What the..? O_o

[Dragamex]

Been using Limewire for awhile now, been pretty good, except for a problem... And it especially came out tonight. Video clips, when they start downloading don't have an icon of what plays them. Now, I had this problem awhile ago, and when I downloaded the files, they wouldn't delete. I later found that you could delete them from the library, but, i digress. So, now, almost ALL the videos I download won't play. I can tell they won't play because when they start downloading, they don't have the icon to the left. I know, it sounds a bit weird the way I explained it, but meh.

Anyways, onto the tech support stuff that I know you'll ask:

-OS is WinXP Home
-Recently got VLC, and have almost all known codecs for video players, including Xvid, ffdshow, etc...
-Using Limewire 4.12.3
-Doesn'thappen with anything else but videos

If I could get help, I would appreciate it alot. Thankies!

[ukbobboy01]

Dragamex

Your systems, as stated, looks very similar to mine but I do not recognise some of the problems you say you have:

Video clips, when they start downloading don't have an icon of what plays them.

The icons that appear in LW are in fact the media player that either you or your system has set as the default player.

Now, I had this problem awhile ago, and when I downloaded the files, they wouldn't delete.

Downloaded files only refuse to delete if someone else is uploading that file from you. Check to make sure that only "completed files" can be uploaded from you because sometimes other P2P users will try to upload incompleted files.

So, now, almost ALL the videos I download won't play.

Did you recently upgrade your Windows Media Player to V11? I ask this because MS have a habit of deleting non-MS codecs whenever they update WMP.

If this is the case you will have to download and install the codecs that are missing, such as Nimo, XP codec, etc. (sorry, I don't have the URL for them at the moment but other forum members may post them later).

In the recent past, I updated WMP9 to WMP10 and I soon found that most of the video files I used to play no longer worked. I consulted a work colleague about this, a guy that builds PCs for himself, family and friends, and he confirmed that MS zapped my non-MS codecs during the upgrade. It took me several weeks to find and replace most of my deleted codecs. Now, I'm back to where I was before WMP10, I can play most of my video clips (though some AVIs are still a problem) and I can play NTSC or PAL DVDs.

So, when you upgrade WMP make sure that you have a copy of your non-MS codecs to re-install.

And finally,:

I can tell they (videos) won't play because when they start downloading, they don't have the icon to the left. I know, it sounds a bit weird the way I explained it

Yep, definately strange but I guess you are making a basic novice mistake because your PC does not have the necessary codec, at the moment, to play the films you are downloading.


UK Bob

[Dragamex]

uk, you insult me with you "novice mistakes"... =P

No, I made sure all my codecs were installed AFTER I upgraded to the new WMP (I got the new version when I re-installed Windows, then got codecs). The problem I see here is not codecs. The problem I see is incompatibility issues. Complete video files having the inability to play, or be deleted, unless through the Limewire library.

I'm not new to this sort of thing.. I'm quite bugged myself. I actually do tech support at my internet cafe. I just can't seem to figure out what could possibly be the problem.

[ukbobboy01]

OK Dragamex

No insult intended, it is just that most newbies that post in this forum have only a very basic understanding of computers and, from your first post, I could not gauge the level of your understanding.

That said, now let’s move on. If you cannot delete your downloaded files and you are sure they are not being uploaded when you try to delete them then probably something “not quite right” is happening. Now, as a tech person, you know that LW cannot assume functions that your O/S (WinXP) does not allow, so logically if you can delete your files in LW's library then you should be able to delete them in Windows Explorer.

I would suggest, before you delete any more files from LW’s library, you check their attributes in Windows Explorer first, that way we will know if anything unusual is happening, i.e. assuming “read-only” attributes.

However, it has been known in the past for WinXP to hold onto files because it believes that some other application is using them. There is a free utility, which I have not used myself, that will delete these stubborn files. If you want this utility I will look it up and send you the URL when I get home from work tonight.

You say that you have all the codec you need; my one overriding thought is that you may be downloading "false files". Unfortunately, the P2P network is awash with all types of false or bogus files.

My next suggestion is to download G-Spot, a free file checking utility, which will tell you whether your file is a genuine movie file, and whether you have the right codec to play it.

Not so long ago I downloaded, what I thought at the time, was a rare film clip only to find that it had a huge portion of nothing followed by some hill billy music. I ran this file through G-Spot and was informed it was an MP3. Some joker had gone to the trouble of creating a 500MB+ file with a mpg extension, which was only a 5MB MP3 file of hill billy.

So you see, I have been through it too.

Let us know how you get on.



UK Bob

[foolofthehill]

Double checking the files by trying to play them with the free VLC player which comes with its own built-in codecs could determine whether it is indeed a file or a player problem.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
As for codecs, I'd reckon using either the K-lite codecs pack or the Tsunami.
http://www.k-litecodecpack.com/

http://www.freetodownload.com/downlo...ami-Codec.html

[Dragamex]

Hey, guys.

Sorry, if I seemed like an *** in my last post. I was only joking around. No insults flung.

Okay, so, I was a bit un-clear about what happens with these videos. They won't even open. At least not through WMP. Nothing. No delete option when right clicked, nothin.

Now, I just "Opened With.." VLC. VLC still does nothin...

Hmmm... =/

[foolofthehill]

If not even VLC can open the file then you can consider it is faked or massively corrupted.....

[Dragamex]

but almost all videos I download?


=/

[Dragamex]

That's ALL I get when right clciking on said video files.

Only deletes through LW.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, that' with Unlocker on, too

[foolofthehill]

I'm wondering, where is the folder of yours located where the finished downloads are put in......?
Maybe trying to change this location (LW>Tools>Options>Share) will have an effect.......?!