-Frequentely Asked Questions for VideoLAN Client
-$Id: FAQ,v 1.19 2003/01/13 15:14:45 alexis Exp $
-
-1. Using VLC
-
-1.1 How do I read a DVD?
------------------------
-Just launch vlc and use the "open disc" command from the graphical
-interface. In case of trouble, you may want to use the command line
-interface:
- vlc dvd:/dev/dvd
-
-1.2 How do I read an encrypted DVD?
-----------------------------------
-It's exactly the same as for a normal DVD. You will need write access to
-/dev/dvd, because of the key negociation process.
-
-If you compiled your VLC by hand, please bear in mind that you also need
-to install libdvdcss. It can be downloaded from the VideoLAN website. It
-used to be distributed in the same package as VLC, but now you must install
-them seperately.
-
-1.3 How do I switch to full screen display?
-------------------------------------------
-Press 'f' to toggle fullscreen mode. Note that not all video output
-devices support full screen.
-
-1.4 How do I hide the mouse cursor?
-----------------------------------
-It should disappear after a few seconds if you stop moving the mouse.
-
-1.5 How do I use vlc if I don't want to install Gnome and all this
-#@!£% *$@&§% !@# bloat?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-You can run:
- vlc --intf dummy myfile.mpg
-Most commands are available from the command line, see vlc --help for
-more information.
-
-1.6 VLC eats my buffer cache, how to I use raw device?
------------------------------------------------------
-If you don't know what is a raw device, don't even read this answer :-).
-There is an experimental support for raw devices in libdvdcss. It needs
-that you set up a raw device pointing to your DVD device (under Linux,
-use the "raw" utility). Then pass the raw device as second argument, for
-instance:
- vlc dvd:/dev/dvd@/dev/raw0
-
-1.7 How do I use VLC as a client for VLS/VLMS streaming?
--------------------------------------------------------
-First you must set up a VLS or VLMS stream. Please refer to the
-documentation of these programs. Then start VLC:
- vlc udp:
-You shouldn't need any option. If you're paranoid and want to control
-everything, here is the exact syntax:
- vlc udp:[<server>[:<server port>]][@[<bind address>][:<bind port>]]
-
-1.8 How do I uninstall / reinstall VLC?
---------------------------------------
-Why would you want to? ;)
-
-If you're using a source distribution of VLC, for example a tarball or
-the CVS, then you have probably used "make install" to install the
-compiled VLC. To remove it just "make uninstall". If you want to
-install a newer version than the currently installed one, you should
-first uninstall the first one. If you deleted the original source tree,
-a "make uninstall" in the newer tree should still work.
-
-For binary packages, remove old packages first and install the new ones
-(normally this should be handled automagically by your sytem).
-
-1.9 Debian: what should I put in my sources.list for videolan?
--------------------------------------------------------------
-deb http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian $(ARCH)/
-deb-src http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian sources/
-
-1.10 How can I save my VLC configuration?
-----------------------------------------
-Currently, the only way to save the configuration options in VLC is through
-the preferences menu in one of the graphical user interface plugins.
-
-1.11 Where does VLC store it's config file?
-------------------------------------------
-Currently, a config file is created on a per user basis (there is no global
-configuration file). If you modify the available options in VLC and save the
-new configuration, then a configuration file will be created in your user
-directory. The precise location of this file depends on the Operating System
-you are running:
-
-- Unices (linux, etc...): "~/.videolan/vlcrc"
-- Windows: "Application Data\videolan\vlcrc"
-
-
-2. Troubleshooting
-
-2.1 When I start vlc, I don't have any interface coming...
--------------------------------------------------------
-If you installed a binary package, make sure you also installed an
-interface package such as vlc-gtk or vlc-qt. If you installed from
-source, make sure the development package for gtk or qt is correctly
-installed (often gtk-dev or gtk-devel) and recompile.
-
-2.2 Clicking on "disc" in the interface doesn't do anything
------------------------------------------------------------
-Wait a few seconds. Key cracking can take much time on some discs. If it
-still doesn't work, you can have a more verbose output using "vlc -vvvvv".
-Here are a few things to check for:
-* Did you install the libdvdcss package?
-* Do you have write access to your DVD device? For instance:
-chmod 666 /dev/hdc
-* Does your kernel log contain line about your DVD device?
-* Do you have a link from /dev/dvd to your real DVD device? For instance
-ln -s hdc /dev/dvd
-
-2.3 [REMOVED]
--------------
-
-2.4 The video runs but the picture is distorted...
------------------------------------------------
-There is probably a problem with the output layer. There are several
-ways of troubleshooting it. First, try with another output plug-in, for
-instance:
-vlc --vout sdl
-vlc --vout x11
-Second, change your screen depth and/or definition. It quite often helps.
-Lastly, have a look at your XFree86 video driver (nVidia for instance
-releases optimized drivers for its boards).
-
-2.5 Video is choppy...
--------------------
-Your system is too slow to decode all pictures. It might be that your
-CPU basically isn't fast enough. It can also be that the subsystem is
-misconfigured/misdriven, this happens for example under Redhat. Here are
-some elements to improve speed:
-* Turn on DMA on your DVD device, for instance:
-hdparm -X34 -d1 /dev/dvd
-* Upgrade to the latest XFree86 version and the latest driver for your
-video board ; check that the xvideo plug-in is effectively used with
-vlc -vvvv
-* Kill other applications running...
-
-2.6 Audio is choppy...
--------------------
-This is not normal ; it is a known problem and is being investigated.
-
-2.7 Audio and video are out of sync
------------------------------------
-This is not normal. Try using another output plug-in (for instance --aout dsp),
-kill esd or artsd if they are running... This is a known problem and
-is being investigated.
-
-2.8 [REMOVED]
--------------
-
-2.9 Sound volume is too low
-----------------------------
-You can raise it with --volume commandline switch or in the preferences
-window of your graphical interface.
-
-2.10 I have no image under DirectX
-----------------------------------
-Check that your video card drivers are in their latest version and that
-your DirectX is up-to-date.
-
-2.11 VLC crashes
-----------------
-Increase the verbosity level (either in the preferences or with a
-"-vvvv" command-line option) and look at the debug messages (on the
-terminal or in the Messages window).
-
-2.12 I can only play a DVD as root
-----------------------------------
-Check that as user you have write access to your DVD drive / device.
-
-2.13 I'm stuck with option xxx, how do I reset options?
-------------------------------------------------------
-Under unices, remove your ~/.videolan/vlcrc; for Windows, remove vlcrc
-in the videolan subfolder of your "Application Data" directory.
-
-2.14 I don't have access to the GUI anymore
--------------------------------------------
-If you change the default interface module in the preferences menu to a non
-GUI module (ie. to a command line interface) and then save the configuration,
-the only way to get VLC to show a GUI again is to run it directly from the
-command line.
-For instance on Windows, you need to open a dos command box, go to the
-directory where you installed VLC (usually
-c:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VideoLAN Client) and then type "vlc --intf win32"
-You will then be able to modify the configuration again and save it.
-
-2.15 I have just upgraded to VLC 0.4.5, and now I don't have any sound
-with the streams coming from the VLS !
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-This is a known problem. VLC 0.4.5 and later are now compliant to general
-usage regarding A/52 sound, and the new behavior is incompatible with the
-previous one. VLS version 0.4.0 and later now fixes this problem. If, for
-a reason or another, you wish to keep VLS 0.3.3, you can still read those
-streams if you launch VLC (0.4.5 or later) with --vls-backwards-compat.
-
-2.16 NO VIDEO!! or NO AUDIO !!
----------------------------
-DON'T PANIC! Use the verbose mode of vlc to search the problem, you may
-either set the verbosity option in the interface preferences or use
-the "-v" command line switch to increase the number of report/error
-messages given by vlc. If you are not using a terminal, use the Messages
-window in the View menu.
-
-
-3. Ports and features
-
-3.1 MacOS X port
-
-3.1.1 Does VLC support the ATI DVD hardware acceleration cards?
---------------------------------------------------------------
-Currently it doesn't. We'd be glad to support them, but we lack technical
-information on them.
-
-3.1.2 [REMOVED]
----------------
-
-3.2 Win32 port
-
-3.2.2 When moving the focus to another window, VLC network input stops
-working properly !
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-This is a known problem with Win 95-class systems. Upgrade to an NT-class
-system.
-
-3.3 Planned ports
-
-3.3.1 Do you have plans for a MacOS 9 / OS/2 / &{#!@}~ port?
------------------------------------------------------------
-No, nobody reported to be actually working on a MacOS 9 port. If you
-feel like you could write it, we would of course welcome it. Currently,
-the developers are more interested in supporting the latest Operating
-Systems and completing the functionalities.
-
-3.3.2 Does VLC have dxr2 / dxr3 cards support?
----------------------------------------------
-This support is currently being developed.
-
-3.3.3 Does VLC support RTP?
---------------------------
-Yes. Just use vlc rtp:@<mcast addr>:<local port>.
-
-3.3.4 Does VLC support DVD from all zones?
------------------------------------------
-VLC uses libdvdcss to read all DVD, disregarding their zone. All zones
-are supported without any constraint. However, libdvdcss might not be
-legal in your country.
-
-3.3.5 How can I take screenshots?
---------------------------------
-This is currently unsupported, but will be in a near future. The latest
-developments concern recording the video and the audio to a file.
-However, under XFree, you may use the "x11" video output to take normal
-screen capture of the video displayed by vlc.
-
-4. Legal concerns
-
-4.1 May I use the VideoLAN logo?
--------------------------------
-You may use the VideoLAN logo using the following copyright:
-
- Copyright (c) 1996-2002 VideoLAN. This logo or a modified version
- may be used or modified by anyone to refer to the VideoLAN project
- or any product developed by the VideoLAN team, but does not indicate
- endorsement by the project.
-
-4.2 May I redistribute VLC?
---------------------------
-You may distribute an original or modified version of VideoLAN as long
-as you conform to the terms of its license. It is the GNU General Public
-License Version 2 (referred herein as GPL), and it is in the file named
-COPYING in our products.
-The simpliest way to conform to the GPL is to accompany the product you
-want to distribute with its sources. For example, if you plan to
-distribute the binary version in its 0.4.6 version you should include:
-
- http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/0.4.6/vlc-0.4.6.tar.gz
- http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/0.4.6/contrib/
-
-You don't need to bother explaining where the sources are, but the
-sources have to share the same media as the products.
-
-They are other ways to conform to the GPL, but this should be the
-simplest because it does not rely on a contract.
-
-There is one additional issue you need to take care of. The VLC
-binary from our website can also read encrypted DVDs with the help of
-the libdvdcss library. Its use is controversial in a few countries
-such as the United States because of a law called the DMCA. If you are
-unsure about the legality of using and distributing this library in
-your country, please consult your lawyer.
-
-5. Miscellaneous
-
-5.1 How may I help your project?
--------------------------------
-You might either contribute time, material, or money. We are also always
-needing some translators. You will find all information you need at
-<http://videolan.org/contribute.html>.
-
-5.2 Why are your mailing-lists and your website in english?
-----------------------------------------------------------
-VideoLAN's developers come from all around the world and english is
-the only language they can use to communicate together. Although great
-care is given to the translation of our softwares in various languages,
-maintaining translations of our documentation and website costs too much
-time than we can afford.
-
+The FAQ is in SGML format under doc/faq/ with an appropriate Makefile to
+build it.
projects / vlc / blobdiff