video distorted on most downloaded views: Firefox and/or Linux?

Larry Swift · 07-18-2014, 12:34 PM

I am a linux newbie and as such not sure if this belongs in Linux or another forum for Firefox Firefox

I have changed Firefox preferences to various alternatives offered, to no avail. I think I have isolated the video type to Shockware Flash (I'm still uncertain). However, I can find no alternative that works correctly (it might improve slightly, but still unacceptable). Ideas to fix?

Using Linux Mint/Petra 16 (since updated to 17?).

Many thanks in advance for any help. (I've been struggling with this for several months!)

ondoho · 07-18-2014, 03:51 PM

how exactly is the video distorted, and what do you mean by "downloaded view"? are you watching the videos from within your browser, or are you downloading them first, then watch them with a media player?

which preferences have you changed, and what helped slightly?

what is your graphic hardware and what modules/drivers is your linux using?

Larry Swift · 07-19-2014, 12:05 PM

ondoho, thanks so much for your reply. I will try to answer as best I can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

how exactly is the video distorted, and what do you mean by "downloaded view"? are you watching the videos from within your browser, or are you downloading them first, then watch them with a media player?

Larry: Yes, from within Firefox. The distortion includes blurring, colors are all bright green and purple, and any links (when they can be observed) are not clickable.

which preferences have you changed, and what helped slightly?

Larry: I tried lots of the options I saw in other video types, but was careful to put back the original selection if the other did not work. Didn't really pay attention to what helped slightly, since it was still very unacceptable. It might even have been my imagination. Checking it now, I see that the Shockwave Flash is still selected.

what is your graphic hardware and what modules/drivers is your linux using?

Larry: Using an old Dell desktop, DE051. don't know about acceleration hardware, but suspect the answer is no. (I note also that the Shockwave Flash assumes that it is "yes" but then there is no way to see the option that allows one to turn it "off"! Catch 22.) I don't know how to find out what modules/drivers Linux is using. Are you refering to the monitor (Acer)?
Thanks again, ondoho.

gor0 · 07-19-2014, 12:30 PM

Why not http://www.linuxmint.com/ ?

Quote:

Mint/Petra 16

Larry Swift · 07-19-2014, 01:31 PM

Thanks, gor0, I'll look into it.

rokytnji · 07-19-2014, 02:51 PM

Quote:

I don't know how to find out what modules/drivers Linux is using.

Mint has

Code:

inxi -F

for that.

http://code.google.com/p/inxi/

Larry Swift · 07-19-2014, 05:45 PM

Thanks, rokytnji, for the cmd "inxi -F"
which gives me the following
"larry@larry-Dell-DE051 ~ $ inxi -F
System: Host: larry-Dell-DE051 Kernel: 3.11.0-12-generic i686 (32 bit) Desktop: N/A Distro: Linux Mint 16 Petra
Machine: System: Dell product: Dell DE051
Mobo: Dell model: 0WF887 Bios: Dell version: A01 date: 01/03/2006
CPU: Single core Intel Celeron CPU (-UP-) cache: 256 KB flags: (sse sse2 sse3) clocked at 2526.965 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller
X.Org: 1.14.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1024x768@60.0hz
GLX Renderer: N/A GLX Version: N/A
Audio: Card: Intel 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) AC'97 Audio Controller driver: snd_intel8x0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.11.0-12-generic
Network: Card-1: Intel 82562EZ 10/100 Ethernet Controller driver: e100
IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: 00:16:76:7e:3f:86
Card-2: Edimax EW-7811Un 802.11n Wireless Adapter [Realtek RTL8188CUS] driver: rtl8192cu
IF: wlan1 state: down mac: 80:1f:02:cc:41:fd
Drives: HDD Total Size: 410.1GB (1.4% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD1600JB size: 160.0GB
2: id: /dev/sdb model: WDC_WD2500JB size: 250.1GB
Partition: ID: / size: 75G used: 5.5G (8%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 2.14GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap
RAID: No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors: None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info: Processes: 145 Uptime: 3 days Memory: 758.8/2014.6MB Client: Shell inxi: 1.8.4

ondoho · 07-19-2014, 07:16 PM

i just found 2 articles relating to "Intel 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller " - one from 2003, one from 2004...

imho, older than 10years means a lot of (too much) effort.
i think you should be glad it works at all.
try to disable all sorts of hardware acceleration from firefox.
can you watch videos with e.g. mplayer?

you are going to have to be careful with system updates lest your Xserver breaks.

Larry Swift · 07-20-2014, 01:06 PM

Ondoho,
Good Golly Molly, is it getting to be that old? Still got a couple of years to go, though. I will definitely both of your cited posts.

Thanks for the reply,

rokytnji · 07-20-2014, 07:18 PM

Betcha you are missing something

Code:

glxinfo | grep -i "direct rendering"

I don't run Mint anymore so just a poke and hope. Looks to me like intel driver is installed but no mesa going on.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...er-4175449365/

I can't be more help than that.

Larry Swift · 07-20-2014, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokytnji

Betcha you are missing something

Larry: Agreed for the last 4 or 5 months, but I've tried everything I can think of.
Not sure what this is supposed to mean to me, but tried it in a terminal and got:

larry@larry-Dell-DE051 ~ $ glxinfo | grep -i "direct rendering"
Error: couldn't find RGB GLX visual or fbconfig
Error: couldn't find RGB GLX visual or fbconfig

Larry: This sounds like you maybe expected to bypass the accelerated hardware question, but I don't understand all the implications of the cmd. And what does "mesa" mean?

I don't run Mint anymore so just a poke and hope. Looks to me like intel driver is installed but no mesa going on.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...er-4175449365/

I can't be more help than that.

Thanks for your input, rokytnji; it sounds like you might be tantaliing close, but please clarify for me (like I said, I'm a newbie).

ondoho · 07-21-2014, 07:38 AM

larryswift, i think firefox has a setting to use hardware acceleration or direct rendering. if the command glxinfo | grep -i "direct rendering doesn't return yes, you should definitely UNcheck that option.