Frequentely Asked Questions for VideoLAN Client
-$Id: FAQ,v 1.2 2001/11/12 11:37:30 massiot Exp $
+$Id: FAQ,v 1.13 2002/11/20 08:58:20 sam Exp $
1. Using VLC
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
+ 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
#@!£% *$@&§% !@# bloat ?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can run :
-vlc -I dummy myfile.mpg
+ 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
* Do you have a link from /dev/dvd to your real DVD device ? For instance
ln -s hdc /dev/dvd
-2.3 Running vlc pussycat.mpg doesn't do anything...
-------------------------------------------------
-Probably your MPEG-1 file doesn't have any system layer. This is common
-for MPEG-1 streams without any audio track. Currently VLC doesn't
-automatically detect this format, so you have to manually select it :
-vlc --input es pussycat.mpg
+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 -V sdl
-vlc -V x11
-Second, try with an unoptimized YUV transform :
-vlc --yuv yuv
-Third, change your screen depth and/or definition. It quite often helps.
+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).
2.7 Audio and video are out of sync
-----------------------------------
-This is not normal. Try using another output plug-in (for instance -A dsp),
+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 On some DVDs the subtitles are unreadable
----------------------------------------------
-This is a known bug and is being investigated.
+2.8 [REMOVED]
+-------------
-2.9 When I try to compile VLC, it breaks on unknown instructions in
-idctaltivec.c
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Unset your CFLAGS environment variable. For instance type
-export CFLAGS= ; ./configure
-Don't try to be cleverer than us :-).
-
-2.10 Sound volume is too low
+2.9 Sound volume is too low
----------------------------
-This is a known problem.
+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.
3. Ports and features
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>.
projects / vlc / blobdiff