Ubuntu
vlc package

Movies, no video black screen. Ubuntu 11.04(natty)

Asked by Jonathan

I'm trying to play videos in my computer but no video shows up and the sounds is okay. When you resize the screen a flick of the shows pops out and goes black again

I've tried installing VLC, installing the w32 codec, and the restricted-extra but still nothing :(

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Ubuntu vlc Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#1

Are you playing a DVD, BluRay Disc, a file on your computer, a stream over the Internet, or something else? Is this happening just when you try to play videos that are embedded in websites (like YouTube), using your web browser?

If you are playing a file on your computer, please provide the full name of the file if possible, or at least the characters that follow the final . (dot) in the file's name.

Revision history for this message
Jonathan (twinkle-the-marvel-horse) said : 		#2

I'm playing files on the computer, the videos on youtube, vimeo plays fine.

extension I play are *.avi, *.mkv, *.flv, *.mov, mp4 and *.asf

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#3

If you have not done so already, I recommend you install ubuntu-restricted-extras (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats), and enable the medibuntu repository (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu) and install w32codecs or w64codecs (whichever applies to your machine).

Since you said you'd installed VLC, I presume you tried playing your videos with that--you may also want to try playing your videos with GNOME Mplayer (provided by the gmplayer package), command-line mplayer (provided by the mplayer package--run it in a Terminal), and Totem Player (provided by the totem package, which you almost certainly have installed already). Even if this does not work, you may get error messages that elucidate the cause of the problem.

Also, you can maximize your error messages by running a player in a Terminal even if does not have to be run that way. For example, if you want to play a file called foo.avi that is on your desktop with VLC, you could run "vlc ~/Desktop/foo.avi" in a Terminal (without the quotes), or just run "vlc" in the Terminal and open the file in VLC, or type "vlc " (without the quotes, but with the space at the end) in the Terminal and drag the file you want to play into the Terminal (which pastes its full path), then press enter. This doesn't just work with VLC--it works with other players too.

If none of that fixes your problem, please post another reply in this question, with details about what you did and what happened (if there are any), including text printed to the Terminal when you attempted to play various videos with various applications.

Finally: The way I am reading your most recent post is to say that you *are* having problems playing videos of all file types that exist as files on your disk, but that you are *not* having problems with YouTube or Vimeo. However, an alternate reading of what you have said would construe it as meaning that you are having problems playing files on your disk, and also problems with YouTube, but no problems with Vimeo. If that is the case (or I have otherwise misunderstood what you have said), please let me know--problems playing embedded web videos tend to be separate from problems playing saved video files, and that problem can be worked on separately.

Revision history for this message
Jonathan (twinkle-the-marvel-horse) said : 		#4

I already mentioned that I already tried the restricted-extra and the w32 codecs without success :(

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#5

Does running video playing programs from the Terminal and inspecting the output, and also inspecting whatever logs are available in-application, reveal any error or warning messages?

Revision history for this message
Jonathan (twinkle-the-marvel-horse) said : 		#6

VLC media player 1.1.9 The Luggage (revision exported)
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_ADDRESS")
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_BUS_TYPE")
[0x9e30914] main libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")
Warning: call to srand(1312112122)
Warning: call to rand()
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")

(process:3374): Gtk-WARNING **: Locale not supported by C library.
 Using the fallback 'C' locale.
 m_el[mi_level] == NULL
 arrrrrrrrrrrrrg Up cannot escape itself
 m_el[mi_level] == NULL
 arrrrrrrrrrrrrg Up cannot escape itself
[ass] [0xa2fc968]: Warning: no style named 'Default' found, using 'Kara - English'
[0x9ee3e1c] signals interface error: signal 17 overriden (0x396f4c0)
[0x9ee3e1c] signals interface error: /usr/lib/libQtCore.so.4(?)[(nil)]
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one
[0x9ee3e1c] signals interface error: signal 17 overriden (0x396f4c0)
[0x9ee3e1c] signals interface error: /usr/lib/libQtCore.so.4(?)[(nil)]

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#7

I presume VLC continues running after that. Do you get more "number of reference frames exceeds max (probably corrupt input), discarding one" messages?

While VLC is running, can you check your CPU usage (you can do this in the System Monitor or with the command-line program called top in another Terminal window or tab) and see how much CPU and memory VLC is using?

Also, what kind of messages (and associated CPU usage) do you get when you try to play a video with mplayer (not gmplayer)?

Revision history for this message
Jonathan (twinkle-the-marvel-horse) said : 		#8

yup, it just keeps on running like that until the program is turned off. There's no other error that comes out aside from that

VLC is running at
CPU 100%
Memory 32.2%

update: I've tried another movie (*.mkv) it played!(with video and sounds) but when the screen is maximize it turned black

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#9

It sounds like your computer might not be adequate to the task of playing the videos that you are trying to play. What is the make and model of your computer, and what processor and CPU clock speed does it have, and what video card does it have, and how much RAM does it have? Are the videos being played from a network drive?

Please also run this command in the Terminal and post the output:

sudo lshw -C display

Revision history for this message
Jonathan (twinkle-the-marvel-horse) said : 		#10

*-display UNCLAIMED
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
       vendor: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 00
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 66MHz
       capabilities: pm agp agp-3.0 vga_controller cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:d0000000-d7ffffff memory:dfee0000-dfefffff ioport:dc00(size=128)

------------------------

I don't know the model of the computer anymore it's been too long.. but I know the processor is pentium 4 2.4GHZ, clock speed : i don't k now :( RAM 1.5GB no video card (using onboard video card) I'm playing it straight from my hard drive

I have no problem playing these videos back when I was using windows with the exception of HD movies which these files are not..

Revision history for this message
pietrino (pietrino) said : 		#11

Hi,
I have a problem similar to the one discussed in this thread. Running a video from terminal using vlc gives the following error:

Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_BUS_TYPE")
[0x943e914] main libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")
Warning: call to srand(1312897504)
Warning: call to rand()
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")

(process:5771): Gtk-WARNING **: Locale not supported by C library.
 Using the fallback 'C' locale.
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")
[0x97e82cc] avi demux error: no key frame set for track 1
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94d9bf4] signals interface error: signal 17 overriden (0x28ca4c0)
[0x94d9bf4] signals interface error: /usr/lib/libQtCore.so.4(?)[(nil)]
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94f6ffc] main subpicture error: blending YUVA to J422 failed
[0x94d9bf4] signals interface error: signal 17 overriden (0x28ca4c0)
[0x94d9bf4] signals interface error: /usr/lib/libQtCore.so.4(?)[(nil)]

Any help?
thanks

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#12

@pietrino
It looks like your problem might be different from the problem Jonathan is experiencing. I recommend that you post a new question about your problem (https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vlc/+addquestion).

In the future, when posting in questions started by other users, you should only use the "Propose Answer" button if your post is intended as an answer to *their* question. (Similarly, you would only use "Add Information Request" to request information from them, for the purpose of providing an answer to their question.) For any other posts, you should use "Just Add a Comment." (For example, if you want to post a link to your new question here, you should use "Just Add a Comment" for that.) This is important because "Propose Answer" (and "Add Information Request") can change the status of a question, which can create confusion. See https://help.launchpad.net/Answers/AskingForHelp and https://help.launchpad.net/Answers/OfferingHelp for more information.

@Jonathan
To change this question's status back to Open so that people see you still need help, you'll have to post again in it (either post with the "I Still Need an Answer" button or reply by email). Hopefully someone who is able to provide better assistance than I have, can reply soon.

Revision history for this message
pietrino (pietrino) said : 		#13

Thanks Eliah and sorry for the confusion I generated.
I manged to view video correctly in totem by alt+F2, typing "gstreamer-properties" and in the video tab selecting X window system (no Xv). This looks like a pretty general hint that might serve different people. In the case of vlc, others hinted at setting the X11 display in the video properties of the program, though haven't tried that yet.
Sorry once more

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#14

@pietrino
It's not a big problem--don't sweat it. I'm glad your video playback issue is fixed. Before you made the change in gstreamer-properties, what was video playback like? Did you have video at all? Was it exactly as Jonathan had described?

@Jonathan
Your problem and pietrino's seem different, but I think it's still worthwhile for you try pietrino's fix. Does selecting "X Window System (No Xv)" under Default Video Plugin in gstreamer-properties make any change for you?

Revision history for this message
pietrino (pietrino) said : 		#15

It looked like Jonathan: I had black screen in all media players I tried, though sound effects were fine on both avi (from Nikon camera, mjpeg format) and dvd. Also, installing recommend proprietary codecs like Jonathan mentioned and few more related attempts provided in forums were of no help. I guess this solution is more about the graphic card: I have NVIDIA on this computer which could be non-compatible with the XV extension (indeed I tried to upgrade via additional drivers, but no luck).

Revision history for this message
Eddy Lucas (e-lucas8) said : 		#16

I had the same problem "black sceen when playing video" with all players.
I waited for the new "Ubuntu 12.04 LTS" to fix this problem, did a fresh install but I had still the same problem!
Well, "#13 (2011-08-18)" worked for me. Fixed it in less then five minutes:
alt+F2, typing (or in the terminal) "gstreamer-properties"
In the "video" tab selecting "X window system (no Xv)"

Thanx Pietrino

Revision history for this message
huit-six13 (huit-six13) said : 		#17

Thank you e-lucas8, your tip solved my problem.

Revision history for this message
sa3paleasm (sa3paleasm) said : 		#18

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Brian Levinsen (Eldaria) (eldaria) said : 		#19

#13 Awesome, this solved it for me to, also SIS graphics.

Revision history for this message
mdhtr (mdhtr) said : 		#20

#13 Thank you! This solved it for me too!

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Jonathan for more information if necessary.

To post a message you must log in.