Mercurial > mplayer.hg
diff DOCS/xml/en/faq.xml @ 9675:62c5a17038ba
XML version of MPlayer's doc
| author | nicolas |
|---|---|
| date | Sun, 23 Mar 2003 23:35:12 +0000 |
| parents | |
| children | 142c42fa0986 |
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--- /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 +++ b/DOCS/xml/en/faq.xml Sun Mar 23 23:35:12 2003 +0000 @@ -0,0 +1,1106 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> +<chapter id="faq" xreflabel="FAQ"> +<title>Frequently Asked Questions</title> + +<qandaset defaultlabel="number"> + +<qandadiv id="faq-compilation"> +<title>Compilation</title> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Compilation stops with an error message similar to this one: +<screen> + In file included from mplayer.c:34: + mw.h: In function `mplMainDraw': + mw.h:209: Internal compiler error in print_rtl_and_abort, at flow.c:6458 + Please submit a full bug report, + with preprocessed source if appropriate. +</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This is a known problem of <application>gcc</application> 3.0.4, upgrade +to 3.1 to solve the problem. How to install gcc is described in the +<link linkend="gcc-296">gcc 2.96</link> section. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Configure ends with this text, and MPlayer won't compile! +<screen>Your gcc does not support even i386 for '-march' and '-mcpu'</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Your gcc isn't installed correctly, check the <filename>config.log</filename> +file for details. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +What does "No such file or directory" mean? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Probably there is no such file or directory. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +What's the problem with gcc 2.96? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +<emphasis role="bold">We strongly discourage the use of gcc 2.96!</emphasis> +Read <link linkend="gcc-296">this</link> document for details about why Red Hat +released gcc 2.96 and what the problems are all about. If you still really really +want to use it, be sure to get the latest release and give the +<option>--disable-gcc-checking</option> option to configure. Remember that you +are on your own from this point. Do <emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> report +bugs, do <emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> ask for help on the mailing lists. +We will <emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> provide any support in case you run +into problems. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Great, I have gcc 3.0.1 from Red Hat/Mandrake, then I'm fine! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +No, since there have been/are issues with these compilers as well. +To check the status of current compilers' MPlayer support, see the +<link linkend="install">Installation</link> section. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I tried to compile MPlayer, but I got this output: +<screen> + In file included from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/std_cwchar.h:42, + from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/fpos.h:40, + from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/char_traits.h:40, + from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/std_string.h:41, + from /usr/include/g++-v3/string:31, + from libwin32.h:36, + from DS_AudioDecoder.h:4, + from DS_AudioDec.cpp:5: + /usr/include/wchar.h: In function Long long int wcstoq(const wchar_t*, + wchar_t**, int)': + /usr/include/wchar.h:514: cannot convert `const wchar_t* __restrict' to + `const +</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Upgrade your glibc to the latest release. On Mandrake, use 2.2.4-8mdk. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +.. gcc 2.96 ... (Yes, some people are STILL flaming about gcc 2.96!) +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Quoted from a <ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/2001-October/005351.html">mail</ulink> +A'rpi sent to the <ulink url="http://mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/">mplayer-users</ulink> +list (the word 'ideg' is described below): +<blockquote> +<para> +And we have idegs. And our idegcounter overflowed again and again. +</para> +<para> +Unfortunately MPlayer is out of our control. It's used by lamers, Linux +users who can't even use Windows, and never tried to compile a kernel. They +installed (with default options) Mandrake or Red Hat or SuSE, and without +RTFM'ing they send messages saying 'it doesn't work! help me! please! i'm +new to Linux! help! oh! help me!'. We can't stop them, but at least we try +to force them to RTFM and to read the messages of ./configure and MPlayer. +</para> +<para> +And you clever guys come and flame us with gcc 2.96 and binary packages. +Instead of helping users or making patches to help solve problems. +</para> +<para> +Half of our spare/free time is spent by answering silly mails here and +making newer tricks and checks to configure to avoid such mails. +</para> +<para> +And there is a balance. On the one side are you, clever guys, saying we +are very bad because we don't like buggy gcc 2.96, and on the other side +there are the 'new to Linux' guys who are showing us gcc 2.96 is buggy. +</para> +<para> +Conclusion: We can't be good. Half the people will always say we are bad. +</para> +<para> +Maybe we should close the project, make it closed source, commercial, and +provide install support for it. then we could leave current work, so development +could go faster, and we could earn lots of money with it and buy a big house, +etc etc. Do you really want it? It seems. +</para> +</blockquote> +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +SDL output doesn't work or compile. The problem is ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +It was tested to work with SDL 1.2.x and may run on SDL 1.1.7+. It does +<emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> work with any previous version. So +if you choose to use such a version, you are on your own. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I am still having trouble compiling with SDL support. gcc says something +about "undefined reference to `SDL_EnableKeyRepeat'". What now? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Where did you install the SDL library? If you installed in <filename>/usr/local</filename> +(the default) then edit the top level <filename>config.mak</filename> and add +"-L/usr/local/lib" after "X_LIBS=". Now type +<command>make</command>. You're done! +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +It doesn't compile, and it misses uint64_t inttypes.h and similar things ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Copy <filename>etc/inttypes.h</filename> to the MPlayer directory +(<command>cp etc/inttypes.h .</command>) and try again ... +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have Linux running on a Pentium III but <filename>./configure</filename> +doesn't detect SSE ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Only kernel versions 2.4.x support SSE (or try 2.2.19 or newer, but be +prepared for problems). +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have a G200/G400, how do I compile/use the mga_vid driver? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Read the <link linkend="mga_vid">mga_vid documentation</link>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Are there rpm/deb/... packages of MPlayer? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You can make a .deb package for yourself, check the +<link linkend="debian">Debian packaging</link> section. There are links to +official Red Hat RPM packages available on our +<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/dload.html">download page</ulink>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +During 'make', MPlayer complains about X11 libraries. I don't understand, +I DO have X installed!? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +... but you don't have the X development package installed. Or not correctly. +It's called <filename>XFree86-devel*</filename> under Red Hat, and +<filename>xlibs-dev</filename> under Debian. Also check if the +<filename class="directory">/usr/X11</filename> and +<filename class="directory">/usr/include/X11</filename> symlinks exist (this +can be a problem on Mandrake systems). They can be created with these commands: +<screen> + $ ln -sf /usr/X11R6 /usr/X11 + $ ln -sf /usr/X11R6/include/X11 /usr/include/X11 +</screen> +Your distribution may differ from the +<ulink url="http://www.pathname.com/fhs/">Filesystem Hierarchy Standard</ulink>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I can't compile SVGAlib. I'm using kernel 2.3/2.4 ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You have to edit SVGAlib's <filename>Makefile.cfg</filename> and comment +<systemitem>BACKGROUND = y</systemitem> out. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I compiled MPlayer with libdvdcss/libdivxdecore support, but when I try to start it, it says: +<screen> +error while loading shared libraries: lib*.so.0: cannot load shared object file: No such file or directory +</screen> +I checked up on the file and it IS there in <filename class="directory">/usr/local/lib</filename> ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Add <filename class="directory">/usr/local/lib</filename> to <filename>/etc/ld.so.conf</filename> +and run <command>ldconfig</command>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Hmm, strange. When loading the <filename>mga_vid.o</filename> kernel module, I +found this in the logs: +<programlisting> +Warning: loading mga_vid.o will taint the kernel: no license +</programlisting> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +The latest kernel modutils require a flag indicating the license (mainly to avoid +kernel hackers debugging closed source drivers). Upgrade your kernel, modutils +and <application>MPlayer</application>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +When compiling <application>MEncoder</application>, it segfaults at linking! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This is a linker problem. Upgrading binutils should help (2.11.92.* +or newer should be good). Since it is not our fault, please do +<emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> report! +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +MPlayer dies with segmentation fault upon pthread check! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +<command>chmod 644 /usr/lib/libc.so</command> +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I'd like to compile <application>MPlayer</application> on Minix! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Me too. :) +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +</qandadiv> + +<qandadiv id="faq-general"> +<title>General questions</title> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +How do I create a proper patch for MPlayer? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +We made a <ulink url="../../tech/patches.txt">short document</ulink> +describing all the necessary details. Please follow the instructions. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +How can I support MPlayer development? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +We are more than happy to accept your hardware and software +<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/donations.html">donations</ulink>. +They help us in continuously improving MPlayer. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +How can I become an MPlayer developer? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +We always welcome coders and documenters. Read the +<ulink url="../../tech/">technical documentation</ulink> +to get a first grasp. Then you should subscribe to the +<ulink url="http://mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-dev-eng">mplayer-dev-eng</ulink> +mailing list and start coding. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Can I run multiple instances of MPlayer? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Yes. Some video out drivers like xv, dga or (x)mga are exclusive, some are +exclusive in combination with certain graphics boards and drivers. You will +not be able to run more than one instance of MPlayer with one of those video +out drivers. To a lesser degree this also applies to audio drivers. Not all +allow playback of multiple streams on the same device. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +There is a timer in the upper left corner. How can I get rid of it? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Press <keycap>o</keycap> and try the <option>-osdlevel</option> option. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +The <option>-xy</option> or <option>-fs</option> option doesn't work with +the x11 driver (<option>-vo x11</option>) ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +It does, but you have to explicitly specify software scaling (very slow) with the +<option>-zoom</option> option. You better use XF86VidMode support: You must +specify the <option>-vm</option> and the <option>-fs</option> option, and you're +done. Make sure you have the right modelines in your <filename>XF86Config</filename> +file, and try to make the <link linkend="dga">DGA driver</link> and +<link linkend="sdl">SDL's DGA driver</link> work for you. It's much +faster. If SDL's DGA works, use that, it'll be even faster. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +What is the meaning of the numbers on the status line? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Example: +<screen>A: 2.1 V: 2.2 A-V: -0.167 ct: 0.042 57/57 41% 0% 2.6% 0 4 49%</screen> +<itemizedlist> +<listitem><para>A: audio position in seconds</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>V: video position in seconds</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>A-V: audio-video difference in seconds (delay)</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>ct: total A-V sync correction done</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>frames played (counting from last seek)</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>frames decoded (counting from last seek)</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>video codec cpu usage in percent (for slices and DR this includes +video_out)</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>video_out cpu usage</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>audio codec cpu usage in percent</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>frames needed to drop to maintain A-V sync</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>current level of image postprocessing (when using +<option>-autoq</option>)</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>current cache size used (around 50% is normal)</para></listitem> +</itemizedlist> +Most of them are for debug purposes and will be removed at some point. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +What if I don't want them to appear? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Use the <option>-quiet</option> option and read the man page. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Why is video_out cpu usage zero (0%) for some files? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +It's not zero, but it's called from the codec and thus cannot be measured +separately. You should try to play the file using <option>-vo null</option> and +then <option>-vo ...</option> and check the difference to see the video_out speed. +</para></answer> +<answer><para> +You are using Direct Rendering, where the codec renders to the video memory +itself. In this case, the decoding percentage contains the display percentage, too. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +There are error messages about file not found <filename>/usr/lib/win32/</filename> ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Download the Win32 codecs from our +<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/MPlayer/releases/codecs/">codecs page</ulink> +(avifile's codec package has a different DLL set) and install it. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Are there any mailing lists on MPlayer? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Yes. See the bottom of the info page on +<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/info.html">our homepage</ulink> +to subscribe. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I've found a nasty bug when I tried to play my favorite video! Who should I inform? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Please read the +<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/bugreports.html">bug reporting guidelines</ulink> +and follow the instructions. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have problems playing files with the ... codec. Can I use them? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Check the <ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/codecs-status.html">codec status</ulink>, +if it doesn't contain your codec, read the <link linkend="codecs">codec documentation</link>, +especially the <link linkend="win32-codecs">codec importing HOWTO</link> and contact us. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Umm, what is "IdegCounter"? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +A combination of a Hungarian and an English word. "Ideg" in Hungarian +means the same as "nerve" in English, and is pronounced as something like +quot;ydaegh". It was first used to measure the nervousness of A'rpi, after +some (umm) "mysterious" disappearance of CVS code ;) +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +And what is "Faszom(C)ounter" +</para></question> +<answer><para> +"Fasz" is a Hungarian word you don't want to know, the others are +connected to the perverted minds of the MPlayer developers. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +LIRC doesn't work, because ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Are you sure you are using <command>mplayer</command> instead of +<command>mplayer_lirc</command>? Note that it was <command>mplayer_lirc</command> +for a long time, including the 0.60 release, but it was recently changed back to +<command>mplayer</command>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Subtitles are very nice, the most beautiful I've ever seen, but they +slow down playing! I know it's unlikely ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +After running <filename>./configure</filename>, edit <filename>config.h</filename> +and replace <systemitem>#undef FAST_OSD</systemitem> with +<systemitem>#define FAST_OSD</systemitem>. Then recompile. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +The onscreen display (OSD) is flickering! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You use a vo driver with single buffering (x11,xv). With xv, use the +<option>-double</option> option. Also try <option>-vop expand</option>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +What exactly is this libavcodec thing? +</para></question> +<answer><para> + +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +But configure tells me "Checking for libavcodec ... no"! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +See the <link linkend="ffmpeg">libavcodec section</link>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Icewm's taskbar keeps covering the movie in fullscreen mode! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You need to get libavcodec from FFmpeg's CVS. Read the instructions in the +<link linkend="ffmpeg">libavcodec section</link>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I can't access the GUI menu. I press right click, but I can't +access any menu items! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This shouldn't happen anymore, if it still does use the <option>-fstype</option> +layer option and report it to the <ulink url="http://mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/">mplayer-users</ulink> +mailing list. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +How can I run MPlayer in the background? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Use: +<screen>mplayer <replaceable>options</replaceable> <replaceable>filename</replaceable> < /dev/null &</screen> +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +</qandadiv> + +<qandadiv id="faq-playback"> +<title>Playback problems</title> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I can play certain AVIs but I get no sound and this kind of error: +<screen> + Detected audio codec: [divx] afm:4 (DivX audio (WMA)) + Requested audio codec family [divx] (afm=4) not available (enable it at + compile time!) +</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Probably the audio uses a codec not natively supported by MPlayer. Install the +Win32 codec package as described in the README or in the +<link linkend="install">Installation</link> section. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +... works with avifile/aviplay but doesn't with <application>MPlayer</application>. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +MPlayer is not avifile. The only common thing between these players is the Win32 +DLL loader. The codecs (DLL) set, synchronization, demultiplexing etc is totally +different and shouldn't be compared. If something works with aviplay it doesn't +mean that MPlayer will work and vice versa. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Audio goes out of sync playing an AVI file. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Try the <option>-bps</option> or <option>-nobps</option> option. If it does not +improve, read <link linkend="bugreports">this</link> and upload the file to FTP. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +<application>MPlayer</application> exits with some error when using <filename>l3codeca.acm</filename>. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Check <command>ldd /usr/local/bin/mplayer</command> output. If it contains +<screen>libc.so.6 => /lib/libc.so.6 (0x4???????)</screen> +where "?" is any number then it's OK, the error is not here. If it is: +<screen>libc.so.6 => /lib/libc.so.6 (0x00??????)</screen> +then there is a problem with your kernel/libc. Maybe you are using some security +patches (for example Solar Designer's OpenWall patch) which forces loading +libraries to very low addresses. Because <filename>l3codeca.acm</filename> is a +non-relocatable DLL, it must be loaded to <literal>0x00400000</literal>, we can't +change this. You should use a non-patched kernel, or use MPlayer's +<option>-afm 1</option> option to disable using <filename>l3codeca.acm</filename>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +My computer plays MS DivX AVIs with resolutions ~ 640x300 and stereo mp3 sound +too slow. When I use <option>-nosound</option> option, everything is OK (but quiet). +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Your machine is too slow or your soundcard driver is broken. Consult the +documentation to see if you can improve performance. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +<application>MPlayer</application> dies with "MPlayer interrupted by +signal 4 in module: decode_video". +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Try running MPlayer on the machine you compiled on. Or recompile with runtime +CPU detection (<command>./configure --enable-runtime-cpudetection</command>). +Don't use MPlayer on a CPU different from the one it was compiled on, without +using the feature mentioned just now. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have problems with [your window manager] and fullscreen xv/xmga/sdl/x11 modes ... +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Read the <link linkend="bugreports">bug reporting guidelines</link> and send us +a proper bug report. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I got this playing MPEG files: Can't find codec for video format 0x10000001! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You have an old version of <filename>codecs.conf</filename> at +<filename class="directory">~/.mplayer/</filename>. Upgrade it from +<filename class="directory">/etc/</filename>. +<emphasis role="bold">OR</emphasis> you have the <option>vc=</option> option or +something similar in your config file(s). +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +When starting <application>MPlayer</application> under KDE I just get a black +screen and nothing happens. After about one minute the video starts playing. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +The KDE arts sound daemon is blocking the sound device. Either wait until the +video starts or disable the arts-daemon in kontrol center. If you want to use +arts sound, specify audio output via our native arts audio driver +(<option>-ao arts</option>). If it fails or isn't compiled in, try SDL +(<option>-ao sdl</option>) and make sure your SDL can handle arts sound. Yet +another option is to start MPlayer with artsdsp. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have an AVI that produces a gray screen when played with <option>-vc odivx</option> +and a green one with <option>-vc divx4</option>. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +It's not a DivX file, but an MS MPEG4v3. Update your <filename>codecs.conf</filename>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +When I play this movie I get video-audio desync and/or <application>MPlayer</application> +crashes with the following message: +<screen>DEMUXER: Too many (945 in 8390980 bytes) video packets in the buffer!</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This can have multiple reasons. +<itemizedlist> +<listitem><para> +Your CPU <emphasis role="bold">and/or</emphasis> video card <emphasis role="bold">and/or</emphasis> +bus is too slow. MPlayer displays a message if this is the case (and the +dropped frames counter goes up fast). +</para></listitem> +<listitem><para> +If it is an AVI, maybe it has bad interleaving. Try the <option>-ni</option> option. +</para></listitem> +<listitem><para> +Your sound driver is buggy, or you use ALSA 0.5 with <option>-ao oss</option>. +See the <link linkend="audio-dev">sound card section</link>. +</para></listitem> +<listitem><para> +The AVI has a bad header, try the <option>-nobps</option> option, and/or <option>-mc 0</option>. +</para></listitem> +</itemizedlist> +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have an MJPEG file which works with other players but displays only a black image in +<application>MPlayer</application> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Disable the Windows DLL in <filename>codecs.conf</filename>, or use the +<option>-vc ffmjpeg</option> option (compile MPlayer with libavcodec for this to work). +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +When I try to grab from my tuner, it works, but colors are strange. It's OK with other +applications. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Your card probably misreports its colorspace capacity. Try with YUY2 instead of +default YV12 (see the <link linkend="tv-input">TV input documentation</link>). +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +When I start playing, I get this message but everything seems fine: +<screen>Linux RTC init: ioctl (rtc_pie_on): Permission denied</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You need root privileges or a specially set up kernel to use the new timing +code. For details see the <link linkend="rtc">RTC section</link> of the documentation. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have A/V sync problems. Some of my AVIs play fine, but some play with double speed! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You have a buggy sound card/driver. Most likely it's fixed at 44100Hz, and you +try to play a file which has 22050Hz audio. Try the resample audio plugin. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +All the WMV (or other..) files I play create a green/gray window and there is +only sound! <application>MPlayer</application> prints: +<screen>Detected video codec: [null] drv:0 (NULL codec (no decoding))</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Update your <filename>codecs.conf</filename>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I get very strange percentage values (way too big) while playing files on my notebook. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +It's an effect of the power management / power saving system of your notebook +(BIOS, not kernel). Plug the external power connector in before you power on +your notebook. You can also try whether +<ulink url="http://www.brodo.de/cpufreq/">cpufreq</ulink> (a SpeedStep interface for Linux) helps you. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +The audio/video gets totally out of sync when I run <application>MPlayer</application> +as root on my notebook. It works normal when i run it as a user. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This is again a power management effect (see above). Plug the external power +connector in <emphasis role="bold">before</emphasis> you power on your notebook +or use the <option>-nortc</option> option. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +</qandadiv> + +<qandadiv id="faq-driver"> +<title>Video/audio driver problems (vo/ao)</title> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have no sound when playing a video and get error messages similar to this one: +<screen> + AO: [oss] 44100Hz 2ch Signed 16-bit (Little-Endian) + audio_setup: Can't open audio device /dev/dsp: Device or resource busy + couldn't open/init audio device -> NOSOUND + Audio: no sound!!! + Start playing... +</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Are you running KDE or GNOME with the ARTS or ESD sound daemon? Try disabling +the sound daemon or use the <option>-ao arts</option> or <option>-ao esd</option> +option to make MPlayer use ARTS or ESD. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +What about the DGA driver? I can't find it! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +<filename>./configure</filename> autodetects your DGA driver. If <option>-vo help</option> +doesn't show DGA, then there's a problem with your X installation. Try +<command>./configure --enable-dga</command> and read the +<link linkend="dga">documentation</link>. Alternatively, try SDL's DGA driver +with the <option>-vo sdl:dga</option> option. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +OK, <option>-vo help</option> shows DGA driver, but it complains about permissions. +Help me! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +It works only if running as root! It's a DGA limitation. You should become root +(<command>su -</command>), and try again. Another solution is making MPlayer SUID +root, but it's not recommended! +<screen> + chown root /usr/local/bin/mplayer + chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/mplayer + chmod +s /usr/local/bin/mplayer + </screen> +<warning><para> +This is a <emphasis role="bold">big</emphasis> security risk! <emphasis role="bold">Never</emphasis> +do this on a server or on a computer that you do not control completely because +other users can gain root privileges through SUID root MPlayer. +<emphasis role="bold">You have been warned</emphasis>. +</para></warning> +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +When using Xvideo, my Voodoo 3/Banshee says: +<screen> +X Error of failed request: BadAccess (attempt to access private resource denied) + Major opcode of failed request: 147 (MIT-SHM) + Minor opcode of failed request: 1 (X_ShmAttach) + Serial number of failed request: 26 + Current serial number in output stream:27 +</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +The "tdfx" driver in XFree86 4.0.2/4.0.3 had this bug. This was +solved by <ulink url="http://www.xfree86.org/cvs/changes_4_1.html">bugfix #621 +of the XFree86 4.1.0 CVS log</ulink>. So upgrade to XFree86 4.1.0 or later. +Alternatively, either download (at least) DRI version 0.6 from the +<ulink url="http://dri.sourceforge.net">DRI homepage</ulink>, or use CVS DRI. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +OpenGL (<option>-vo gl</option>) output doesn't work (hang/black window/X11 +errors/...). +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Your OpenGL driver doesn't support dynamic texture changes (glTexSubImage). +It's known not to work with nVidia's binary mess. It's known to work with +Utah-GLX/DRI and Matrox G400 cards. Also with DRI and Radeon cards. It won't +work with DRI and other cards. it will not work with 3DFX cards because of +the 256x256 texture size limit. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have an nVidia TNT/TNT2 card, and I have a band with strange colors, right +under the movie! Whose fault is this? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This is a bug of nVidia's binary X driver. These bugs appear ONLY with the +TNT/TNT2 cards, and we can't do anything about it. To fix the problem, upgrade +to the latest nVidia binary driver version. If still bad, complain to nVidia! +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I have an nVidia XYZ card, and when I click on the GUI's display window to +toggle displaying the GUI panel, a black square appears where I clicked. I have +the newest driver. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Yes, nVidia corrected a previous bug (above), and introduced a new one. +Let's congratulate them. UPDATE: According to <link linkend="nvidia">nVidia</link>, +this has already been fixed. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +When I use the GUI with SDL video output, a second video window is created. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Known, don't use SDL for the GUI yet. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Oh the world is cruel ...! SDL has only <systemitem>x11</systemitem> target, +but not <systemitem>xv</systemitem>! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Try that <systemitem>x11</systemitem> target again. Now try <option>-vo x11 +-fs -zoom</option>. See the difference? No?! OK, here comes the enlightenment: +SDL's <systemitem>x11</systemitem> target uses xv when available, you don't have +to worry about it ... Note: you can force/disable Xv via SDL using +<option>-forcexv</option> and <option>-noxv</option> +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +</qandadiv> + +<qandadiv id="faq-dvd"> +<title>DVD playback</title> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +What about DVD navigation? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Support for dvdnav in <application>MPlayer</application> is currently broken, +normal playback does work, though. If you want to have fancy menus, you will +have to use another player like <application>Xine</application> or +<application>Ogle</application>. If you care about DVD navigation, send a +<ulink url="../../tech/patches.txt">patch</ulink>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +While playing a DVD, I encountered this error: +<screen>mplayer: ifo_read.c:1143: ifoRead_C_ADT_internal: Assertion nfo_length / sizeof(cell_adr_t) >= c_adt->nr_of_vobs' failed.</screen> +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This is a known libdvdread 0.9.1/0.9.2 bug. Use <emphasis role="bold">libmpdvdkit2</emphasis>, +which is present in <application>MPlayer</application> source, and used by default. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +What about subtitles? Can MPlayer display them? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Yes. See the <link linkend="dvd">DVD chapter</link> of the documentation. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +How can I set the region code of my DVD-drive? I don't have Windows! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Use the <ulink url="http://www.linuxtv.org/download/dvd/dvd_disc_20000215.tar.gz">regionset tool</ulink> +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Do I need to be (setuid) root/setuid fibmap_mplayer to be able to play a DVD? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +No, only for old-style DVD support. However you must have the proper rights +on the DVD device entry (in <filename class="directory">/dev/</filename>). +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Where can I get libdvdread and libdvdcss packages? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You don't need to. Use <emphasis role="bold">libmpdvdkit2</emphasis>, which is +present in the MPlayer source, and used by default. You can get the mentioned +packages from the <ulink url="http://www.dtek.chalmers.se/groups/dvd/">Ogle site</ulink>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Is it possible to play/encode only selected chapters? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Yes, try the <option>-chapter</option> option. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +My DVD playback is sluggish! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Use the <option>-cache</option> option (described in the man page) and try +enabling DMA for the DVD drive with the <command>hdparm</command> tool (described +in the <link linkend="drives">CD chapter</link> of the documentation). +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +</qandadiv> + +<qandadiv id="faq-features"> +<title>Feature requests</title> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +If MPlayer is paused and I try to seek or press any key at all, MPlayer +ceases to be paused. I would like to be able to seek in the paused movie. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This is very tricky to implement without losing A/V synchronization. +All attempts have failed so far, but patches are welcome. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I'd like to seek +/- 1 frames instead of 10 seconds. +</para></question> +<answer><para> +This won't be done. It was, but then it messed up A/V sync. +Feel free to implement it, and send a patch. Don't ask for it. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Where is the Windows version? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +It's not released, and won't be. Look around the Windows scene (open source +ASF parsers, open source ASF encoders, etc) and you'll know why. We don't want +to go to jail. BTW you can compile it yourself, under <link linkend="cygwin">Cygwin</link>. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +How can I make MPlayer remember the options I use for this particular file? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Create a file named <filename>movie.avi.conf</filename> with the file-specific +options in it and put it in <filename class="directory">~/.mplayer</filename> or +in the same directory as the file. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +</qandadiv> + +<qandadiv id="faq-encoding"> +<title>Encoding</title> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +My tuner works, I can hear the sound and watch the video with MPlayer, +but MEncoder doesn't encode audio! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +TV audio encoding for Linux is currently unimplemented, we're working +on it. At the moment it works only on BSD. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I can't encode DVD subtitles into the AVI! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +You have to specify the <option>-sid</option> option correctly! +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +MEncoder segfaults on startup! +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Upgrade DivX4Linux. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +How can I encode only selected chapters from a DVD? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Use the <option>-chapter</option> option correctly, like: <option>-chapter 5-7</option> +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +I'm trying to work with 2GB+ files on a VFAT file system. Does it work? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +No, VFAT doesn't support 2GB+ files. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +<qandaentry> +<question><para> +Why is the recommended bitrate printed by MEncoder negative? +</para></question> +<answer><para> +Because the bitrate you encoded the audio with is too large to fit the +movie on any CD. Check if you have libmp3lame installed properly. +</para></answer> +</qandaentry> +</qandadiv> +</qandaset> + +</chapter>