Yet another MKV thread - I've read them all...

Ishmael said:

Need help.

The Problem: FRESH CLEAN install of 7 RC 7100 x64 on a formatted machine.

The ONLY things installed (aside from drivers) is Shark's Windows 7 codec pack v1.1.3 AND NOTHING ELSE (including NOT installed the x64 Vista pack).

I can get video to play fine in WMP12 with Dolby Diigtal output with no problem. The problem is MEDIA CENTER.

I have installed the REG patch (attached for your review). I get the "Windows Media Center cannot find the specified file" error message, with NO PLAYBACK.


What have I done in the past?:

Above, but I've also installed Sharks' x64 vista pack as well. IF I disable AC3 passthru, it will play in MCE, but once I ENABLE AC3 passthru (for Dolby Digital), I get the same error.


What am I looking for?: A replacement for the hair I pulled out of my head. I know I'm missing something simple here, but I've been working on this for a week. I almost pee'd myself when I got WMP12 to play Dolby Digital. Then I hit the roadblock with MCE7. I need guidance. I will reformat this machine again if I have to (although I don't want to...)


Machine specs:

ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe motherboard with AMD X2 processor and 4 gigs of ram, using built-in AC97 (ALC850) audio (Toslink out).


What other info do you need? Please help!!! I've read about 10 threads in 4 or 5 different forums....nobody seems to have the complete answer.

Like I said, I can get video w/o DD audio, or DD audio but no MCE love...

Anxiously awating your help, /b/rothers.

Ish.

First problem: FRESH CLEAN install of 7 RC 7100 x64 on a formatted machine.
Should read: FRESH CLEAN install of 7 RC 7100 x32 on a formatted machine. With 4GB RAM, the dubious benefits of x64 WILL NOT pay for the membership to Hair Club for Men. Again folks, 64-bit operating systems do not make you cool, they will not improve your love life and they will not provide a trouble-free Windows 7 experience. You are NOT missing out on ANYTHING.

Next problem: The ONLY things installed (aside from drivers) is Shark's Windows 7 codec pack v1.1.3 AND NOTHING ELSE (including NOT installed the x64 Vista pack).
Should read: The ONLY things installed (aside from drivers) is DivX Tech Preview: MKV on Windows 7 DivX Tech Preview: MKV on Windows 7 | DivX Labs - Everywhere Communication Occurs Community Happens AND NOTHING ELSE (includes NOT installing ANYBODY's codec pack).

Now, assuming you do the reformat you're willing to do because 1) I can't help you if you don't as there's no telling how these "codec packs" hack up the system and 2) it only takes 5 minutes: Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB device You can then direct download the MKV module from DivX without signing up for anything here: http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/561353/Di...wMKVOnWin7.exe. Please note that, just because DivX created it does not mean it's a codec so I don't want to hear any burbling about it being some kind of codec pack. It's just a Microsoft Windows 7 Media Foundation NATIVE Matroska (.MKV) Demuxer module. All it does is support the .MKV file format and pass the streams off to the native Media Foundation decoders. You're not mucking around with the completely obsolete DirectShow JUNK that Microsoft had to leave in Windows 7 just to hush the clueless.

As such, it works fine with WMP12, WMC7, extenders, and anything that renders video using VMR9 like:

• WinDVD
• PowerDVD
• PowerCinema
• Media Player Classic Home Cinema
• MediaPortal
• The KMPlayer
• GOM Player (Quick View Mode)

Of course it works best with third party apps that implement the Enhanced Video Renderer (EVR) provided by Windows 7 Media Foundation.

In exchange for this help I ask only that you promise to help others break their codec pack habit and to evangelize Media Foundation over obsolete technology on Windows 7!

Captain Zero said:

Hey, can I call you Ishmael?

Only if I can call you Queequeg

Ishmael said:

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off - then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

---

Now, status update:

Shark's solution works, but I'm getting some stuttering problems during playback.

Shark - Any suggestions?

I will wipe the machine probably tomorrow or Friday night and try baarod's suggestion as well.

Any more feedback guys?

Thanks,

Ish

Try with native MKV demuxer without the wipe and tell me how it goes. Of the codec packs Shark's is far and away the best one out there and I think I shouldn't have lumped his work in with some of the "others". The fact remains that regardless of the quality of Shark's work, he's still using DirectShow filters, and, while they might work in Windows 7, performance is likely to be sub-optimal:

There are several DirectShow enCODer/DECoder implementations but none take advantage of as wide an array of hardware video acceleration as the Microsoft Windows 7 implementation. In essence, Microsoft leveraged their mighty influence with graphics hardware manufacturers to ensure that the support for video playback acceleration is included in every Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certified driver whose hardware supports such acceleration. Basically, if the hardware vendor supports acceleration and the vendor does not supply drivers that make Media Foundation playback as fast as possible on the hardware, Microsoft won't certify the drivers. For 64-bit that's even more important because by default, unsigned drivers won't even install!

ffdshow (used by Shark's pack) just can't match that.