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DVD and windows media player playback on Mepis 3.4 (codecs needed?)
Hi
I have just installed MEPIS 3.4 on my Philips Freevents x56 laptop. I've found that I can't play commercial DVDs or Windows Media Player files. I'm guessing I need some kind of codecs. Sorry, I'm new to Linux (though I have a little experience of PCBSD). Could someone help me out? Thanks, Luke |
You very likely need 'libdvdcss' to play commercial movies on the DVD device. It is a DVD de-encryption library. You can locate it by Google, or I think it is on Sourceforge.net too.
If you cannot find it, let me know, I'll locate it for you. As for the WMP files, I'm not certain on that; it might need codec(s). |
I tried, but...
Ok. I downloaded a package called libdvdcss2-dev_1.2.9-1_386.deb from Softpedia and tried to open it. KPackage tried to deal with it after I gave it the root password. It spat out the following text, then crashed and locked up (just KPackage, not the entire computer).
<sktop/libdvdcss2-dev_1.2.9-1_i386.deb' ;echo RESULT=$? Selecting previously deselected package libdvdcss2-dev. (Reading database ... 75349 files and directories currently installed.) Unpacking libdvdcss2-dev (from .../libdvdcss2-dev_1.2.9-1_i386.deb) ... dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libdvdcss2-dev: libdvdcss2-dev depends on libdvdcss2 (= 1.2.9-1); however: Package libdvdcss2 is not installed. dpkg: error processing libdvdcss2-dev (--install): dependency problems - leaving unconfigured Errors were encountered while processing: libdvdcss2-dev RESULT=1 It seems like it wants libdvdcss2 before I install what I was trying, because it complains "libdvdcss2 is not installed". But I can't find anything other than the package I downloaded. Any help would be very appreciated. |
OK, I have had next to ZERO success using Kpackage-manager. I don't know what the deal is with that thing, but I recommend you install the thing manually, ie: in a terminal at the command line.
I cannot guarantee there won't be dependency problems, however I did not experience any, though kpackage always gave me loads of errors with every thing, every time I used it. I also am not too familiar with the .deb method of installing stuff. My system uses .tgz files, which is what I have downloaded. I'm sorry I don't remember exactly where I got it, but if you have no luck with the link here, and still have a problem, let me know and if you like, I'll email you this package. You will likely need to install it from command line, but it is very simple. :) I have version 1.2.9, and in the README the following link is given for info/support: http://www.videolan.org/ |
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In the end I used Synaptic Package Manager to install libdvdcss2. I think it's only version 1.2.8 but it gets the DVDs playing in Kaffeine. However, the quality is very crappy. It runs smoothly, but you can see the effects of cheap compression. Certainly not as good as in Windows. How can I improve the quality of the playback?
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Check if you have, or can enable, DMA for the DVD player, either thru the BIOS, or by using :
hdparm -d 1 /dev/hdd Where HDD is whatever your DVD player is. Type this in a console, and see if it helps. You might also check if you have 32 bit IO set for the IDE bus, in the BIOS. Finally, what have you got for a video card? Is it decent, and AGP accelerated? Make sure you are using the best driver there is for it. You should get identical performance as you had in Windows. |
3.4 is a pretty old version of MEPIS. You might consider the new 6.5 even though it is a release candidate, and not a final version (it should be final in the next week or so), or even 6.0 since it is an official release.
In 6.0, you might want to look at Automatix for installing things like the required DVD libraries, as well as the w32codecs. In 6.5, you just need to enable the mediabuntu repository in Synaptic to have access to those things. |
Solved......Dvd playback with MEPIS
This one of my posts at MEPISlovers.com where I replied to a user that thought that libdvdcss2 would fix the dvd play.
You may need a few more programs too. Look through synaptic by typing dvd into the search bar. When it opens get these programs if you don't already have them. Dvdauthor, dvdbackup, dvdrip, dvdrtools, dvd+rw-tools, k9copy, kaffeine, libdvdcss2 (already mentioned), libdvdnav4, libdvdplay0, libdvdread3, libxine-extracodecs, w32codecs, mencoder, qdvdauthor, transcode and vamps. Which media player do you use ? I would use kaffeine. Go to settings, xine Engine parameters, video. If you are using the 'auto' driver then you might do better with the 'xv' driver. Try it and see if these changes and the video driver help you get smooth dvd play. What kind of video card do you have ? An nvidia e-Ge-Force fx 5500 will use the nvidia glx driver and works good with open gl screensavers and dvd play, 3-d game play. A radeon 7000 is pretty good too. It will play dvds fine. Not all graphics cards will work well with MEPIS. Some take a bit of tweaking and others may only get you 2-d play. The final release of 6.5 is out today so that may be another option.:) As for 3.4.3 I still use it on another partition. It is the best at dvd play and any 3-d action. 3.4.3 always gets a higher frames per second reading using glxgears -printfps in konsole than 6.0 or 6.5. It's the truth. I have been running head to head tests with 3.4.3, 6.0, and 6.5 since 6.0 came out. 3.4.3 is better but you can't upgrade it any more since it's not supported. Any trying to upgrade the kernel ends with a broken system. If I knew how to compile a new kernel for 3.4.3 then I would. 3.4.3 is super strong, super fast and just plain good. Too bad we can't just get a new kernel from warren. Sorry but Automatix is the last thing that you need. It's not even being developed for MEPIS any more. You can get all the codecs from synaptic. You don't need automatix with MEPIS. Just check at MEPISlovers or the MEPIS wiki to see which repositories you need for multimedia etc. I have been getting all the codecs etc from synaptic for a long time. Since 3.3.1-1 version. No problems. Just need the right repos. __________________ |
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A little clarification... Automatix is the last thing you need. However, for many newcomers struggling with the number of multimedia related add-ons most people want, Automatix did a fine job! Sure, it was a little finicky when trying to install everything at once, but it generally worked, and didn't require tracking down what extra repos to add. I also specifically noted in my post that for 6.5, it was not required at all, and just selecting the one repo in Synaptic would handle it. Remember, there's more than one way to do things, and what works/doesn't work for one may be different for someone else. |
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There's always a right way and a wrong way... The reason I said synaptic and not automatix or even kpackage is that warren said in one of his announcements that we were to use synaptic over other forms of package management as it honors the MEPIS configuration better than kpackage. Which means stability. Stabilty is what a new user is after. Not having to get software from a bunch of other sources. Get it all at synaptic. Although Warren wasn't talking about automatix in that announcement I'm sure for stability that synaptic is better for MEPIS. As for even needing automatix why would you want it when you can get all the codecs that you need so easily using synaptic package manager? Synaptic package manager is the place to get your MEPIS software. Why bother with automatix? It's not easier to use. The packages are all right in front of you with synaptic package manager. And why pump a non-MEPIS source like automatix when synaptic has it all on one page. Just type dvd into the synaptic search bar and all the codecs are there. Libdvdcss2. Libxine-extracodecs. Transcode. Libk3b2mp3. Just right click and choose 'mark for installation. How much easier can it be? So we don't need automatix with MEPIS. Period. Does that help to clarifiy the situation for you? Warren, the man that built MEPIS up to what it is todays says to use synaptic package manager as the main source of software as it honors our configuration better than kpackage. At least kpackage comes installed when you install MEPIS. Automatix is not. So what should you use to get your codecs? That's right...Synaptic Package Manager. Unless you think you know better than warren and his team. :tisk: |
I can already tell by the "tone" of your response that it would be completely useless to debate the issue with you. Honestly, I have far more important things to do with my time, such as helping the OP with his original problem (which has already been solved). Now, while it has been quite some time since I've run the 3.x version, I am pretty certain that the additional repos required were not clearly marked "Select this one for DVD playback", nor was there a bolded list in any repo that said "here is the list of packages to select for install". Automatix said "Click here for DVD". Now, how simple is that?
Stability? Let me check....yep, according to my user account at mepis.org, I have been stable for almost 2 years running MEPIS my way. Why pump a non-MEPIS source? Maybe because everything I need is not in there. Let's see...tovid...nope...jahshaka...nope...konverter...nope...mandvd...nope. So, is it your position that I either need to a) not use said apps, or b) get an extra special permission slip from Warren to do so? Finally, do I think I know more than Warren and his crew? Perhaps! Let's see, you've already determined you know more than me. Warren thought he knew more that the Debian crew, so did Mark Shuttleworth. Then, Warren thought he knew more than Shttleworth, so did the developers of Mint. Who's right? Well, I'm sure you'll be happy to tell me it's you. After all, there are only two ways to do things, one right, and one wrong. At least according to you. You may also want to send Warren an email, since he asked if I would be interested in volunteering with future versions of MEPIS. Heaven forbid I join his crew and do everything wrong. In case you have forgotten, the spirit of F/LOSS is that there is more than one way to do things, and it is not simply a matter of the two ways being right or wrong. Or is the point of MEPIS just the first and last letters? And just in case you've also forgotten the spirit of LQ, it is to help others, share experience, and make suggestions. Speaking of suggestions, I have a few regarding your " :tisk: " |
Well I guess there are more ways to skin a cat. I didn't mean to be arguementitive but I can get everything that I want from synaptic. So I won't ever use or need automatix. The whole synaptic thing is best for a new user. Someone with more experience, like yourself, can get packages from all over including making your own debs so that's different. I was talking about getting new users to learn synaptic as that is the preferred method of getting software. It's fine the way you do it but to get all the codecs in the new 6.5 all you do is go to synaptic, settings, repositories and check the only un-checked box beside the repos and hit re-load. Then you can get software that is made for MEPIS and may have some more stability. That's all. No need to get your britches in a knot. It's just that synaptic is easier and you don't have to mess with an outside app like automatix. You see if you teach users to use automatix and then down the road the developers don't have automatix for MEPIS you have to teach the new users all over again. Just go with synaptic for the new users. It's the right thing to do. What could be easier than checking a single box and hitting re-load? You are complicating the issues a bit with automatix. Maybe recommend the synaptic way but add that if it doesn't work then you might try automatix. We are not advising anyone to use automatix anymore at MEPISlovers. It's just too easy with synaptic.
It's like the old 'give a man a fish or teach him how to fish'. Do you want to keep feeding the guys a fish a day or show them how to catch their own fish. I prefer to teach him how to fish. That's all. |
And now what will really bake your noodle is when I tell you I don't use Automatix either. It was fine in earlier versions of MEPIS, but is not even updated for 6.5 Plus, imagine my surprise when I see it is hosted on the techalign servers! Ok, so my problem with that is personal, but still a problem for me.
Yes, there is more than one way to skin a cat, or to teach someone to fish. My tackle box has many different lures to use depending on conditions. So, to relate it back to the topic, you could use Synaptic, adept, kpackage, apt-get, script, or compile from source. Whatever way works best for your situation at the moment. I had really hoped that I had covered all that with the original post - Don't use an old version. If you have to, use Automatix, or upgrade to the latest version and use Synaptic. |
You gotta quit baking my noodle with stuff like that. Recovery time is slow. :scratch: And speaking of compiling I just tried it for the first time. :study: I now have a working kaffeine-0.8.3 installed on my 6.5 final. Got a deb for it too if anyone wants to try it out. It emails pretty easy. If it works good for those who try it I am going to make it into a torrent and put it up at linuxtracker.org. It did a great job playing 'Once upon a time in mexico" Just the first store bought dvd I grabbed from the pile. Plus I have a deb for k3b 1.0 that a buddy at MEPISlovers made. I put that deb up at linuxtracker. My share ratio is just over 30 on that deb so I want to put the kaffeine-0.8.3.deb I made up at linuxtracker too. After a few guys try it and see what they think that is. The new kaffeine and k3b have been good to me so far.
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Automatix does not work for debian, thats an ubuntu thing. 3.4 was based off of debian. The packages you require are w32codecs (or win32codecs) and libdvdcss
The following repos you can add to your sources.list deb http://download.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian sid main deb-src http://download.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian sid main That will at least get you libdvdcss and i think they provide w32codecs as well |
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