Before I do this... DirectX

[Denholm]

Hello guys,

Recently I've been debugging a situation I have with my video playback. For some strange reason any type of video file will not play on my computer system. Yes, I have downloaded all types of codecs and codec packages, none fix the issue. So on Sunday one of my friends suggested I try getting the latest version of DirectX for my O.S. I have no problem trying that. The issue starts here though. Currently I have the highest version of DirectX compatible with Windows 2000. (DirectX 9.0a) From what I'm hearing Windows Update is the only way to receive the Win 2000 compatible version of DirectX 9.0a, so it would seem that I have to downgrade to a lower version of DirectX before running the Windows Update to receive the upgrade.

However this is where I'm proceeding with caution. Last time when I had my system reformatted the problem was due to a DirectX fallout within my system. I don't want that to happen again! So I'm asking if its possible - without any side-effects - to use the DirectX 8.1 installer to downgrade from 9.0a to 8.1?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

DirectX levels are usually irreversible - trying to do that will mess up your system.

Run http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=822640ab-0983-4c41-9c70-632f6f42c557&DisplayLang=en installer W2k is on supported platforms list.

[Denholm]

Okay, that's what I figured. Just wanted to check here first.

Now, what will this redistributable version do for me?

[BaldEagl]

Did these video files play before or has this always been a problem?

I ask because there was a problem with video corruption with many of the Nvidia 700 series motherboards (from all manufacturers) that was only resolved with a BIOS update. 

Your problem is likey not Direct X related.

[Denholm]

Before I had my system reformatted these same videos played without a hitch. And the time before that when I had my system reformatted they played fine as well.

No new hardware updates either. The one thing I thought might have caused it was uninstalling Windows Media Player 6.4 and 9.0 when I got my system back. I later re-installed Windows Media Player 9 (There don't seem to be any 6.4 installers any more) in an attempt to solve the problem. Of course it didn't work.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Just out of curiosity did you download and run both Mediaplayer 6.4 and 9 codec packs from Microsoft?

[Denholm]

I can't answer that.

The friend who reformatted my computer (Don't have a Windows disc) installed everything for me. I simply went into add/remove programs and found Windows Media Player 6.4 and 9. I un-installed both then later re-installed Windows Media Player 9 in an attempt to solve the video playback issue.

[OOZ662]

If you really want to debug, try downloading VLC Media Player, open it, and go to Settings>Preferences>Check the Advanced options box lower right>Video-Output Modules. Switch it to OpenGL. Try them with DirectX too.

Could be your video player's fritzing (and VLC's a great player).

(If you do, try the color ASCII Art output module. It's awesome.)

[potsNpans]

 Never mind, wrong thread.

[Denholm]

Well, I set it to OpenGL mode and it played. Extremely bad playback in the way of frame rates and audio playback. DirectX mode caused the same error all video files have been creating for me. It froze the application until I eventually found a way to end the process.

Currently downloading the package MrRiplEy[H] sent to me via the link he supplied.

[Ack-Ack]

Hello guys,

Recently I've been debugging a situation I have with my video playback. For some strange reason any type of video file will not play on my computer system. Yes, I have downloaded all types of codecs and codec packages, none fix the issue. So on Sunday one of my friends suggested I try getting the latest version of DirectX for my O.S. I have no problem trying that. The issue starts here though. Currently I have the highest version of DirectX compatible with Windows 2000. (DirectX 9.0a) From what I'm hearing Windows Update is the only way to receive the Win 2000 compatible version of DirectX 9.0a, so it would seem that I have to downgrade to a lower version of DirectX before running the Windows Update to receive the upgrade.

However this is where I'm proceeding with caution. Last time when I had my system reformatted the problem was due to a DirectX fallout within my system. I don't want that to happen again! So I'm asking if its possible - without any side-effects - to use the DirectX 8.1 installer to downgrade from 9.0a to 8.1?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

Go to Major Geeks and download a DirectX uninstaller.  After you've uninstalled DirectX and rebooted your machine, try downloading DirectX from Microsoft and see if it will download the DirectX 9a runtime.  If not, you may have to install if from an older game you have that came with Directx 9a.

Hope this helps.

ack-ack

[Denholm]

Thanks for the response Ack-Ack. However it appears DirectX is no longer the problem. I downloaded the DirectX redistributable package from the link MrRiplEy[H] sent to me. It updated my DirectX from version 9.0a to 9.0c. Yet when I attempt to play a film (.wmv) it will not display the video, I can only hear the audio as in times past. It seems now that uninstalling both those media players caused some system codec to, "vanish."

EDIT: Here's the link to my DxDiag in hopes it might shed some light on this pecuilar situation.

http://603sqdrn.collectivelyspaced.com/DxDiag.txt

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Thanks for the response Ack-Ack. However it appears DirectX is no longer the problem. I downloaded the DirectX redistributable package from the link MrRiplEy[H] sent to me. It updated my DirectX from version 9.0a to 9.0c. Yet when I attempt to play a film (.wmv) it will not display the video, I can only hear the audio as in times past. It seems now that uninstalling both those media players caused some system codec to, "vanish."

EDIT: Here's the link to my DxDiag in hopes it might shed some light on this pecuilar situation.

http://603sqdrn.collectivelyspaced.com/DxDiag.txt

I suggest to try and download a mediaplayer 9 codec pack from the microsoft download site. That may or may not fix your problem.

[Denholm]

I downloaded the only one I could find for WMP 9. The, "Codecs Installation Package for Windows Media Video 9 VCM."

After installing it videos still did not provide visual feedback, only audio. This is truly odd.

[Ack-Ack]

I downloaded the only one I could find for WMP 9. The, "Codecs Installation Package for Windows Media Video 9 VCM."

After installing it videos still did not provide visual feedback, only audio. This is truly odd.

Try installing the XP Codec.  It should also be compatible with Win2k. 

You can also try the K-Lite Codecs. 

I would go with the K-Lite codecs as it has a wider range of codecs that it installs but for most media playback, the XP codecs are good enough.

Hope this helps.

ack-ack