[SOLVED] Why does VLC try to open everything I download. Mint 17.3

Hatman KZN · 02-09-2016, 08:50 AM

I have a new installation of Linux Mint 17.3 - Cinnamon

When I download software or apps VLC gets in on the act, hijacks the download and tries to open them.

It happens even when I plug something like an external hard drive into a USB socket.

How do I stop this?

Please explain it like you would to an 80 year old GOF.
PS.
That's me

malekmustaq · 02-09-2016, 09:28 AM

Quote:

How do I stop this?

I don't know what causes it, but that behaviour is not normal. It indicates that MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, RFC 2045/2046/2047/2048/2049), type is mismatched. If that is the case you can easily solve it by simple assignment.

Each file has a "type" associated with an "application". You can change this association freely (at will) using either command line or a GUI application. In my distro it is called "Mime-Type Editor" and I can simply run it, search the "file-type" and click on the application or browse into /usr/bin/<application> click it as associated to run and open the given file-type. That's simple as it is. I am not familiar anymore with recent versions of Mint, but yours, you can find the Mime Editor from your Menu.

Concept: Mime type is associated with an Application to handle/open it. You can change it back to normal matchings.

Probably you accidentally clicked nasty questions like "Do you want to use VLC to open <...> files?" Clicking "Yes" resets all affected filetype associations. But this error/mistake can be easily solved (without harm to your system) by simple terminal commands or mime editor. If you want to do it by terminal read the manual first.

Quote:

man xdg-mime <Enter>

Nothing to worry about that abnormal behavior. You can solve that easily.

If you have further questions Grandpa just feel free to ask, and you have plenty of helping boys coming around soon.

Good luck. Hope that helps.

m.m.

BW-userx · 02-09-2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatman KZN

I have a new installation of Linux Mint 17.3 - Cinnamon

When I download software or apps VLC gets in on the act, hijacks the download and tries to open them.

I have cinnamon but runing t off a different distro, just installed it. try right clicking on that apps bar, then select "all Settings" then select "preferred applications" and see if VLC is selected for anything other then Video.

still check your mime settings as well.

that is as far as I have gotten on this cinnamon Desktop in configuring it, I'm busy installing everything else right now. SO I don't have a full understanding of this Desktop yet , it is new to me.

but yeah your mime
cat /usr/share/applications/vlc.desktop

Code:

 
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=VLC media player
GenericName=Media player
Comment=Read, capture, broadcast your multimedia streams

#removed a lot of different langs to shorten this file

Exec=/usr/bin/vlc --started-from-file U
TryExec=/usr/bin/vlc
Icon=vlc
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=AudioVideo;Player;Recorder;

here is your MimeTypes.

Code:

MimeType=video/dv;video/mpeg;video/x-mpeg;video/msvideo;video/quicktime;video/x-anim;video/x-avi;video/x-ms-asf;video/x-ms-wmv;video/x-msvideo;video/x-nsv;video/x-flc;video/x-fli;video/x-flv;video/vnd.rn-realvideo;video/mp4;video/mp4v-es;video/mp2t;application/ogg;application/x-ogg;video/x-ogm+ogg;audio/x-vorbis+ogg;audio/ogg;video/ogg;application/x-matroska;audio/x-matroska;video/x-matroska;video/webm;audio/webm;audio/x-mp3;audio/x-mpeg;audio/mpeg;audio/x-wav;audio/x-mpegurl;audio/x-scpls;audio/x-m4a;audio/x-ms-asf;audio/x-ms-asx;audio/x-ms-wax;application/vnd.rn-realmedia;audio/x-real-audio;audio/x-pn-realaudio;application/x-flac;audio/x-flac;application/x-shockwave-flash;misc/ultravox;audio/vnd.rn-realaudio;audio/x-pn-aiff;audio/x-pn-au;audio/x-pn-wav;audio/x-pn-windows-acm;image/vnd.rn-realpix;audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin;application/x-extension-mp4;audio/mp4;audio/amr;audio/amr-wb;x-content/video-vcd;x-content/video-svcd;x-content/video-dvd;x-content/audio-cdda;x-content/audio-player;application/xspf+xml;x-scheme-handler/mms;x-scheme-handler/rtmp;x-scheme-handler/rtsp;
X-KDE-Protocols=ftp,http,https,mms,rtmp,rtsp,sftp,smb



Keywords=Player;Capture;DVD;Audio;Video;Server;Broadcast;

you have to dig through here and see what it is being associated with VLC, just remove everything out of it that you do not want VCL touching, or try a quick and dirty way remove VLC (un-install it). then

Code:

sudo rm /usr/share/applications/vlc.desktop

to be sure it is gone, then go into your

Code:

.config

then find the VLC directory, then delete it.

then see if it is still doing this then reinstall VLC again. and see if it starts again or not.

but taking a peek into the mime types has attached to it then removed unwanted file types save it then it may take care of your problem.

check to see if your system as this file too then take a look inside of it

Code:

/usr/share/applications/defaults.list

oh ys, just in case you didn't know. you have to be in su mode to mod files outside of user domain.

Code:

sudo geany /usr/share/applications/vlc.desktop

ondoho · 02-10-2016, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatman KZN

When I download software or apps VLC gets in on the act, hijacks the download and tries to open them.

how did you install vlc?
hint:
you should use your software center to install ANY software on linux mint (and NOT the www).

BW-userx · 02-10-2016, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

how did you install vlc?
hint:
you should use your software center to install ANY software on linux mint (and NOT the www).

sadly if that is true about MINT then that takes away having a true linux operating system... not being able to install off of source code... because bad things may happen as a result of it... leaning backwards towards Windows again...

ondoho · 02-11-2016, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BW-userx

sadly if that is true about MINT then that takes away having a true linux operating system... not being able to install off of source code... because bad things may happen as a result of it... leaning backwards towards Windows again...

this is unproductive and confusing.
i was telling op not to install the windows way ( = download binaries straight from the www), but use the linux way instead ( = install from within package management).
installing from source is of course possible, but it has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Ztcoracat · 02-12-2016, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatman KZN

I have a new installation of Linux Mint 17.3 - Cinnamon

When I download software or apps VLC gets in on the act, hijacks the download and tries to open them.

It happens even when I plug something like an external hard drive into a USB socket.

How do I stop this?

Please explain it like you would to an 80 year old GOF.
PS.
That's me

Go into the" Preferences" in your Browser (assuming your using Firefox) and go to the section that says:
Save Files To: and than choose where you want all of your Downloads to go.

If VLC continues to take over your Downloads than you should un-install it, update your distribution and than perform a fresh installation of VLC.

I agree with malekmustaq; that behaviour is not normal. It's a sign of misconfiguration of some kind.

Habitual · 02-12-2016, 07:13 PM

Create a new user on the system.
Login as the new user.
Test Downloads against VLC's handling from there.

What's GOF? (the OF part I get)

Another Old Fart.

Hatman KZN · 02-13-2016, 02:45 AM

To all you kind people that responded to my cry for help.
THAN YOU for your advice and for trying to tailor it to the mental capacities of a
Geriatric Old F……..erhm…...Fellow
Your willingness to assist is greatly appreciated at this ennd.

Please forgive me for taking so long to come back but I had other things like continuing to breathe, that took precedence. (old fogie humour)

Back to my Mint problem.
I looked under every button and Icon I could find in the menu drop-down list but could not find a path to the Mime editor or even a mention of it anywhere.

I printed out the manual and tried every code it ( and you guys ) suggested for the command line terminal without success.
In desperation I un-installed VLC but now Banshee is getting in on the act.

Is there a link or path where I can see what is plugged into my USB ports like the “my computer” in Windows?
My apologies for burdening you with my addled brain but we may have to go the “Select” - “click on” route. Step by step.
Getting old sucks.

“I did not fail. I just found a hundred ways that do not work” - ( Thomas Edison )

“I will fix this. I will not give up.” - ( Me )

ondoho · 02-13-2016, 05:38 AM

i can only repeat my previous question:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

how did you install vlc?
hint:
you should use your software center to install ANY software on linux mint (and NOT the www).

(the software center might be named slightly differently on linux mint)

Hatman KZN · 02-13-2016, 06:32 AM

VLC was installed as part of the package when I installed Mint

syg00 · 02-13-2016, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatman KZN

Is there a link or path where I can see what is plugged into my USB ports like the “my computer” in Windows?

Bottom left, down near where the "Start" button would be on Win7 is some icons. The green one that is supposed to look like a manilla folder is called "Files". Click on that - similar to explorer. Your USB(s) will show up as "Devices" in the left pane, just click on it to see the files.

To the other responders, this is/may not just be a "dumb user" problem - I also recently saw this on Mint 17. That system seems to have been re-commissioned, so I can't go back and check it.

BW-userx · 02-13-2016, 08:28 AM

No Sweats -- I got Audacious doing the same thing but not as often -- its random - it doesn't happen enough times to really bug me enough to actually fix it .. lol

Hatman KZN · 02-13-2016, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syg00

Bottom left, down near where the "Start" button would be on Win7 is some icons. The green one that is supposed to look like a manilla folder is called "Files". Click on that - similar to explorer. Your USB(s) will show up as "Devices" in the left pane, just click on it to see the files.

It was one of the first things that I tried but on my version there is no "Devices" in the pane.
"Computer" when expanded shows HOME - DESKTOP - DOCUMENTS - MUSIC - PICTURES - VIDEOS - DOWNLOADS - RECENT - FILE SYSTEM - TRASH then the NETWORK

Good to know that it is not my "dumb user" actions that brought this on but sad to know that it may not be fixable.
Well not by me anyway.

So whereto now Horatio? - clean install? - is there another distro I should try instead?
It would be a pity.
Mint had such a good hype.

Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.

BW-userx · 02-13-2016, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatman KZN

... Mint had such a good hype...
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.

Don't go for the hype, be a rebel, and install a distro that you can work with, and works for you. That may help you to get your mind back.