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DarkBASIC Discussion / AVI movie files wont work on SOME computers??? (NOT a codec issue - i think?)

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billy777
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:24 Edited at: 28th Mar 2008 18:28
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I works fine on my 2 vista machines and 2 xp machines

I am noticing AVI movie files wont work on SOME computers....(customers of my game have brought this to my attention)

But here's the weird thing... If you click on the AVI movie files in the game directory... Windows Media Player will play them. (So it cant be a codec issue right?)

Why will the game (darkbasic) not play avi movies?

I checked the codec - it's listed in the codec listings and windows media player will play the movie. So any ideas why db wont play movie.

One of the customers who brought this to my attention has a Vista Business machine with a GeForce 8800 GTS video card.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help figure this mystery out!

Bill
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Ed222
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:26
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prehaps their using windows 95,98?

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billy777
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:29 Edited at: 28th Mar 2008 18:30
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Thanks ed222 but no... two customers with Vista pointed this out. (however on my 2 vista machines it works fine - weird huh?)
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TDK
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:39
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I think WMP has internal (private) codecs that DB can't access, so it could very well be a codec issue. For example, some AVI's that won't play in WMP on my machine work fine in Winamp.

I'm fairly sure that all they need to do is download and install the DivX or XVid codec - depending on which one you used.

You can even include a small html file with your program with a direct link for them to click on that takes them to the correct download page.

TDK_Man

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Ed222
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:47
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@TDK

arn't avi standards?

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billy777
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:49 Edited at: 28th Mar 2008 18:51
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Thanks TDK for responding...

Here's the thing... All my movies use a very basic codec CINEPACK (iccvid.dll) It comes automatically will all Windows machines- (Win95/Xp/Vista)

This error only occurs on only 2% of windows machines - but it driving me crazy why? I just dont get. everything appears to be correct (codec exists in codec list and I have the customers check to see if iccvid.dll is listed in their system directory.

I am wondering if it might be a video issue since customers mention black screen but can hear sounds of movie.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks
Bill
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Ed222
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:50
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maybe they have a 64bit version?

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billy777
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:53
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Quote: ""maybe they have a 64bit version?" "


Could that be it? Should I tell customers to bring up task manager and turn off quad or one of the dual processors for my particular program?
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Ed222
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 18:56 Edited at: 28th Mar 2008 19:00
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I don't really know I'm just saying it could be that
[edit]
maybe you could e-mail microsoft?

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TDK
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 20:21
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Quote: "arn't avi standards"


Not really - since the introduction of all the codecs at least. I'm no expert so maybe AVI is a standard and it's just the compression (DivX/XVid etc) that's different.

At the end of the day, if it was a Windows standard then DivX AVI files would play on all Windows machines without you having to install the DivX codec...

Quote: "All my movies use a very basic codec CINEPACK (iccvid.dll) "


Well, oddly enough, I don't have that dll on my system (XP Pro) either, so I guess your program would fail on mine too.

Quote: "Should I tell customers to bring up task manager and turn off quad or one of the dual processors"


That would do nothing to help your particular problem (if it's even possible).

Why not try including the dll with your program. I can't see why it shouldn't work sitting in the same directory as your exe.

TDK_Man

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billy777
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Posted: 28th Mar 2008 21:15
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Thanks again TDK for responding...

Would you mind trying out my demo to see if it works on your system?

If so... please follow link here:

http://www.lasthalfofdarkness.com/beyond/

Then click on "demo"

Thanks
Bill
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TDK
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Posted: 29th Mar 2008 16:58
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Yes - it worked fine for me.

The opening churchyard titles played without a glitch - I have XP Pro and as I mentioned, I don't have the dll you mentioned earlier anywhere on my system.

It's very professional by the way - it looks like a game you would buy in the shops. Congratulations!

The gameplay reminded me of Myst - but with 3D parts mixed in.

Playing it, you would never know it was written in DB Classic! Just shows what you can do if you persevere...

But, as for the AVI problem, maybe it is Vista-related. Are all of those with problems using Vista or just certain versions of Vista?

TDK_Man

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Latch
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Posted: 30th Mar 2008 02:32
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@billy777

Perhaps it's DirectShow. Maybe there's an incompatibility issue between the version DBC uses and the version installed on certain Vista machines or versions of directx runtime. Is it only customers with Vista?

Perhaps it is a permissions issue... Are there files written to areas on the HD that would require admin security?

Enjoy your day.
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TDK
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Posted: 30th Mar 2008 03:05
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Quote: "Are there files written to areas on the HD that would require admin security?"


Good point - are you creating the exe with DBC V1.13 or V1.2.0?

TDK_Man

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billy777
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Posted: 30th Mar 2008 03:48 Edited at: 30th Mar 2008 03:51
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Thanks Latch for that suggestion I will look into that.

Thanks TDK for taking a look.

Quote: ""Are there files written to areas on the HD that would require admin security?""


To avoid permission issues the game installs into USERS/<yourusername> directory...

Of course Anythings possible - but it would have to be something strange on only a few users computer since I have tested on many Vista machines and sold to many customers with VISTA machines "without" any issues.

I don't think that is it since the movies start to play (but only with audio and black screen then eventually game freezes)

I'm guessing its some sort of video incompatiblity with db and the video card???? Video driver issue??? other codecs conflicting???

I am using db 1.13 (I could not find 1.2)


Thanks at least for trying... I am completely baffled - I almost want to buy the customers machine just so I can get it and play around with it.


Thanks
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TDK
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Posted: 30th Mar 2008 04:07
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Quote: "To avoid permission issues the game installs into USERS/<yourusername> directory... "


Ahh.. that explains the error I got when installing it! On my system, that path doesn't exist.

One of the things V1.2.0 does is address that issue when running on Vista machines.

I would contact TGC support and I'm sure that they will sort out giving you access to the V1.2.0 update - it's downloaded from your download history page.

If necessary, point them to your web page and this thread.

TDK_Man

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billy777
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Posted: 30th Mar 2008 04:17
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Thanks TDK... I will contact support about version 1.2

But that's very weird you got an error - I understand that XP users won't have that directory already on their system - but it should not create an error.

I have tested on many XP/WIN 98 machines and normally it just creates a "new" directory c:/USERS/<yourusername> and installs the game.

Anyway I will keep my eye on that error.

Thanks
Bill
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billy777
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Posted: 6th Apr 2008 02:15
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I may have solved it - FYI - for those who may run into a similar issue once their game is done and selling it.


2 of the 3 people who were having the trouble - wrote back and said they needed to uninstall a codec "mega" pack. Now it works!
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TDK
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Posted: 6th Apr 2008 02:42
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Good news - so it was a codec issue after all...

TDK_Man

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