Help with GameEx Play DVD & Radio

[spadaman]

Hello,

I am new to the forum and GameEx. I downloaded and used GameEx for a while and decided to register.

I did a lot of work setting up my menus and organizing my media to best suit my needs.

But now I'm interested in more. I want to play DVD's directly from GameEx and I would like to set up a few radio stations.

When I have a DVD in the drive, selecting Play DVD in GameEx just goes to a black screen. Sometimes it beeps and then returns to the GameEx Play DVD screen and sometimes it hangs the whole system, locking my keyboard and mouse and I'm unable to even use task manager to end process on what ever is hanging. I have FFDSHOW installed as well VLC player and I am able to play most DVD's on my system without GameEx.

DVD Settings

DVD Playback:...........Yes

DVD MPEG 2 Codec:.......ArcSoft Video Decoder (FFDSHOW is not an option for some reason)

Use VMR9/EVR:...........No

DVD Use FFDSHOW:........Yes

Enable DVD From Disk:...Yes

DVD From Disk Path/s:...my DVD Burns Folder

Use External Player:....No

External Player CMD:....(left blank)

I have not tried to set up any radio stations yet, however, none of the pre-configured stations play. Selecting play station from the Play station screen just causes the menu to animate away and then immediately animate back into view. I have no idea about this one.

Any assistance or guidence anyone in the forum can give would be greatly appreciated.

[Draco1962]

I recommend uninstalling FFDSHOW and downloading the Shark007 codecs pack appropriate for your OS (If you are running WIN 7 x64, there are two you will need to download for both 64 and 32-bit flavors) for starters and see if this remedies your issue.

[spadaman]

I have uninstalled FFDSHOW and installed the shark007 vista codec pack, as I have XP, as you suggested.

It did not fix any issues, in fact it created more.

Now I can not play DVD's at all, inside or out of gameEx.

If I am in gameEx and put a DVD in the drive it hangs gameEx, no response from the keyboard or mouse, however music continues to play.

If I remove the disk from the drive, I can again use the keyboard and mouse.

I uninstalled VLC player and then reinstalled it. This did not fix anything either.

log.txt

[Draco1962]

Please post a copy of your GameEx log.txt file immediately following your attempt to launch a DVD.

[headkaze]

What is your MPEG 2 Codec set to now?

[spadaman]

DVD Settings

DVD Playback:...........Yes

DVD MPEG 2 Codec:.......FFDSHOW Video Decoder (ArcSoft Video Decoder is the only other option listed)

Use VMR9/EVR:...........No

DVD Use FFDSHOW:........Yes

Enable DVD From Disk:...Yes

DVD From Disk Path/s:...my DVD Burns Folder

Use External Player:....No

External Player CMD:....(left blank)

the attached log file is right after trying to play a DVD, but with DVD in the drive. I am unable to do anything in gameEx with a disk in the drive.

the logDVD file is right after placing a DVD in the drive.

log.txt

logDVD.txt

[headkaze]

Did you try setting the codec to the "ArcSoft Video Decoder" again?

[spadaman]

just tried the ArcSoft Video Decoder again and the result is no different.

I did discover that is seems that after some time, and the drive stops attempting to read the DVD, I am able to use my keyboard and mouse in gameEx again.

log.txt

[Adultery]

Its throwing out that protected memory error again. You have tried a reboot right?

[Draco1962]

Also, I believe that Use VMR9/EVR should be set to Yes.

[spadaman]

I had restarted, yes.

I went and set VMR9/EVR to yes.

restarted again.

Now after putting a dvd into the drive, I have to wait about 3 mins before the dvd drive activity light goes off, then I am able to navigate gameEx. At that point selecting Play DVD goes to a black screen, 'DVD player', states original aspect ratio, and then just remains black.

My HDD activity light goes crazy.

I am able to hit back or esc to return to gameEx.

log.txt

[Adultery]

You must be headed in the right direction though. The COM error and memory error are gone.

You can play DVDs in WMP right?

[Draco1962]

Just out of curiosity, are you running an Nlite version or similarly stripped down version of XP? Also, would like to know if you are running through onboard video vs. a separate video card.

[spadaman]

No i am not able to play them in WMP.

I only ever even tried playing DVD in VLC but after installing shark007 I have not been able to play them in VLC either. and even after uninstalling and reinstalling VLC still no.

DVD Settings

DVD Playback:...........Yes

DVD MPEG 2 Codec:.......ArcSoft Video Decoder

Use VMR9/EVR:...........Yes

DVD Use FFDSHOW:........Yes

Enable DVD From Disk:...Yes

DVD From Disk Path/s:...my DVD Burns Folder

Use External Player:....No

External Player CMD:....(left blank)

got the attached error screen of txt and its corresponding log file.

I dont know, maybe I should have gotten this error having my codec be ArcSoft Video Decoder and DVD Use FFDSHOW set to yes.

error.txt

log.txt

[spadaman]

as far as I know it is a standard install of xp pro sp3.

I am on integrated video.

[Adultery]

Well if it doesn't work in WMP it isn't going to work in GameEx either. You gotta have something windows related going on.

[Adultery]

Isn't the DVD disk path supposed to be your physical DVD drive?

By your description you have it pointed to a folder. At least that's how I thought it was supposed to work.

[Draco1962]

I think we need to get this setup down to the basics. First, I want to recommend starting with the Shark007 codecs Vista pack. It has FFDSHOW included. Second, I am beginning to think that we may be butting heads against a possible driver issue. With that being said, I think we need to know if you are running a special keyboard and/or mouse. If so, do you have the latest drivers installed? It is possible that reinstalling them might help, even if they are the latest. If you have a spare video card about, you might try installing it and disabling the integrated video.

As Adultery said, if you cannot get a DVD running in Windows through Windows Media Player outside of GameEx, then why would it be expected to run through GameEx?

You may want to review this article and follow the troubleshooting steps it provides.

[spadaman]

I understood that setting to be the path to your burned DVD iso's so that the 'Enable DVD From Disk' feature above will know where to find your iso's.

Ill try adding my DVD drive letter to the paths though and see what happens.

[Adultery]

Honestly I think one of us is misunderstanding a feature. I really thought that was for physical disks and not ISOs. An ISO would require a loader and a command line.

DVD from disk would be a DVD that's on a disk, no? I mean it makes sense in my head but not by my rig so...

Edit: Guess I,m the one who doesn't get it! Lol!

[Draco1962]

"The path to your DVD movies. For ISO support ensure you install ISO Support when installing GameEx." When you installed GameEx did you select ISO Mounting Support?

[Adultery]

Ahh well what do ya know? Good spot Draco!

[spadaman]

Hey guys,

Thank you all for your responses. I haven't been able to play with the system for a while but figured something out last night.

I followed everyone's suggestions and also the tutorial suggested for troubleshooting the no DVD playback.

Then a thought crossed my mind 'let me see if this drive even reads a disk.'

I put a DVD in the drive and looked at My Computer, the drive title never changed to the title of the disk. Double clicked, could not access it. Put a CD in the drive, same thing.

So I pulled the drive and switched it with another DVD drive from another system. sure enough, everything now works.

As I stated earlier in this thread, I was able to play DVD's in VLC player before all this, so it seems some where along the line my drive burned out on me.

with the new drive installed I am able to play DVD'd from WMP, VLC and GameEx.

I know, I know, I should have thought to check the drive earlier but it worked before so I didnt think to check until everything else failed. Live and learn.

Anyway, I am still having the radio issue where none of the pre-configured stations work so I'm not sure if I should mark this topic RESOLVED and start a new topic for the radio issue or should we continue to work on that here in this topic. Any suggestions on that?

Thanks again guys.

[Adultery]

You can leave it unresolved until we figure out your streaming radio issue. Refresh our memory as to what happens when you try to play a station, and please post your log after you try one.