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

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Tue, 7. Mar 06, 00:00

I thought I mentioned it in this thread, but maybe I am mistaken, there are a few files that do appear outdated on a default XP system. They exist in the actuall install pkg, but they don't get updated during the install. One is a Netscape DRM dll, the others are related to DX controllers, joysticks, etc. If I remember correctly there are different versions of winhlp32.exe in different locations in XP, the older one is in system32 and is ok.

In the end, you are not missing anything that everybody else isn't missing.
So all is ok with your machine.
Maybe Microsoft included them in the package but decided not to include them in the installer script or maybe they get installed with specific hardware, who knows. I never followed up with them on it, or looked into it any deeper on those few files. No worries. If I make an update I will make sure to clarify that in the future.

ww99 · Post by **ww99** » Tue, 7. Mar 06, 20:15

Have used the windows disk and finally reinstalled media player 10. However, I am still getting the audio problems. So anything else I can try or shall I just wait for the next patch.

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Tue, 7. Mar 06, 22:08

ww99 wrote:Have used the windows disk and finally reinstalled media player 10. However, I am still getting the audio problems. So anything else I can try or shall I just wait for the next patch.

Please post the picture of the Graph and also the attach to X3 files shown.

Coplann · Post by **Coplann** » Mon, 13. Mar 06, 19:36

just to say thanks.

I started to have the speech-bug after I installed another game.

I fixed the speech through installing the ACE codec pack.

so I had working speech again, but started to experience freezes all the time.

followed the instructions here and now have speech and no freezes anymore.

esd · Post by **esd** » Wed, 15. Mar 06, 19:10

So... this won't run on 98SE? Any idea on how to solve codec issues there?

GRANDADDYGRIND · Post by **GRANDADDYGRIND** » Thu, 16. Mar 06, 13:26

Hi think i have posted before but i'll try again.....

Have installed the DS viewer and the DSFM. Upon loading the DS viewer and trying to 'load the graph' i get a runtime error (2147217900 80040e14)
Also when i try the filechecker it does the same thing-

Have WinSp2
Have WMP10
Have Directx 9.c

Any help would be great as i really think i need this program
Cheers

Post by **CBJ** » Thu, 16. Mar 06, 13:28

Have you tried 1.4 yet? In all but the worst cases, it should make using MadBoris' tool unnecessary.

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Thu, 16. Mar 06, 19:24

CBJ wrote:Have you tried 1.4 yet? In all but the worst cases, it should make using MadBoris' tool unnecessary.

Alas the 1.4 patch has brought about what this tool really set out to do.
Fix peoples codec issues and bring to the forefront what was going on with the codecs.

As CBJ said...
The only point in using the tool from here on out is to test a directshow install where the tool will just confirm if bad directshow install is really a culprit, or also if you want to see what other files are still attaching to X3.

Their were about 5000 downloads of the tool but all good things must come to an end.

Glad I could help, and thanks to all for sending me thx & it fixed it messages along the way.

Original topic updated accordingly

esd · Post by **esd** » Fri, 17. Mar 06, 00:33

MadBoris wrote:Alas the 1.4 patch has brought about what this tool really set out to do.
Fix peoples codec issues and bring to the forefront what was going on with the codecs.

It's done exactly the opposite for me, and because I'm using 98SE your tool won't work. My game crashes whenever I fire my weapons.

Any idea how to fix it? (I have a dedicated TS thread down the page, but no-one seems to know)

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Fri, 17. Mar 06, 02:28

esd wrote:
MadBoris wrote:Alas the 1.4 patch has brought about what this tool really set out to do.
Fix peoples codec issues and bring to the forefront what was going on with the codecs.
It's done exactly the opposite for me, and because I'm using 98SE your tool won't work. My game crashes whenever I fire my weapons.

Any idea how to fix it? (I have a dedicated TS thread down the page, but no-one seems to know)

I'm still happy to help. Hopefully Windows XP and Windows 98 are handled differently by the WM installer included in the patch.

The weapons firing revolves around a codec that handles wave files.
It actually gets initialized when the first weapons are fired or another game event initializes it (all the other codecs are initialized by the game menu).
That atleast can guide you in the direction of "what" you are looking for.

If you are willing to put some time in this method it will work even on Windows98.
See my old thread on codecs.
Start reading at the paragraph that starts with - "If you realized your having issues after testing above here is the next step."
http://forum2.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=102791

Use the filemon tool, at the point iof firing weapons, towards the end of the filemon log you will see exactly which files (codecs it is initializing).
It also may be registry related, but we can look at that later if that's the case.
Please post some of it or PM me a link to the log and I will look at it, interpreting the results, the cause and solution still may be something I need to help with.

Have you tried reinstalling media player version for windows 98 from MS web site?

Whismerhill · Post by **Whismerhill** » Sat, 18. Mar 06, 07:58

hi MadBoris,
first let me introduce myself :
I'm the translator of the french version of this thread (very helpful by the way

)

currently a user has some issues with no speech in game (after 1.4)
and also has issues with DShow Viewer (which is the main reason that I post here) here is what he get:

DSV launches but both frames are white (either with or without X3 launched before).
Clicking "Load the Graph" results in this error :
execution error '-2147024894(80070002)':
The method '~' in the object '~' failed
Clicking on OK makes the program close

Running the file checker tool, he gets a list of codecs (after relaunching DSV)
Clicking on "Test For Mismatched Files" gives this error:
execution error '9':
Index is out of range (or beyond range ? )
Clicking on OK makes the program close

I tried to translate error messages to the best of my knowledge but it's not that easy.
sidenotes: Windows XP SP2 + WMP10 reinstalled

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Sat, 18. Mar 06, 12:09

I had no idea there was a translation, so very good of you to do that.

This persons problem is very unfortunate.
There are are a couple of errors with my program that do show up under different machine environments. I have tried to track down some actual fixes in the past, but was unsuccessful to resolve those problems. Alot of it seems to be around database components.

If previous history tells me anything it will not be worth our time to track down a solution on this error either. It's probably best that people focus attention on the fixing their actual game issue. People's endurance has limits.

I would have done the SP2 and WMP10 reinstall too like you mentioned, so where does that leave us....

There's a few things I can see happening but my experience with the new 1.4 code is very limited, I have done zero testing with it.
If I were to guess I would say there is a filter that is jumping up between the direct sound device and the wave parser. Or possibly the wave parser is being used but an onboard sound card is having problems with the configuration. There's always other possibilities.

In my initial topic there is a tool I mention called filemerit. It has the ability to some simple testing of codecs. Pressing the third icon that has a red exclamation will then list any problem codecs, or problem registry entries. Maybe that will help.
Also DSFMGR has a troubleshooting tab where someone can restore standard directx codecs with a button. I would try that and maybe reinstall wmp10 after that if necessary. If only someone with the same problems could run the Dshow Viewer tool, we could diagnose the problem and we would know what is causing it, but unfortunately the two cases I have been recently asked to help with the tool doesn't work one with windows 98, the other with errors. I hope that helps but I am a bit in the dark with the new issues as well.

mattius · Post by **mattius** » Sat, 18. Mar 06, 13:24

When I run Directshow File Manager it shows the following lines in Black:-

WMVideo Decoder DMO
WMVideo Advanced Decoder DMO
WMV Screen Decoder DMO
WNSpeech Decode DMO
WMAudio Decoder DMO
WMPro Over S/PDIF DMO

It says these are Unknown Modules but I reckon these are causing problems. Are they part Of Windows Media 10? I tried re-installing WM10 but did not help?????

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Sat, 18. Mar 06, 13:53

They are unknown because WMP10 is pretty new, and that program wasn't updated to recognize the way WMP10 registers it's codecs.

Once Vista and WMP 11 come around, I imagine programmers will put some time into updating their tools.

Whismerhill · Post by **Whismerhill** » Sun, 19. Mar 06, 16:33

thanks to you madboris
the user finally solved his problem although I don't really know the details
he finally managed to launch DSV successfully
my own guess is : he uninstalled/reinstalled a bunch of programs/codecs
and he solved his X3 problem with DSV

edit:
DSV = DirectShow Viewer

mattius · Post by **mattius** » Sun, 19. Mar 06, 22:09

What is dsv?

mattius · Post by **mattius** » Mon, 20. Mar 06, 09:20

Help - When I load Direct Show Viewer & select Load Graph I get the following:-

[ external image ]

mattius · Post by **mattius** » Tue, 21. Mar 06, 18:24

Strange because this is the same error I am getting in X3 1.4. Version 1.3 works fine????????

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Thu, 23. Mar 06, 17:49

Well, that's what the tool will confirm for people these days.
That indeed, your MS directshow configuration is messed up.

I would suggest reinstalling your latest service pack, latest DX9C and the latest media player.
If it's still a problem after that, post your dxdiag.
Let me know.

mattius · Post by **mattius** » Thu, 23. Mar 06, 19:54

Just to add to the nightmare my DVDR drive gave up on me whilst trying to sort this. Replaced. Reverted a codecs, (Mpeg Layer3 Decoder), priority that I had inadvertantly changed by mistake earlier. I then removed Sony & Pinnacle directories from Program files, as I now longer have any progs from them installed on my PC. 1.4 now seems to work!