[X3] A tool to fix your directshow codecs (sound problems and performance)

[8_bit]

Hi all,

Dunno if this has been answered but when I click "Load Graph" on this, the first time I've tried DShow Viewer, I get some error boxes:

---------------------------
DShow Viewer
---------------------------
A problem with your configuration prevented a directshow graph from being built

Rendering error detected in rendering MP3 -

If you made some changes go back and undo them.

If this is the first run of the program, it apparently detected a major issue.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

then

---------------------------
DShow Viewer
---------------------------
A problem with your configuration prevented a directshow graph from being built

Rendering error detected in rendering MPEG

If you made some changes go back and undo them.

If this is the first run of the program, it apparently detected a major issue.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

then i get

---------------------------
DShow Viewer
---------------------------
A problem with your configuration prevented a directshow graph from being built

Rendering error detected in rendering SPEEC

If you made some changes go back and undo them.

If this is the first run of the program, it apparently detected a major issue.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

followed by

---------------------------
DShow Viewer
---------------------------
A problem with your configuration prevented a directshow graph from being built

Rendering error detected in rendering SOUND

If you made some changes go back and undo them.

If this is the first run of the program, it apparently detected a major issue.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

and finally

---------------------------
DShow Viewer
---------------------------
A problem with your configuration prevented a directshow graph from being built

Rendering error detected in rendering MPEG

If you made some changes go back and undo them.

If this is the first run of the program, it apparently detected a major issue.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

and I get nothing at all in the right hand side of the main window, just the list of filters on the left. When I attach to X3 as per the instructions (the aspiring explorer bit) I get a number of reds, the only codec related ones appearing to be MPEG Layer-3 Audio Decoder and Unimodem Serial Wave Driver.

Worth noting that the game had been running apparently fine until I updated my ATI Catalyst drivers from 5.13 to 6.1. I did uninstall the drivers, go into safe mode, used Driver Cleaner to erase them all, rebooted normally, installed new Cats, rebooted then rebooted again to be safe.

Now what happens is i load into the game, I get the audio for the DeepSilver and Egosoft splash movies but dont see any video. When I go into the menu the jumpgate effects behind the large X on the right are missing. On loading a save game or starting a new game, it seems fine until I try and do something that involves the little display in the top right so that's comms or trading that I can think of, then the game hangs forcing a reset button jab mostly or sometimes I can get task manager up with Control Alt and Delete and kill it that way.

I did use driverclean to get the 6.1 Catalyst drivers out and reinstall the 5.13's but it hasn't made any difference, my favourite game still broken

Anyone shed some light on this?

TIA

EDIT: changed some wording for clarity

[Tracker001]

Open Direct Show Filter Mgr.
Tag "Troubleshooting".
And then tag "Restore Standard Dirct X codecs".

It has worked . So I can start the "diog" all over agine.

[MadBoris]

For that to occur on the first run on all sound types shows something is pretty off with the DirectShow on your PC.
I would try reinstalling Media Player 10 and Directx9c.

[Njerzatov]

Hello Boris!

I'm using Windows Media Player version 10.00.00.3646
I also use DirectX 9.0c

However, DShow Viewer gives an error when I press "Load the Graph".

Code: Select all

Run-time Error '-2147217900 (80040e14)':

Onbekend

Perhaps you know what I am doing wrong or how I can get this to work. Thank you for your time

[MadBoris]

Hello Boris!

I'm using Windows Media Player version 10.00.00.3646
I also use DirectX 9.0c

However, DShow Viewer gives an error when I press "Load the Graph".

Code: Select all

Run-time Error '-2147217900 (80040e14)':

Onbekend

Perhaps you know what I am doing wrong or how I can get this to work. Thank you for your time

Hey Njerzatov,

Unfortunately, I don't have a solution for that error. It revolves around some file versioning on your PC or the way components are registered, but I haven't been able to track it down in the couple cases I've looked at.

Fortunately the codec issue won't be a problem in the future patches. If you believe you are having "big" codec problems you may want to look for the beta patch.
Are you having any symptoms you are looking to fix, or were you just using it for maintenance to look and see. I may have an answer if you give me the symptoms.

[8_bit]

For that to occur on the first run on all sound types shows something is pretty off with the DirectShow on your PC.
I would try reinstalling Media Player 10 and Directx9c.

I tried to reinstall DX9c off the X3 DVD but it basically flashed through the whole thing and didn't do much cos it was already on the machine. I install 9c as part of SP2 for XP Pro usually.

It didn't make any difference to X3 either so I got the latest Media Player and installed that. Now X3 works again but Windows Media Player won't play any music at all or play any of the audio on any of my avi's and mpg's etc!! VLC and iTunes seem to be OK tho.

However all the little videos in X3 in the top right hand corner (like comms, trading etc) have always been and still are broken, at least as far as I remember at least since I got my 24" widescreen monitor and been playing in 1920x1200. I put it down to a problem with the screen being in 16:10 format instead of 4:3. Hopefully egosoft will sort the codec thing out as suggested in this thread.

I'm in codec nightmare territory here, considering a full XP reinstall tomorrow and being very careful with codecs from now on. I did try a bunch of different PVR software with my new TV tuner card, possibly something I chucked on and then off the machine has borked the codecs, normally I never have any problems with them.

Thanks for your help Boris. When I get it cleaned up I'll look at your program again to see if I can improve performance with it.

niall

[blueglasses]

I've just experienced an issue directly connected to the Windows Media Player (Classic version, but this will surely be the same with WMP10) and which should be included in the very first post.

Since i've adjusted the codec's merits, my media player classic won't play avi files automatically anymore - a windows dialog always appears where i have to choose the program i want to open the avi file with. That's no big deal, but this seems to be connected to the codecs merits. Because, later after i had reassigned some filetypes within media player classic to be opened with this player, i couldn't hear station announcements and other speech related sounds in X3 anymore. A quick check with DShow Viewer revealed that the media player had changed the codecs merits resulting in X3-incompatible codecs being used.

Perhaps this is useful for some people. I'll stick with VLC now.

[Akuhalo]

Possible releasing a version for us who dont use SP2? I really hate SP2 because it causes a lot of problems with my VisualStudios programs and causes MAJOR fps issues with lots of games that I play and write.

Any who I read your guide carefully and did the adjustments manually... (sorry about the reverse engeneering thing but this audio glitch was driving me insane!). Game runs like a charm now. I never realized how big of a pain in the ass codecs can be, but Ive had similar problems like this in other games.

Thanks for the guide and software, much appriciated.

[DedTheros]

I've installed Both programs, i can get Directshow filter manager to work but when i try to get the viewer to get a graph going all i get is a runtime error anyone had this issue?

[MadBoris]

Akuhalo,

SP2 is not required for the codec part of the program, only the file checker, which isn't really a big deal right now.

DedTheros,

If you mean the same error as a few posts up, yes it's known, I just don't have a workaround.

[DedTheros]

Ah, yes i apologize, i totally missed his post but yes that was what i was refering too. So no go for me? i have a feeling this would work...having to download sp2 and media 10 for the requirements....being as i'm on a 28.8k modem should i still give it a go and try again after i install those two items?

Whenever i loadup a game it normally hangs and i hear the docking voice repeat the first two words or so a few times before i can do anything...and on occasion the game will hang up during a fight...also i really have a tough time in sectors that have a buttload of smaller asteroids though i think the last two may be my system or possibly ram not sure

[MadBoris]

Onboard sound isn't the best for games, fine for music.
So you maybe dealing with issues due to the soundcard fighting for resources.

[DedTheros]

yeah, no other soundcard really...though i think i have some ghetto ones in storage somewhere hah. But a mod pretty much directed me to your post and i figured i'd give it a try....thanks for the info man. If you have any other info / hints i'd sure appreciate it though. Thanks again.

[Bretters]

Hello, Brought X3 yesterday found it slow and tried the DS viewer found i had a huge list of red codecs dunno how to go about this

Im running:
Windows XP home edition
3.06 GHz P4 with HT
512 Mb RAM
Geforce 6200

Any ideas??

[MadBoris]

The fact is, it will be slow compared to what you are used to. It stresses fast machines. Your video card and only 512MB RAM are really minimum for the game so the slow issue will still remain to a degree.

You should try the benchmark demo to compare your score against others with your hardware, look for the sticky in the Universe forum.

As far as the red goes with the codecs, the initial topic mentions to show a picture, that would be a good start to see what you have.
Make sure you have the latest patches.

[PsychoticMonkey]

Thx for that, much appreciated.

[vorius]

Is this tool any help for the Phased Shockwave Generator lag problem?

edit:

ok I loaded up this tool and ran the game in windowed mode, then hit 'get files'.

I got a list with a bunch of red entries (screen shot provided later)

I tried running the directshow manager and set the MPEG stream splitter to 'Preferred' as recommended and then rbeoot my computer. It solved my PSG problem! I was able to fire it without a crippling lag effect.

Oddly enough through I went to attach to X3 again and get files and I still had all those same files in red.

But so far looks like I won't be having a problem with PSG's

Thanks!

[Bryce777]

I am a novice with the CPU. This is way beyond my understanding and I have the cut scene CTD and loop problem.

[MadBoris]

I am a novice with the CPU. This is way beyond my understanding and I have the cut scene CTD and loop problem.

I would suggest you try the 1.31b beta patch then. It is also a sticky in the forum. Make sure to read the opening topic by Burnit in that thread.

[g04tn4d0]

Hmmm... the only thing that shows up when I use the application is APPHELP.DLL which is apparently something to do with the Application Compatibility Client.