Ubuntu 10.10(Maverick) SMPlayer & VLC issues...

**medusa~** · May 30th, 2011

1. I use exclusively smplayer and vlc for video playing
2. Suddenly vlc can't play vids anymore. But if u pull `top` or whatever process viewer it shows that its running behind the scene. but acted like didn't even start.
3. Okay, vlc misbehaving, smplayer is well unpredictable. It runs and plays with audio with the video screen being transparent, completely! I mean the video place just shows through to the desktop or whatever window is behind it. I have attached screen shots below.
4. I am using Gnome, nvidia card, been using these apps not until recent they get buggy and having issues. And oh yeah, codecs are in, I install them all and double checked.
5. I am suspecting compiz? Or Metacity compositing feature?

And Finally, Ubuntu is really starting to get buggy! I tried 11.04. I had to run back to 10.10.

**medusa~** · May 30th, 2011

common, pls help!

This is my 3rd topic and no one ever provides solution. I always end up solving myself. I have no idea on this one really. Pls give a clue if u hav any!

**mc4man** · May 31st, 2011

For starters I'd -
open home folder (view > show hidden files)
in .config delete both the smplayer and vlc folders
in .cache delete the vlc folder
in .local/share delete the vlc folder

For smplayer try one of the below, the first affects smplayer opened from applications menu and r. click, the 2nd all possible uses of smplayer

Code:

gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/smplayer.desktop

Find the Exec=smplayer %U line, make it look like this

Code:

Exec=env XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1 smplayer %U

Or - in terminal

Code:

sudo bash -c "cat > /usr/bin/smplayer.helper" <<EOF
export XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1
exec smplayer.real "\$@"
EOF

then

Code:

sudo chmod 755 /usr/bin/smplayer.helper

Code:

sudo mv /usr/bin/smplayer{,.real} && \
sudo ln -sf smplayer.helper /usr/bin/smplayer

If doing the latter and it helps - if smplayer is ever updated then just run the last code box again

After deleting those folders start vlc from the terminal and see what it says

**medusa~** · May 31st, 2011

thx for helping. It is partially solved. the idea of clearing config files pricked my mind but didnt wanna. well i didnt have a choice anymore. I did.

VLC is back behaving normal. But refuses to play MKV. I dont know why. thinking codec. but it used to and i just checked on the codec again, its ok.

for SMPlayer, i followed all until the point of

Code:

sudo chmod 755 /usr/bin/smplayer.helper

the file or folder smplayer.helper do not exist on my system. was wondering if to create it and go on with the rest of the instructions.

once more thanks for helping. Still looking for solution.

I did a complete purge of smplayer. "sudo apt-get purge smplayer" then install again. same thing as if I didnt do anything.

**mc4man** · June 1st, 2011

for SMPlayer, i followed all until the point of ....

Not sure what you mean by all.
Before running sudo chmod 755 /usr/bin/smplayer.helper you were to run the codebox above that has 4 lines - it's meant to be copied, pasted and run, (enter on keyboard), as one. That would have created smplayer.helper.

You could otherwise try editing the smplayer.desktop as described above the "Or - in terminal" line (open the .desktop and edit the line to look like as shown

**medusa~** · June 1st, 2011

Jesus, you are a magician! SMPlayer is completely back! It worked like a charm. Sorry i didn't do the or in terminal command box.

VLC is still struggling with MKV. I ran it from terminal, here is the output

Code:

medusa@medusa-lair:~$ vlc
VLC media player 1.2.0-git Twoflower (revision exported)
[0x9baa90c] main libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
[0xa287144] mkv demux error: cannot find KaxSegment

Did a little googling on KaxSegment. Having something to do with matroska codec not working well with VLC; I guess.

I did this from the terminal just to double check,

Code:

mplayer -vo gl best\ of\ moment\ 1.mkv

I could view it. so I think this problem is VLC specific.

**mc4man** · June 1st, 2011

Vlc has a number of current issues though I'd use the 1.2+ like you're doing, you could search thru the Videolan forum, good luck there...

If you happen to update or re-install smplayer - just to nail down - you'll have to re run the LAST codebox to reset (just the last one - as in

Code:

sudo mv /usr/bin/smplayer{,.real} && \
sudo ln -sf smplayer.helper /usr/bin/smplayer

**medusa~** · June 1st, 2011

mc4man, Thank you! Really appreciate your help. I'd say that was genius. I wish i knew a bit of what u did, lolx. This post is just to say 'Thank You!'

I will mark this as solved now!