Error playing VCD on Windows XP

[supertobs]

Hi all,

I d/l and sucessfully burned VCDs and SVCDs. I can play the content if extracted with ISBUSTER. But I can't play it from my CD-ROM or DVD in my DELL Laptop. I can't even copy the *.mpq or the *.dat from the CD. I got PowerDVD and WinDVD, as well as Windows Media Player 8

I found this in the FAQ:

"In order to play VideoCD's on a PC (or even copy the dat files from a VideoCD in the CDROM drive to the PC's disk) you have to have the virtual device driver SCSI1HLP.VXD in Window's \SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS directory; otherwise, the file structure will not be recognized by Windows. My file was there but some program had changed it's extension. After renaming and rebooting, my VideoCD's now run without a hitch."

However,

There's no \SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS or a file SCSI1HLP.VXD.

But this is obviously my problem ("or even copy the dat files"). How can I solve it?

Many many thanks in advance,

Supertobs

[JasonQG]

I have the exact same problem, and it's DRIVING ME NUTS! I've actually found a few different people with the same problem, but I've yet to find a single person with a solution. I find it hard to believe that nobody knows what's going on.

[JasonQG]

I figured out what the problem is for me; it's my VIA southbridge. I heard that some people had this problem with Intel chipsets and were able to fix it with a drive update. I tried different drivers, but none worked. The only way for it to work is for me to bypass the VIA chipset completely and plug my CD drives into my Promise card. Hope this helps some of you.

[posdnya]

Elecard MPEG2 Player can play vcd's and svcd's

ftp://ftp.elecard.com/pub/mpeg/player/EMpgPlay_135.zip
http://www.elecard.com/download/mpeg/player/EMpgPlay_135.zip

[JasonQG]

Elecard MPEG2 Player can play vcd's and svcd's

ftp://ftp.elecard.com/pub/mpeg/player/EMpgPlay_135.zip
http://www.elecard.com/download/mpeg/player/EMpgPlay_135.zip

Quit advertising this in every thread. This won't solve the problem. It's a hardware issue.

[posdnya]

Hello JasonQG,

This is NOT advertisement, this is from my customers at public ezboard forums:

Crazy Mateo
Registered User
Posts: 3
(11/1/01 7:26:24 pm)
Reply VCD Codec For WMP Compatible With XP
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Does anyone know where I can find a codec that is compatible with XP and will play VCD files?


herrmitt2
Registered User
Posts: 66
(11/2/01 1:40:55 pm)
Reply Win XP
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Well, I have been playing around with this for a while. WMP8 (as well as 7.1) dont like software codecs too much. They usually play SVCD's at a wierd aspect ratio. However, WMP 6.4 is still bundled with XP if you go to the windows media player directory (under program files) on your HD. That usually doesnt have the aspect problem, and its usually easier to go fullscreen.

As for codecs, one of the best free codecs is the elecard codec.

plowserv.tripod.com/download.htm

or www.elecard.com/download


NeoTaz
Registered User
Posts: 5
(11/2/01 10:53:16 pm)
Reply Re: Win XP
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hey herrmitt2 that worked great....thanks for the info.. now i can delete another useless program

[JasonQG]

I'm sure Elecard is great, but it doesn't do any good if Windows can't read the CD.

[Clint]

No Doubt!

I'm having this same problem with Win2k (posted in other thread) and I tried his Elecard Player just to rule it out. It doesn't help. As the last post states, the problem is in the fact that Windows won't even read the data from the (v)CD. You can't open it, copy it, etc. I'm sure Elecard player (and any other software VCD player) would play it just fine IF the OS would read it...

[Lula1]

Again the same problem and no solution ?

I also burned a VCD using Nero.
Plays OK on standalone DVD player.
Also on computer running Win 98SE.

But does not play on computer running XP.
Can't even copy the file.
Any ideas ?

[dannee]

I am running Windows XP Home and I just played a VCD burned with Nero on my PC using Windows Media Player. I opened the .dat file and it asked me what I wanted to open it with and I selected Windows Media Player and it played it immediately. I also copied the VCD file to my hard drive and it also played.

If this is not what ya'll are talking about then please disregard this message.

[Lula1]

So , how can we explain it ?
XP can play MPEG1 files OK but seems to have a problem with the DAT files ( which are mpeg1, but maybe with different header ) .
Depending on the burning software ( I tried VCDEasy ) you can copy the DAT file to the hard disk and open it with Windows Media Player.
But that is not nice .
Hey what is the deal ? It has to do with how the DAT is created and burned by the burning software, together with some XP issue .

[Prospero424]

I'm reposting this here as a supplement to Lula1's post above, which I concur with:

I also am using Windows XP with a Via KT333 chipset. I can play VCDs just fine as well as copy the DATs to disk and as far as I know, have always been able to do so.
I have installed:

Lite-On LTD163D DVD-ROM
Nero Burning ROM
Via 4-in-1 drivers
WINDVD!!!
ATi Multimedia center (can play DAT files fine)

So it looks to me like either there is an OS-hardware incompatibility endemic to some people's optical drive-OS combinations (i.e. MS's fault)

it might help if people having this problem would post what optical drive makes and models they are using along with their OS and IDE controller chipset and what programs dealing with the IDE subsystem (such as cd writing programs, media players, etc.) have been installed.

There is a small chance that the installation of WinDVD could solve the problem since the several people that have installed it on this thread seem to be able to play the VCDs.

If this problem is really that widespread, we should be able to get enough responses to be able to see what hardware-os combinations are exhibiting the problem.

Prospero

[ian follow]

Hi guys,

I'd like to add few words. I'm new in video but I just don't understand.
VCD supposed to be a standard and we have problems with playing?
I would like to make commercial CDs, but now I'm not sure will buyers be able to play. I have problem with XP, yesterday my PC go nuts and I had to reinstall Windows.
Furthermore, you can't say something like: "chose XXX or YYY hardware and XXX software and you'll be able to play". It's unacceptable.

So, is this really a hardware problem or we don't know how to make a CD that complies to VCD standard?

And question, how to put a movie on a CD so that everyone can play it? VCD? Divx? SomeThingElse? Is this possible at all?

Thank you,
Ian

[kayfam]

supertobs,
How about posting your complete system specs? In particular your motherboard and chipset. To be honest this is the first time I've ever heard of a problem of this type under XP and I've been running it since it came out. If it's related to the VIA chipset make sure you state what chipset (KT133, KT266, KT333 ect.) and what version of the 4in1 drivers your using. You might be able to come up with a common thread among other users in the forum. Just a suggestion and it can't hurt.

[Lula1]

SOLUTION FOUND :

As I suspected, absolutely nothing to do with hardware.
With this solution Windows Media Player 8 will play the DAT files.

Here it is, enjoy :

1. First run regedit and find the branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\MCI Extensions

2. Then goto EDIT then NEW then String Value

3. Add a String Value name "dat" (no quote marks) and Value data "MPEGVideo" (again no quote marks)

The beauty with reg file you do NOT need to reboot your system as you did if you edited you win.ini and system.ini in the past with win98 and ME.

Gonna post this as a new topic, so as to all interested can see and enjoy.

[kayfam]

Lula1,
If you’re still interested in following up in this thread I'd still like to know what your computer details are. I have 2 computers one running an Intel chipset and another with a SIS 735 chipset. To date I haven't encountered the problem you described, but as someone who is constantly changing, swapping equipment, and rebuilding my computer I'm interested in finding out if there is a common issue with certain VIA chipsets, not only for myself but also for others. There's nothing worse in the world than swapping out a motherboard only to find you can't get everything working properly. I'm sure there are others in the forum that would also appreciate any insight into this.

[Lula1]

Kayfam,

As I posted at the beginning of my last reply, the problem had nothing to do with hardware. It was simply a missing entry on Windows XP registry.
As you can see , after doing the above trick, everything works fine.

Check your computers, which never presented this problem, for the Windows registry, and please inform if the above entry is present or not. I have read several posts here on this forum related to this problem, so I think it is a frequent issue, and with a simple solution.

[kayfam]

Lula1,
Thanks for replying. I did as you suggested and both machines had the correct registry keys. I have to admit this is a weird problem and one that I'm at a loss to explain. It does seem to be system specific and I'm not sure if hardware is playing a role in this or not. Right now there seems to be a flurry of inquiries as to this issue in the forum and people seem to be split on what's causing it. To be sure your fix is a simple but effective one, but I can see how it would stump anyone not familiar with editing the registry. It's been a while since I've had to do it and to be honest I can't remember how, but can you or someone else in the forum write up a little .reg file to add the correct key so a bunch newbies don't go mucking up their registry? If any of the mods are following this thread I wonder if it would be a good idea to run a poll to see what systems are affected? Like I said I'm unaffected by this, but it does seem to be more of a problem than I first realized.

[Vejita-sama]

As is often the case M$ screwed up, by trying to make things 'more user friendly' they created a system that is actually less.

Anyway, media player can still play MPEG1/VCD files. Just go to explorer, right click on the dat file and choose 'open with' then choose media player. You just can't (easily) open dat (VCD) files from within media player.

[ian follow]

One question: does altering Registry allow just a MPG to be played, or it can play whole VCD, I mean still pictures, menue etc.?

Ian

[Lula1]

Hi ,
Kayfam : you were unaffected by this problem because you already had the correct entry for DAT files on your registry.
I'm gonna try to write a simple code to write that entry to the registry.
I wil check it out before sending to anyone.

Vejita-sama : the goal here is to have DAT files associated with Windows Media Player 8 that comes with Windows XP. They way you proposed has been posted on the related topics many times, but you must admit, not pretty elegant. By doing the trick above ( ONLY ONCE ) your DAT files will play seemlesly. And folowing those instructions, I think anyone can do it, in 1 minute.

ian : I got to check this for you, since in my case I made a "hybrid" ??? or "mixed" ??? CD . It works as a VCD when placed on a standalone DVD player, and as a multimedia presentation ( developed by me with multimedia authoring software ) when put on a PC.

[taxi man]

I have downloaded the elecard codec and can play vcd svcd and dvd
in wmp.

Ray Maher

[Morloc]

Lula1,
Your registry mod did the trick for me, too. An elegant solution to an annoying problem. Hats off to you and thanks,

Morloc

[ian follow]

Hi Lula1,

Thank you in advance. My intention is to transfer some VHS taped at presentation, congresses etc. and to sell them to participants. Thus, VCD seemed usitable for this purpose because you can put it in a PC or standalone DVD.
Do you have another idea cause you're talking about "hibrid" CD?

Ian

[ian follow]

Hi guys,

Unfortunately, the registry trick didn't work for me. There is always an "I/O error reading disc" (CD). So, can the reason for not playing be a VCD that is non-compliant with standard? Just an idea.