MPlayer "Seek failed" error

KenCranford · 04-06-2009, 08:09 AM

I'm new to linux, and recently installed Ubuntu 8.10 on my Dell Inspiron E1505. I installed mplayer via Synaptic with no errors - but when I insert a commercial DVD movie, mplayer gives me a "Seek failed" error immediately. I did try executing the command $ mplayer dvd//1 from the Terminal - but the screen went black and only audio from the DVD played. I found no mplayer menu options and had to reboot to exit mplayer. What do I need to do to play DVD's on my system? Thanks!

w1k0 · 04-06-2009, 06:39 PM

It looks like you haven't appropriate codecs. You'll find them here:

http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/dload.html

To unpack them use the command:

tar xjf essential-20071007.tar.bz2

Then you should put them in the appropriate directory. I don't use Ubuntu. In my Slackware it's /usr/lib/codecs.

To run MPlayer use the command:

mplayer dvd://1

or

mplayer dvd://2

etc.

To quit it use q or Esc key.

To get to know other shortcuts run the command:

man mplayer

KenCranford · 04-07-2009, 08:11 AM

Thanks for your help, but I need a bit more. I did download essentials, then executed the tar command in a test folder. It created a folder "essential-20071007" that I believe contains the requisite codecs. In Ubuntu there is a folder titled codecs at File System > usr > lib > codecs. I tried to copy the contents of essential-20021007 to my codecs folder - but nothing happened (the Paste command is grayed out). What am I doing wrong? Thanks again!