Trouble playing mp4 in VLC, audio is there, but no video

[brdhsby5]

Im trying to play a mp4 file, click on it to play get the sound but no video, (screen is black), however if I try the same file in media player classic it plays fine. I want to use VLC so i could take screenshots easier, as MPC makes it too confusing, (no print screen function)

[redwudz]

Sounds like an overlay setting is wrong. That can give you a black screen. One way to test this is to go to 'Control Panel>Display>Advanced>Troubleshoot' and move the hardware acceleration slider down to about 1/3 to 1/4 and see if the video works then. If so, you have a problem with your overlay settings. VLC does have some overlay settings you might try in 'Tools>Preferences>Video Settings>Accelerated video output' (Overlay) first.

[brdhsby5]

tried what you said, still the same results (didnt work)

[Safesurfer]

Try from the Start button - All Programs>Videolan>Quick Settings>Video>Set video mode to Directx

[brdhsby5]

did the above safesurfer said, still same result, could it be a codec issue?

[Safesurfer]

Maybe try the reset preferences button under Tools>Preferences - Save and close/reopen VLC.

[Ai Haibara]

Do all the videos you try have the same problems on VLC, or is it just that MP4?

If it's only that particular MP4, you might run the MP4 through a utility like MediaInfo, in tree view, and see if there's anything that stands out about the video stream.
You're not attempting to play HD video, are you? I'm not sure about the computer specs listed in your profile... could be that VLC just wants more computer power, in this instance.