Video playback hassles

[pibloktok]

I have some peculiar problems trying to play video files on my T42 thinkpad. I am not new to Linux or to Puppy, and I have not experienced this on other systems. The system has a pentium 1.7g cpu, 768mb ram, and a Radeon Mobility 7500 graphics card.

The basic problem is that when playing video files in any format in gxine or mplayer, I get no video (solid blue in window where it would display). It acts otherwise like it is playing and the audio plays. I don't think it is a driver issue, and the system specs are worthy of the task. I have installed the mplayer_codecs_full package. The weird thing (and I think the essential clue) is that if I click twice on either the file icon or on the gxine icon (which of course causes two windows to open), the second window to open does display the video, and that window will continue to do so for subsequently opened files. I have used Puppy 431, puppy 400, Teenpup, and Slitaz, all with the same symptoms. GeexBox and Windows play video files without problems.

I have searched this forum and the internet at-large and not found reference to this problem. Any Ideas?

[looseSCREWorTWO]

Your computer specs are good for running Puppy, but it can be tricky at times to find the best version of Puppy. You could give the Puppy 431 Retros a try. They have the same programs as 431, but are built around different Linux Kernels, which might "get along" better with your system.

http://ftp.nluug.nl/ftp/pub/os/Linux/di ... modems.iso
md5sum be0a741dc9d29795250441546b473e84 pup-431-k2.6.21.7-scsi-intel_modems.iso

http://ftp.nluug.nl/ftp/pub/os/Linux/di ... modems.iso
md5sum 64e1e1d973cd1a1b827813c9a5b59fab pup-431-k2.6.25.16-intel_modems.iso

[abushcrafter]

In the prefs of the media players try different video drivers.

[pibloktok]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to wait a couple of days until I can try the retro puppy. I tried changing the drivers in preferences, but it didn't help. I don't think that's the problem - remember that the video displays perfectly in the second window to open if I double-click and open two windows. Obviously I can use this as a workaround if I want to watch video, but it's annoying and embarrasing and it should not happen.

[lapis]

but it's annoying and embarrasing

I get annoying but embarrassing?

If you have Htop (easy to install if you haven't) then have a look at the commandlines for the actual processes running both video player windows and see if they are the same.