Warning: MF5 may break MPEG2 playback on system (how to fix)

[snoops]

After spending a long time debugging the MS MediaPlayer problem I had after installing DMF5, I found the reason... (H.T., are you here?)

Note: my system had an InterVideo WinDVD player installed before installing the DMF5 trial, so MS MediaPlayer 10 was using the InterVideo video decoder for MPEG2 playback, without problems.

InterVideo AVControlSDK 6.00 was installed automatically by MovieFactory 5 during its setup (no choice to skip).
This broke MPEG2 playback of MS MediaPlayer on my system:
MediaPlayer now had an "unknown error" after playing an MPEG2 clip. Also, there was often a long delay at the end of playback before showing the clip as "stopped".

InterVideo AVControlSDK was installed in its own folder, but it had updated and overwrote many of the WinDVD files in C:\Program Files\InterVideo\Common\Bin
And these "AVControlSDK" versions don't work properly on my system with MP10.

Unfortunately the AVControlSDK installation was made to not show in "Add/Remove programs". So I added a "DisplayName" value to the "Uninstall" registry key A644254B-92F6-4970-8635-AB0775371E72.
This requires advanced know-how, not something the average user can do. But this allowed to correctly uninstall it via "Add/Remove programs".

I also uninstalled the InterVideo WinDVD player, because its files had been overwritten by the AVControlSDK from MF5.

Now MPEG2 clips played in MP10 again, without the "unknown error".
MP10 was now using the Ulead MPEG Video Decoder, by the way.
The InterVideo codecs were all gone.

After installing WinDVD, MP10 was using the InterVideo video decoder I had before installing MF5, and everything was still OK.

Any features of MF5 that require the AVControlSDK will not work because I've removed it. But I haven't found anything that needs it.

Summary: MF5 installation may break your MediaPlayer playback if you already had InterVideo software (WinDVD) installed.

[snoops]

Update...

I tried MF5 trial on another system with WinDVD (the same version, same OS), and the MediaPlayer problem with the InterVideo filters does not exist after MF5 installation.

This system is not my editing system, so it doesn't have various products installed and there is no history of previous versions (MF3, MSP6, Canopus, etc.) like on my editing system. Seems there are some complex dependencies on my editing system that get messed up with the InterVideo AVControlSDK. I tried it again: after installing MF5 the MediaPlayer playback is broken. After removing the AVControl (and reinstalling the WinDVD versions) everything is OK.

Go figure...

[neea]

Thank you for your finding!
I have deleted whole "Utilities" folder altogether from the installation, prior to setting up the programm.

[snoops]

neea,
Did you also have the problem, or did you simply decide to avoid it?

[neea]

I've decided to avoid it from the start
And I don't see why should I have anything installed from the "Utilities" folder anyway, there's nothing useful there, the way I see it, and the best it can do, is to brake things indeed

[htchien]

I'm here (however, might not be always here).

Check the FAQ for DVDMF 5, it states if you have WinDVD installed before you install DVDMF 5, remove WinDVD before DVDMF 5 then install DVDMF, DVDMF will auto install a latest version WinDVD on your system.

http://www.ulead.com/dmf/faq2.htm#12

Hope this helps.

H.T.

[snoops]

H.T,
Welcome back, and thank you for answering.
I hadn't seen that entry in the FAQ.

Like I said, the problem happens on my editing system, but not on my office system. Both have the same WinDVD (old WinDVD 5.0 DXVA version bundled with purchase).

[htchien]

Thanks.

For the system that have the problem, follow the steps in the FAQ should work.

Best regards,
H.T.

[Velojet]

When I installed the full MF5 a couple of days ago, I got an 'Internal Failure, Error Number 0x80040707' message while the InterVideo AVControl SDK component was being installed. There was a hidden dialog box that showed it was attempting to install it in 'InterVideo\AVControl' - that was the entire pathname, with no drive letter. When I clicked on the 'OK' in that box, an 'Installation failed' error was produced. However, that seemed to relate only to the AVControl SDK, since the next message was the 'Finished' dialog for MF5 itself.

Now, exactly the same sequence happened when I installed the just-released 5.0.0189.1 patch.

MF5 seems to function OK, so I assume this AVControl SDK failure is not important? I notice that snoops hasn't found anything in MF5 that needs it. Can anyone else confirm? And what exactly is going on that this AVControl SDK install attempts to pickaback on the MF5 install?

(I've lodged a ticket with Tech Support but haven't heard back yet.)

[htchien]

The AV Control SDK is been used for video capturing.

The error indicates some component(s) in the AV Control SDK cannot be installed properly on Windows. I think maybe there is something in your system blocking it so it would not install properly.

Do you install the software with power user or adminitstrator priviliges? What Windows version do you use?

H.T.

[Velojet]

Thanks for the prompt and informative reply, HT.

Do you install the software with power user or adminitstrator priviliges? What Windows version do you use?
H.T.

Installed with administrator privileges - XP Home SP2.

Other installed video software: Cyberlink Power DVD, Cyberlink Power Director 4, QuickTime 7, Sonic MyDVD 5 LE, XviD, DivX odec + Player, Dell Media Experience, RealPlayer 10, 123 Convertor, Windows MovieMaker 2.1.

No Intervideo Win DVD!

[htchien]

Then I think there might be a software conflict in this case, or something messed up in the Windows registry database. However, it might take times to do so investigation.

H.T.

[Velojet]

Then I think there might be a software conflict in this case, or something messed up in the Windows registry database.

Hmm. I ran TuneUp 2006 Registry Cleaner over the registry before installing.

Interestingly, I installed MF5 Trial version previously with no such problem (and uninstalled it before installing the full version). But might it have left something behind to cause the conflict?

[htchien]

Mabye.

I believe you have tried the reinstallation process here??

If it does not fix, you might need to do some clean install....

H.T.

[Velojet]

I believe you have tried the reinstallation process here.

Thanks again for your interest and help, HT. I'll follow the full uninstall/reinstall exactly and see how I go. Fingers crossed!