Removing Both Media Players + Codecs...

[jmbattle]

Hey folks!

Well, I'm so close to having the perfect, stripped-down XP setup it's not true!

Testing under VPC, I select all components for removal (yes, including all the Media Player stuff and codecs), and just integrate some original XP drivers and VPC drivers from previous driver backups. Note that I *do not* use the 'Keep Media Player compatibility' option in nLite 99.8b5, as I gather this simply registers an ActiveX .ocx class to prevent the UI controls breaking in Mozilla/Firefox.

From there, I use titou2k's WMP10_Stream&Codecs.exe package, as detailed in this thread.

Next, I install Firefox and copy the npdsplay.dll plugin to it's 'plugins' folder.

Using this bare configuration, I am able to play all streaming Windows Media, such as the BBC's wonderful online content in Firefox, with the attractive WMP9 interface.

However, the strange things is - and this is the killer - I cannot play exactly the same media using Media Player Classic; either an .asx playlist or the mms://... *.wmv file that it points to. Locally downloaded .wmv files however, play perfectly.

Can anyone help me out here? I'm so close...

Cheers,

James

EDIT: You will need to correct the final MMS:// link manually...

[jmbattle]

Well, it's taken me bloody ages, but I think I've sussed it out...

The Mozilla/Firefox plugin must use a different method of streaming media to MPC, because the standalone player requires three extra files:

drmclien.dll

dxmasf.dll

strmdll.dll

Copy these somewhere (such as the /system32 folder), or place them in the nLite 'keep' box. Next, register the 'dxmasf.dll' file from the 'run' box:

regsvr32 dxmasf.dll

...and all being well, you should now be able to play streaming Windows Media content in standalone players. Lovely.

Of course, I probably wouldn't have to have done any of this faffing around, had I not removed 'Media Player 6.4' in the first place, but for those striving for the cleanest, bearest setup, these steps may come in handy.

Perhaps titou2k wouldn't mind updating the codec pack again...?

Cheers,

James

[titou2k]

EDIT Ok i will see, what i can do.

[titou2k]

@jmbattle

Could you send me (if you have it) english version of dxmasf.dll and strmdll.dll?

I use french version in this test package.

Changelog:

Updated each files in their last version.

Removed wmpshell.dll which put WMP command in context menu.

Removed wmidx.dll. It seems that it is not usefull.

Added your 3 files.

[OCedHrt]

English versions. I used dxmasf.dll from my XP SP2 cd since it wasn't in the WMP10 installer. I got the other file from my system32.

[titou2k]

thanks OCedHrt.

I updated the package (full english now) here.

[jmbattle]

Thanks titou2k!

Do you think it will be possible to slipstream these files into the I386 folder and automatically register them somehow?

Cheers,

James

[titou2k]

It should be possible.

Copy files in i386

Put lines in dosnet.inf and txtsetup.sif

Make a Components in SYSOC.inf to register them?

or

Use cmdlines.txt?

or

Hive?

or

?

I don't know which are the best and if it will work.

[titou2k]

Someone give me this site with stream. He can't pay it in firefox.

I am not firefox user so i tested it in IE and it's OK.

Then i installed firefox, and i did some quick tests.

- BBC stream plays great

- given stream site doesn't work

jmbattle or others, could you test this stream with firefox?

[Xable]

Hello titou2k,

no streaming media works for me! in firefox or ie.

Just to be clear i have removed player and codecs with nlite, put npdsplay.dll in plugins folder and instaled your pack. I think this is all thats needed!

The bbc asks if i want to listen in the stand alone realplayer, i say yes, Media Player Classic opens but says "Cannot render the file"

The other site looks like this Screenshot

[titou2k]

BBC stream: why realplayer? You should test with WMV video stream, like BBC News Headlines

and for the other site, this is the same for me. Ok

[jmbattle]

titouk, hmmm I didn't look terribly closely at the site, but was unable to view the video using my current Firefox installation either. I think it could simply be a case of the site only working with IE - perhaps it uses some ActiveX controls? Either way, I am not terribly worried - I can view 99% of online content using Firefox, and expect compatibility to improve in the future; indeed, Yahoo recently announced it's media content will soon support non-IE browsers.

Just out of interest, why have you reverted back to IE?!

Neanderthal, I assume you have also installed the Real codecs, using a pack such as RealAlternative? titou2k's codec pack only installs the files required for Windows Media content.

Cheers,

James

[titou2k]

@jmbattle

ok thanks for testing. I will test with normal SP2 without removing anything.

EDIT Test Result: You are right, the stream should not be compatible with firefox

In fact, I never used firefox, only for some tests. I Prefer Maxthon (IE)

[jmbattle]

titou2k, no problem bud - happy to test!

In fact, I'm seriously considering putting together some sort of nLite codecs package that consists of *just* the files required to play WMA/WMV, RealMedia and QT content in Firefox/MPC.

I know there are several codec packages already out there, but I'm sure they are not as clean or compact as they could be, with regard to extraneous files and registry entries.

Cheers,

James

[Zoofield]

that'd be just fine.