Fastforward/rewind missing & analog lockup (1 Viewer)

[Datman7]

MediaPortal looks like the perfect app for me but I'm having trouble getting started. My first test is to play a standard purchased DVD on my TV. I'm not having much luck. I've got a couple of problems.

1) The DVD plays fine on my digitally connected computer screen. The connection to the TV is analog. So far the only player that has worked is media player classic. Windows media player complains about not having the right codec for analog. MP hangs up at the same place so I assume I'm seeing the same problem without the message. I have followed the install instructions posted on AV forum and here which seem take the same MPC codecs and register them for general use. But maybe not. Unfortunately I don't know much about codecs so let me know what you need to know and I'll reply.

2) On neither the computer screen nor the TV do I ever see the FF/REW/Pause/chapter skip/etc row of controls when I am playing the DVD in the screen. If I back up to the main menu where the video is in a small box, I get the controls I want at the top of the screen. I need those controls to appear when the mouse is moved in full screen mode. I assume these controls are different than the OSD I see when I toggle the Y key. When I use that, I only get a toggle for pause/play and a time bar.

If I get the DVD player working I will then move on and invest in an AverMedia A180 card for HD capture. But I need to be convinced first that I know how to make this work with a simple DVD playback.

Thanks for any help offered!

TV-Server Version: None yet
MediaPortal Version: 1.0.0.0
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3 or streamedMP
Windows Version: XP32 sp3
CPU Type: Intel E8500 3.16GHz
HDD: WD 100G
Memory: 4G (2.75 used by XP32)
Motherboard: EVGA 780i
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 9500 GT
Video Card Driver: 6.14.11.8048
Sound Card: MB Realtek HD audio
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver: 5.10.0.5772
1. TV Card: None
1. TV Card Type: None
1. TV Card Driver: None
2. TV Card: None
2. TV Card Type: None
2. TV Card Driver: None
3. TV Card: None
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: MPV or ffdshow
MPEG2 Audio Codec: ffdshow or MPA
h.264 Video Codec: MPC or ffdshow
Satelite/CableTV Provider: None
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote:
TV: Samsung LN-S4095D
TV - HTPC Connection:

 

[rekenaar]

Hi there and welcome

1. You can try to install the latest PowerDVD trial. The codecs will still work even after the trial expired. Change the DVD navigator and DVD code to PowerDVD in MPConfiguration; DVD; DVDCodecs. Try again to play.

2. Is the topbar plugin activated inMPConfiguration; Plugins; Windows?

 

[Datman7]

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions.

1. I downloaded the cyberlink PowerDVD 8 and set the codecs for both video player and the DVD player (I'm not sure why I need to choose my videos when I put a DVD in my internal DVD drive, but that's for another time). Unfortunately, changing to use those codecs did not help with playing the analog out. The puzzler for me is why Media Player Classic-Home Cinema works perfectly with no changes needed and I've been struggling for a week trying to get MediaPortal to work the same way with no success.

2. I checked the topbar plugin and it was enabled. I still do not get normal speed/chapter controls that I get on Media Player Classic.

I imagine others have my setup and I'm missing something obvious but I sure don't see what it is. Any other advice?

Thanks for listening!

 

[rekenaar]

I just saw another user reporting that he uninstalled PowerDVD totally (sorry ) and then installed SAF and hat resolved his DVD issues. Worth a try?

 

[Datman7]

Why does MPC work and nothing else will?

Thanks for the new suggestion. But before I continue trying things, I think it would be better if I understood WHY media player classic, with no adjustments, will play a purchased DVD to my TV connected with component video cables.

I have tried at least the following with no success. They all freeze at the beginning of the movie. I assume because of DRM stuff.
- Power DVD 8
- GB-PVR
- Beyond TV
- Sage TV
- K-lite codec pack
- Cyberlink codec pack
- ffdshow codec pack
With all this stuff, I have uninstalled after trying to try to reduce conflicts.

I really want to have a single application for all my media center needs. I think MediaPortal will be a great TV manager when I get my TV card, but so far I have failed to get it to play a simple DVD out to analog.

What does Media Player Classic have that I'm not providing to these other players?

Thanks again for any help!