watching videos: Sound but no video (black screen)

[bart]

Hi all,

I've got Linux MCE 1.1 beta 2 set up. It's recognizing my other PC's and indexing my media files. However, as soon as I try to play a movie file, I hear sound but get no image (black screen). If I right-click the cursor shows for a split second but I don't get the Linux MCE user interface. So I'm unable to stop it from playing the file and go back to the main menu. This problem (of being unable to stop and go back) also occurs when I listen to music.

I'm suspecting it might have something to do with my videocard settings. I'm using an Nvidia 7600GS. Linux MCE doesn't seem to complain about my drivers. I'm able to run the video tests. (The spinning cube with composite and masking works fine windowed and fullscreen.)

Anyone have a clue what this problem might be?

[Cryoniq]

Hi all,

I've got Linux MCE 1.1 beta 2 set up. It's recognizing my other PC's and indexing my media files. However, as soon as I try to play a movie file, I hear sound but get no image (black screen). If I right-click the cursor shows for a split second but I don't get the Linux MCE user interface. So I'm unable to stop it from playing the file and go back to the main menu. This problem (of being unable to stop and go back) also occurs when I listen to music.

I'm suspecting it might have something to do with my videocard settings. I'm using an Nvidia 7600GS. Linux MCE doesn't seem to complain about my drivers. I'm able to run the video tests. (The spinning cube with composite and masking works fine windowed and fullscreen.)

Anyone have a clue what this problem might be?

Have you installed all codecs needed to play the media files? The restricted ones that is.

[bart]

Have you installed all codecs needed to play the media files? The restricted ones that is.

I didn't. I just installed them but unfortunately still a black screen. It looks like Xine is playing fine since I can hear sound. I'm thinking it has something to do with hardware accelerated video overlay?

[efiniti]

yeah having the same issue here.  7100gs and ui2 with alpha.

[efiniti]

a fix is to hit ctrl+alt+backspace and have it start up the the interface again, but this would be a hassle to do for people who don't have access to a keyboard present.  not sure what would be causing this bug.

[bart]

Anyone experienced this with Linux MCE 1.0 as well? Or does it only happen with 1.1?

[efiniti]

this bug was not there in 1.0. 

[ddamron]

Keep in mind, 1.0 was based on ubuntu, and it had to start another X session,
Ubuntu running 2 x sessions is find, but hardware acceleration could only be used on one x session, the other could not use the hardware acceleration.

Hence moving to Kubuntu, which supports running a media director in a window (much better than gnome did)

so now, we are still using only 1 x session, but doing much more with it.  Keep those bug reports coming in, they help.

just fyi

Dan

[bret]

Say I saw yer post, and was wondering if anyone had a solution, or idea what could be the problem?  I'm having a very similar issue...

The Installation seemed to work (MCE 1.1 Beta 2, using cache CD), however when I attempt to play a DVD or a divx file the video is very choppy (1 frame every 10 sec), Green in color, and shadows in the video, however I do have good audio.  I checked the resources (through top) and I'm using about 50% of the CPU and 600MB of RAM

Here are my box specs:

Processor: P4 2.8GHz HT
Video: ATI Rage Xl (onboard)
Ram: 4 GB

MCE Version: 1.1 Beta 2
GUI: UI1

I am able to play both the DVD and divx files through xine from within kubuntu. 

Any help or guidance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

[PeteK]

Say I saw yer post, and was wondering if anyone had a solution, or idea what could be the problem?  I'm having a very similar issue...

The Installation seemed to work (MCE 1.1 Beta 2, using cache CD), however when I attempt to play a DVD or a divx file the video is very choppy (1 frame every 10 sec), Green in color, and shadows in the video, however I do have good audio.  I checked the resources (through top) and I'm using about 50% of the CPU and 600MB of RAM

Here are my box specs:

Processor: P4 2.8GHz HT
Video: ATI Rage Xl (onboard)
Ram: 4 GB

MCE Version: 1.1 Beta 2
GUI: UI1

I am able to play both the DVD and divx files through xine from within kubuntu. 

Any help or guidance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

I'm having this same issue when I try to watch MythTV on my core using the PVR-500 card in the core. I have an intel server board with an ATI Rage XL chip onboard.  However, I have no problem seeing TV on an MD with an Nvidia 6600.  I'm guessing it's the ATI chip (whether drivers or hardware I'm still not sure).  I'm guessing you're going to use that box as a core.  If so, I suggest you try hooking up an MD with a decent video card. I expect you'll be able to watch without a problem.

[bart]

Would like to confirm that [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Backspace] indeed solves the problem. (Mine at least)

This is the first time I saw the beautiful flickr backgrounds scrolling by which I didn't see at first either. So this isn't just limited to Xine and/or videos. Looks like something goes wrong with the entire background when LinuxMCE GUI loads up the first time. (Perhaps while the window is maximizing or something?)

[msmiley]

Same situation here.

Hitting Ctrl-Alt-Backspace reloads X and everything seems to work.

Probing deeper, I've discovered that The videos/flickr pictures are indeed playing, but on another "desktop"
What I did to find them is:

1. click KDE Desktop in Advanced menu
2. press Ctrl-Alt-Left, or Ctrl-Alt-Right to switch desktops

So the videos/pictures are playing, just not on the same desktop as the UI.

Hope this helps anyone who would know what is going on here.

AMD64
using Nvidia drivers on geforce 6xxx
using UI2 with alpha

[thorsten]

Hi,

seems I am having the same problems in 7.10 release, with UI2 on a S-Video display...

Is there a resolution for the problem, or should I switch back to UI1?

Kind regards
Thorsten

[ddamron]

Thorsten, this thread is VERY OLD,
this was before 0704.  Maybe start a new thread with your problem, as this is unrelated.
(look at the dates)
HTH,

Dan

[tschak909]

simple fix, it's caused by xcompmgr not being loaded... it's a weird bug that only happens occasionally in the x wrapper scripts that re-make the configs.

switch to ui2 medium in the av wizard (hold down shift after hearing the beeps at boot)

then switch back to ui2 with alpha.. this will fix it.

-Thom