will not be using any DirectShow filters to read and decode MPEG2 files.

[terrypin]

Excellent, that's fixed it - many thanks!

I've duly returned the ffDShow MPEG2 entry to Disabled.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK