All Video files won't open (... has stopped working and looking for..)

[ShadowXWolf]

i get that error message whenever i try to open any type of video file on both MPC home cinema an Windows Media Player, it started yesterday and the things i've done since last playing a video and this error are:

-uninstalling NVIDIA graphics driver and redownloading it (310m with CUDA).
-downloading some Win 7 updates.

i run a SONY VAIO S series (VPCS1), i5, Win 7 64-bit.

 

[jumanji]

1. What exactly is the error message you get?

2. Does the Device Manager show that this driver is correctly installed? 280.26 dated 09Aug 2011

The answers may help a more accurate diagnosis for suggesesting possible solutions.

 

[Arc]

At first, you try a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html to a point before yesterday , and see if it works . Let us know what happened .

 

[ShadowXWolf]

this is what happens when i press play on a video file.
i suspect that i didn't uninstall my previous graphics driver correctly and its causing a problem, is there a way for me to check if my current graphics driver is installed properly or not?

 

[rraod]

May be problem with Codecs? Try with VLC Player.

 

[Arc]

you may try DriverView: Loaded Windows Drivers List .

 

[ShadowXWolf]

i just tried VLC media player and it worked, so i guess that means my computer's fine, right?
and how are both MPC and Windows Media Player not opening, yet it doesn't affect VLC ?

 

[jumanji]

Reinstall MPC and check whether it comes back to life.

 

[Arc]

Most probably somehow you got your codecs corrupted . As vlc uses it's own codecs, it is not affected by this corruption. If you have installed any codec packs earlier, uninstall it (use the advanced options of uninstallation of Revo Uninstaller Freeware , so that there will be no leftover ); and then install Shark007's FREE Codec solutions - Windows 7 codecs .

I guess your WMP will work fine after it .

 

[jumanji]

Most probably somehow you got your codecs corrupted .....

I know most of the time we are only groping in the dark - that includes me ( So I am not finding fault with anybody. ).

This "somehow" is what baffles me.

Can installing a new display driver corrupt the codecs? - Most probably not. If it were, it would have been reported widely.

Can installing Windows updates corrupt the codecs? Again the same answer.

If I am not wrong, MPC Home Cinema also installs its own codecs. That is exactly why I suggested reinstalling MPC Home Cinema and check.

So my interpretation here is that VLC could play because it was installed later and not because it had in-built codecs.

If reinstalling MPC brings it back to life, then reinstalling WMP should also resolve the problem. That is my line of thinking - right or wrong.

 

[Shark007]

So my interpretation here is that VLC could play because it was installed later and not because it had in-built codecs.

If reinstalling MPC brings it back to life, then reinstalling WMP should also resolve the problem. That is my line of thinking - right or wrong.

Wrong.

MPC is identical to VLC.
It defaults to using internal codecs EXACTLY like VLC does.
The MPC Homecinima installer has never installed codecs to your system, ever.

 

[jumanji]

I am afraid there is some misunderstanding here. Let me clarify and also ask some clarifications.

What I have stated: Like VLC, MPC-HC also has internal codecs. So MPC-HC is identical to VLC. So reinstalling MPC-HC should bring it back to life for the OP. OP requested to check.

I know, Shark007, that apart from WMP the only other palyer you recommend is MPC-HC and your codec pack is preconfigured for it.

I was indeed using MPC-HC downloaded from your Tools section alongwith your codec pack thinking it was necessary to play mkvs and bluray discs.

That was till another forum member - I think it is Ponmayilal - reported here that starting from a particular version, MPC-HC has its own codecs installed and your codec pack is no longer necessary.

It was indeed so. I have since completely uninstalled your codec pack and MPC-HC can play my mkv and bluray discs without your codec pack. How come? Then why MPC-HC from your tools section and your preconfigured codec pack for it?

I stand to be corrected if I am wrong.

 

[Shark007]

I am afraid there is some misunderstanding here. Let me clarify and also ask some clarifications.
What I have stated: Like VLC, MPC-HC also has internal codecs.

sorry - I misuhderstood

If I am not wrong, MPC Home Cinema also installs its own codecs.

but it does not install codecs and i prefer to squash falicies before they spread.
it can use external codecs when setup for that, but by default, it is a self contained player

I know, Shark007, that apart from WMP the only other palyer you recommend is MPC-HC and your codec pack is preconfigured for it.

No, my codecpack targets all players and has specific functionality empowering the user to take control of playback in the locked down Windows players. What is pre-configred is the version of MPC-HC that I redistribute. It is pre-configured to use system installed codecs, and not the builtin ones.

MPC-HC has its own codecs installed

If being tied to using a single player is OK with you, that is fine, it is your choice. Their are many instances when that player will fail people. VLC is probably a better choice. Occassionally though, there is a person or 2 that would like to use WMP, and Media Center for its remote control-ability.

I stand to be corrected if I am wrong.

consider yourself correct for the 2nd time today.

 

[ShadowXWolf]

i've tried everything posted here so far, uninstalled my codecs and even installed Shark007's codec and MPC HC and Win Media player still doesn't work, i've downloaded Media player classic (Gabest) v 6.4.9.1 and it works.

but i really want to get my old ones working, what could possibly crash them every time i open a video with any of them, and i found a ton of Windows error reports, i just wish i could find the error.

could i have something that's either blocking or crashing some of my codecs?

 

[Shark007]

Choosing to disable UAC can cause these problems.
If you have lowered the setting of UAC (user account control)

as a test . . . in this order

uninstall the codecs
set UAC to the 'Default' setting, reboot your system
re-install the codecs, open each app as an admin using a rightclick on the shortcut
(64bit systems need a 2nd installation called the x64Components, get it from MajorGeeks)
select the SUGGESTED settings checkbox in each app

test you files

 

[ShadowXWolf]

i did what you said up to this point in installing Win7codecs where i got this error, what should i do? and what does this error indicate?

 

[Shark007]

It is indicating that the installer doesnt have full administrative privileges.

It is quite possible that the current user account is corrupted.

If you were to create a new user account and try the installation from the new user, it may resolve this problem, and many others you are experiencing,

 

[ShadowXWolf]

it did the same error with the new user.

 

[Shark007]

I'm really stumped on this one.

The error message states Software\Classes\Media Type\ as a path but that isnt even a valid path nor does my software try to install to that path.

Try re-downloading the Installer - maybe it is corrupted.

 

[ShadowXWolf]

i've downloaded it a few times already i'm pretty sure it's not corrupted.