Slow Video Playback under W98SE

[kukris]

Whenever I play a video file on my Windows 98SE, I have very slow playback, almost frame by frame.

On the same machine I also have W2k installed where the video playback is normal. Both OS have DirectX 9.0c, same graphic card driver and codecs installed. There are no unnecessary processes in the background. I use Media Player Classic 6.4.8.4 to play videos.

Has anyone a solution for this?

[Guest Jlo555]

Download new codecs. (I know what you said in your post, but for me, downloading new codecs usually works.) Sometimes it can be a driver as well, most likely the video driver. But that really sounds like a codec issue. I suggest you download the latest version of the "k-lite codec pack". (Search for it on Google.) OR you can see what type of codec the video is using and download the latest version of that one.

[Fredledingue]

First tell us what codecs it is.

Second be aware that DivX6 is not compatible with w98 while it's compatible with w2000 or XP. The same may be valid with drivers: one version for XP the other for w98.

So try to have different codecs in use for each OS. I strongly recommand FFDSHOW to play divx, xvid and other encoded videos.

http://cutka.szm.sk/ffdshow/

or

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow/

[kukris]

It happens with every video file, no matter what codec (Divx3, 4, Xvid, MPEG,....).

I use K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.36. I do not have video files encoded with DivX 6.

[eidenk]

What else have you got installed such as DVD player and Direct Show filters ?

[Guest Jlo555]

I use K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.36

That's way outdated. The version I have is 2.52. I'm using windows 98se right now and media player classic 6.4.8.4 and everything works like a charm. So, yeah update your codec pack.

[kukris]

@eidenk

I don't have any additional software installed. Pretty much I did a standard installation of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack (DivX 5, XViD, ...)

@Jlo555

Version 2.52 is for K-Lite Codec Pack Standard and not for K-Lite Mega Codec Pack

I'll try ffdshow, let's see if it works.

[MDGx]

DivX 6 [early beta versions anyway] can be installed on 98/98SE/ME OSes.

See these links:

http://www.mdgx.com/drv.htm#DVX

Tips:

Install DivX Media Filters:

http://download.divx.com/labs/DivXMediaFor...ilterBuild1.exe

which installs the audio filter component DIVXDEC.AX build 5.9.1.1495 [actually early 6 beta] + DivXMedia.ax [new, only installed by DivX 6, allows WMP9 + WMP10 to play DivX movies natively] on 98SE/ME.

Here comes the "catch" [u must have 2K/XP/2K3/Vista pre-installed in dual/multiple boot setup to be able to install official Divx 6 edition ]:

Reboot to Windows 2000, XP, 2003 or Vista and install the DivX 6 package:

http://download.divx.com/divx/DivXPlay.exe

Reboot back to 98SE/ME and copy all DivX 6 files from the 2K/XP/2K3/Vista %windir%\system32 folder to your 98SE/ME %windir%\system folder.

Then register the DLL + AX files [example]:

regsvr32 /s %windir%\system\divx.dll

regsvr32 /s %windir%\system\divxdec.ax

From now on u should have DivX 6 running on your 98SE/ME OS. B)

Note:

This may or may not work with your 98SE/ME OS, depending on your video hardware.

At DivX Labs [where they post all betas]:

http://labs.divx.com/

u may find other DivX builds I may have missed that might also work with 98SE/ME.

Note that DivX 6 requires a better/faster/newer video controller with full DX 9.0c support built into the drivers [ATI or NVidia], compared to older DivX 5.

Make sure u have DX 9.0c and most recent [eventually beta] video drivers installed.

If u have an older video card, u should first install DivX 5.2.1 [last build that officially supports 98SE/ME]:

http://download.divx.com/divx/DivX521.exe

and [optional] after that install DivX Plasma 5.3 [discontinued, beta only codec]:

http://labs.divx.com/archives/2004_11.html

If using MPC [Media Player Classic]:

make sure u have current build 6.4.8.4:

http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#MED

Run MPC -> click View -> Options -> Output -> try different settings until u get it right, because DirectShow playback is hardware dependent.

U could disable all hardware acceleration features from MPC, WMP, DVD software [like PowerDVD, WinDVD, NeroPlayer etc], audio card controls, 98SE/ME Control Panel etc, but you'll experience slow, choppy and pixelated [read "ugly"] video/DVD/movie playback.

Hope this helps.

Edited August 20, 2005 by MDGx

[Fredledingue]

Thanks MDGx,

I used to be "DivX trusted Wise Man" but now, I'm a little bit out of touch.

Isn't it more simple to copy the DivX6 files from a XP computer, paste them in w98's windows/system and register them?

Do we need absolutely these Divxdec.ax and divxmedia.ax or is only for playing in WMP?

Also do you think it's safe to use DivX6 or that it will also encode on w98? I have doubts.

I have good results with DivX5.11 but I will have a look at the last version of the DivX5 serie while they are still available.

[kukris]

OK, I tried ffdshow and different Output Settings in MPC, but still no luck.

[Fredledingue]

So you are realy in trouble here.

Maybe your computer doesn't like dual OS?

Maybe your hard drive is very fragmented but I supposed you already did a defrag...

Maybe you coputer is not fast enough? But then that should be visible on w2000 as well...

Maybe you have a driver installed for w2000 that doesn't suit for w98...?

Realy I don't know...