Media Player Classic Basic Troubleshoot
MPC help, tips and solutions.
Problem #1: Media Player classic won’t play videos
Solution: Install a video codec
Checkout FileForum @BetaNews for a list of codecs. Recommended codecs: ffdshow, dvx, xvid, real (alternative), quicktime (alternative), etc. However, it’s not suggested to install all the codecs due to compatibility issues. The most popular are K-Lite or CCCP codec packs for the lazy. Packs install all the necessary codecs in one step and are pre-tested for compatibility. Always download from reliable sites or better yet, the codec’s official site.
Tested MPC with only FFDShow installed and found it played standard file types except real, quicktime, and asx files (need separate codecs for those).
Problem #2: Media Player Classic displays an error message containing the word “renderless” when trying to play videos
Solution: Change Output setting
View>Options>Playback>Output
Directshow Video>tick VMR7 (renderless), if that doesn’t work try VMR9 (renderless)
Apply>OK
Restart MPC
Problem #3: Subtitles won’t display
Solution: MPC auto-detects subtitles. If it doesn’t display then change the Output setting
See #2.
Double check.
Play>Subtitles (or left click>subtitles)
“Subtitles” shouldn’t be greyed out and “Enabled”. If separate sub files are detected you’ll be able to select it here.
Problem #4: Don’t know how to use SRT, SAA, or external subtitle files
Solution: Rename subtitle to match video or Ctrl+L it
Easy way:
Rename the subtitle file to match the video’s name
Place subtitle in same in same directory with video
Load video
MPC will now autodetect the external subtitle
Thinker’s way:
(don’t have to rename files)
Play video
File>Load Subtitles (Ctrl+L)
Locate/select subtitle file
OK
See end of #3 for double check procedure.
Problem #5: Subtitles are garbled
Solution: Typically happens when trying to play subtitles in a foriegn language not native to the computer.
Temporary fix
Control Panel>Regional and Language Options
Advanced tab>Language for non-Unicode Programs>select language of subtitle
OK
Reboot
To switch back to native language, follow the same steps
Permanent fix
Convert foreign format to srt using Subtitle workshop, or other similar software. Resync with Vob if needed. Softpedia offers several converters or just get Subtitle workshop from Urusoft. Go here for Vob or read the setup guide here. Never needed Vob for srt subs but maybe useful for others.
For those already with srt files (read first)
Setup computer following steps above under “Temporary fix”
Right-click>Open With…>Wordpad (not notepad)
Save As>Save as type>change to “Unicode Text Document” (note automatic change to .txt)
File name>rename file to *.srt (* is name of file)
Save (will rewrite file so always work with a copy)
Repeat for additional srt files
Reset “Regional Language” back to native setting
Reboot
(Wordpad will visually validate the conversion vs. Notepad)
Problem #6: Videos are too light or too dark
Solution: Adjust Picture Properties
Play>Filters>select “X” video decoder (where “X” is the name of installed video codec)
“X” video decoder tab>Image settings>Picture properties
Adjust Luminance offset (brightness)
Problem #7: Media Player Classic only opens videos in the same player or Want separate MPC window for each media file
Solution: Change “Open options”
View>Options>Player>Open options
Tick “Open a new player…”
Apply>Ok
Problem #8: Capture screenshots
Solution: Save image
Pause video on image
File>Save Image…
Autosaves in My Documents>My Pictures
Grab Media Player Classic at sourceforge. Gabest’s latest builds at Doom9.
Copyright 2007 (DoA)nimation.
September 18, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Thank you, I had problem #6 (video too dark), and you helped me to solve the problem.
November 21, 2007 at 9:39 am
i can’t play videos in MPC.
a message box appears and says “AfxSocketInit failed”
November 29, 2007 at 6:00 pm
What’s your OS? If it’s Vista, can’t help cuz nothing works properly on that operating system. Go back to XP! ┐(’～`；)┌
FYI: The word is, it’s your consumer right to ask for a downgrade from Microsoft. People who dislike Vista, can get a copy of XP for free. Haven’t tried it yet but this will most likely negate the Vista key permanently so ask before taking the plunge.
February 16, 2008 at 11:57 pm
after i fixed a sound problem and applied subtitles to my video files they keep freezing i don’t know what to do i’m completey new to this by the way…thanks
February 19, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I have problem #8. However, all of a sudden, when I try to ’save image’ all I get is the error message ‘GetCurrentImage failed, hr = 8000ffff’ This happened once before, a long time ago, but I can’t remember what I did to resolve it…
February 27, 2008 at 2:38 pm
While using Media Player Classic and I try to “Save Image” from a film, it fails me and the error message window states “GetCurrentImage failed, hr = 80004001″. What is this about ? How is it corrected ?
March 4, 2008 at 8:36 am
GetCurrentImage error msg possibly a compability issue rising from source video file type (typically don’t see this problem with avi or mkv files).
Fix: View>Options>Playback>Output
try selecting output to direct7 or 9
Source: doom9
March 4, 2008 at 9:05 am
tin, your post is vague and lacks system info.
“AfxSocketInit is an MFC command called used to initialize WinSockets for network communication. Your programs are trying to connect to the internet as part of the registration process and failing when they detect that your machine doesn’t support the TCP/IP communication protocol. Get your computer connected to the internet, or even a local network TCP/IP network, and it should work fine.”
Source: Y!,
Which means, check your net connection and settings. As a last resort try a system restore or reinstall OS because some necessary files may have gotten deleted, corrupted, etc. There are cases where updates bring up the socket error.
March 4, 2008 at 9:30 am
help, try #2 fix for subtitle issues.
March 11, 2008 at 11:28 am
I got a problem loading Media Player Classic.
it is none of the above eight. the program just refuses to open, even when it’s not asked to open any videos.
I tried lots of time to uninstall k-lite codec pack and reinstall a newer version. this time I removed the old one, along with WinAmp and installed k-lite mega codec pack 3.8.0.
now the player consums about 50% CPU and 4,180KB of memory and just hung like that, not displaying the gui or anything.
working on Windows XP on IBM T60 laptop. i know that it runs just fine on other laptops of my colleagues.
thanks in advance.
March 14, 2008 at 4:50 pm
barnashi, we’re leaning towards the video file or codec pack as the culprit. Either may eat up significant resources and cause unwanted performance issues. However, we’re at a loss why the application won’t open. You may want cleanup the computer then re-download MPC and try a different codec such as ffdshow.
Barebones fix:
First, uninstall ALL codecs.
Next, Download the original MPC. Pick one of two versions available: XP and 98me, zip or 7z compression. Extract .exe file and open MPC. You should see the a player with menu bar, blank screen area showing “321″, and play buttons. Exit MPC.
Then, download and install ffdshow. Try the 06-17 release first.
Finally, open MPC. Drag and drop a video into player. If there’s sound but no video change output settings (see above) and your good to go.
For those who want the newest and latest, a new group is handling ffdshow called ffdshow tryouts.