"square" symbols for some characters in mkv subtitles (1 Viewer)

[lsandini]

Hello,

I have been a silent and happy MP user with 1.0.1 running fine here. I am using the CCCP codec pack, which includes ffdshow, Haalisplitter, etc...

I haven't had this problem before, except for some little exceptions of one or two "corrupted" subs here and there. I have now a movie in mkv format with finnish subs, in which all the "ä" and "ö" characters are displayed as little squares, very annoying. Probably a simple font thing.

Anyone have a quick fix or suggestion for this ?

Thanks
Lorenzo



TV-Server Version: MediaPortal 1.0.1
MediaPortal Version: MediaPortal 1.0.1
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3wide
Windows Version: Vista Ultimate SP1
CPU Type: Intel Core 2 Duo E4600, passive cooling
HDD: WD Scorpio 2.5" SATA
Memory: DDR2, 2x1GB
Motherboard: Intel DP35DP
Video Card: Radeon HD4350, passive cooling
Video Card Driver: Catalyst 8.12, AVIVO
Sound Card: Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio)
Sound Card AC3: optical out to Harman & Kardon AVR-235 amp
Sound Card Driver: 5762_5713_v68
1. TV Card: Floppy DTV DVB-C
1. TV Card Type: DVB-C
1. TV Card Driver: 4.4.5N
2. TV Card: Floppy DTV DVB-C
2. TV Card Type: DVB-C
2. TV Card Driver: 4.4.5N
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: Cyberlink powerDVD 7
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
h.264 Video Codec: Cyberlink powerDVD 7
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Zalman HD160 Plus
Cooling: Noctual 8cm fans x2, Scythe Ninja mini passive on CPU
Power Supply: Nexus Value 430W <-- the most silent I ever tried !!! Recommended +++
Remote: Microsoft MCE
TV: Sony KDL-40W4020AEP
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

 

[level20peon]

Do a clean install of windows and don't install any codec packs. Afterwards install everything you need to playback your movies manually one step at a time (eg. ffdshow, haali, subtitle decoder). See if the problem persists.


-level20peon

 

[lsandini]

Geez, a bit radical don't you think ? Besides, it's a clean XP install, with only a few things on top (daemon tools, powerDVD, CCCP, and others that have nothing to do with media playback.

Moreover, everything works fine, except for that little problem. I appreciate your suggestion, but I am sure there is something easier to try first.

Lorenzo

 

[level20peon]

Knock yourself out. You most probably wont be able to remove the codec pack without traces so the radical way is the only way to be sure.

You could use imaging software to take a system snapshot of a fresh install without any codec pack horrors. This way you can always rollback in case there are complications, like square symbols in subtitles


-level20peon

 

[lsandini]

The solution was not too complicated after all. I extracted the subtitles using MKVExtract, and noticed the finnish subs were corrupted.

So I downloaded a new set from Etusivu ? DivX Finland, converted the sub file to srt format, and merged the new subtitles into the original mkv. Done.

Lorenzo

 

[level20peon]

Well I didn't assume your files being corrupt Good thing you solved it.


-level20peon

 

[lsandini]

Well I didn't assume your files being corrupt Good thing you solved it.


-level20peon

Well the included subs were not corrupted so to say, but all "ä" and "ö" characters were missing in the sub files when extracted from the mkv.

On one MP client (Vista), the missing characters were visible as squares when watching the movie, so there was an indication to them having been being there, but when the same mkv files was viewed on another MP client (WinXP), the characters were also completely missing, no squares (no CCCP there, hehee).

Probably the subs were encoded with a different character code, who knows. And who cares ?

Lorenzo