Video icons problem

DarkStar · Feb 27, 2011, 18:58:21

Not quite sure how to lay this one out $:-\$
In the past when I have downloaded video from my camera to the computer I have always had a clip from the start of each video showing in the 'Videos' folder - both on Windows 7 and Linux Ubuntu (dual boot) which meant that when I open the video folder I can see which video I want to play.
I use VLC to play my videos and there is a little VLC cone icon in the corner of each clip. I now have the problem that every video I download into Windows doesn't have a picture showing anymore, there is just a large orange and black VLC cone showing. Older video already in the folders still show as normal and are not affected by this problem. Thinking perhaps it may be something that has started since I last updated VLC I tried downloading some video clips into Ubuntu which still has an older VLC player from before this problem started, same result - an icon like a piece of 35mm film with a VLC icon on it.
To make sure it is not a VLC bug I uninstalled VLC and installed Splash Pro player - same problem only this time I have the splash icon on the video, still cannot see or tell what videos they are until I play them.

So, has anyone else seen this or have any idea what may be causing the problem. The fact that it is happening in both Windows and Linux and with two different video players makes me suspect the computer itself, ie: a hardware problem.
Any suggestions

Simon · Feb 27, 2011, 19:49:12

Anything in Folder Properties, Ian? View thumbnails, or something like that?

DarkStar · Feb 27, 2011, 20:17:38

Nothing in folder properties Simon. What puzzles me is that I have the same problem in both Windows and Linux.
Have attached a snip from the Windows folder to show exactly what I mean

Steve · Feb 27, 2011, 20:35:47

Maybe a possible solution in Windows ? http://forums.techarena.in/mediacenter/891844.htm

I've seen similar on the Mac for the odd file as well but never found the solution.

Also http://help.lockergnome.com/windows/Thumbnail-showing-picture--ftopict515314.html

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/278709-Windows-XP-not-showing-thumbnail-previews-of-MPEG-and-AVI-files

DarkStar · Feb 27, 2011, 21:40:02

Thanks for the suggestions Steve.
Have tried them all but to no avail I'm afraid

Will log back in tomorrow and see if there are any more suggestions. Have to go to health centre twice tomorrow

so may be a bit short of time.

Rik · Feb 28, 2011, 10:08:38

Long shot, Ian, but is there any chance the file extensions have changed or become disassociated?

DarkStar · Feb 28, 2011, 11:50:21

Quote from: Rik on Feb 28, 2011, 10:08:38
Long shot, Ian, but is there any chance the file extensions have changed or become disassociated?

Not quite sure how to check that Rik as I am not aware of changing them and I've no idea what they would have been before.
However, I use Picasa to view my photo collection although I have long used VLC to watch the video. Last night I looked in the folders list in Picasa and opened my Video folder and low and behold all the thumbnails are showing correctly, the ones that were just a VLC cone in the other viewers show the first frame picture in Picasa

So I am going to try recording a short video indoors in a minute using the same camera but with a new memory card to see if it is the memory card that is up the spout.
I thought about that late yesterday before I saw the Picasa folder because what puzzled me was that I had some video not showing the first frame picture and then some taken a few weeks later that did although now they don't, so I wonder/suspect I may have been using a different card during that time. Also on further checking I noticed that this problem has occurred with both my Canon and a Sony camera. And before anyone says about removing cards incorrectly, I always wait for the OK before taking them out.
Now going to have a cup of tea and will report back.
Watch this space

Rik · Feb 28, 2011, 12:50:00

I've found some cards doing odd things at times, Ian, so it's well worth a check. It might be worth snipping the first few frames of a clip and seeing if the remainder display correctly.

DarkStar · Feb 28, 2011, 13:01:20

That didn't work

If I view the memory card by leaving it in the camera and attaching the lead from camera to USB socket I see the video thumbnail clip. Download or drag and drop it into the computers video folder and it just turns into a VLC cone. Put the card into a card reader and the folder that opens shows the VLC cone, no thumbnail. Download it and it is still a cone in the video folder.
To further complicate matters - when I looked in Picasa I can see the correct thumbnails for the video from the Canon camera but the thumbnails for the Sony video clips have disappeared. Install the K-Lite Codec pack mentioned in one of Steve's links and I can see the Sony thumbnails in Picasa but they are still VLC cones in Explorer

Have tried removing VLC but that is well nigh impossible, it leaves hidden traces that still put cones on everything you download - just do a google and you will find people who cannot get rid of it going back several years.

Rik · Feb 28, 2011, 13:04:19

Have you checked the file extensions, Ian?

DarkStar · Feb 28, 2011, 13:04:38

I have a new camera coming, hopefully tomorrow, will have go and see if the problem goes away then.

Rik · Feb 28, 2011, 13:05:28

Baz · Feb 28, 2011, 14:17:51

if you updated VLC is it not just a setting that has gone to default.

or has any other program associated itself with all your media which was originally with VLC

DarkStar · Feb 28, 2011, 14:44:46

Quote from: Rik on Feb 28, 2011, 13:04:19
Have you checked the file extensions, Ian?

Which file extensions should I be looking at Rik? If I right click on the video at go to properties > details > file the details are the same in video that show a thumbnail and those that don't.

pctech · Feb 28, 2011, 15:05:46

I think that Windows is capable of showing a preview thumbnail of MPEG movies but not anything else.

Rik · Feb 28, 2011, 15:59:02

Quote from: DarkStar on Feb 28, 2011, 14:44:46
Which file extensions should I be looking at Rik? If I right click on the video at go to properties > details > file the details are the same in video that show a thumbnail and those that don't.

Those were the ones I was thinking of, Ian. Try a right click of one of the files and select 'Open with' - what apps does that offer?

DarkStar · Feb 28, 2011, 18:05:16

Quote from: Baz on Feb 28, 2011, 14:17:51
if you updated VLC is it not just a setting that has gone to default.

or has any other program associated itself with all your media which was originally with VLC

I had updated VLC but the problem existed before the last update which is why I booted into my Linux Ubuntu which had quite an old version of VLC installed and the same problem exists there, which is why I suspected the computer hardware but the fact I can get Picasa to show them has confused things a bit. As I had only ever had VLC on this machine before the trouble started I am a bit flummoxed.

DarkStar · Feb 28, 2011, 18:09:59

Quote from: Rik on Feb 28, 2011, 15:59:02
Those were the ones I was thinking of, Ian. Try a right click of one of the files and select 'Open with' - what apps does that offer?

I clicked on both Sony and Canon video that have Thumbnails and those that don't and they all offer VLC Media Player. The Sony ones are .MP4 and the Canon are .AVI

Rik · Feb 28, 2011, 18:10:24

No WMP offered?

DarkStar · Feb 28, 2011, 21:41:47

Quote from: Rik on Feb 28, 2011, 18:10:24
No WMP offered?

Never had WMP on this computer, it's not installed by default on Windows 7 and I installed VLC because it has some codecs to play DVD's that WMP hasn't got.
The fact that I have this problem in both Windows and Linux on completely different versions of VLC is what puzzles me.

Rik · Mar 01, 2011, 09:54:22

I understand that, Ian, it points the finger at the files, but what's changed, I wonder.

DarkStar · Mar 01, 2011, 15:53:29

Sorry for being late for work

I've been out all morning.
Played with the new camera, same result, video do not have a thumbnail, only the VLC cone.
What I cannot understand is why I am seeing this in both Windows and Linux with different versions of VLC.
Is it possible for something like the graphics card to have become corrupted, or for something VLC to have become embedded in the memory module?

Another thing that puzzles me is that I had yesterday apparently completely removed VLC and yet I download a video clip and it appears in my video folder as a VLC cone when I no longer have VLC installed

Where the hell has it embedded itself.

I also noticed a forum discussion just now re whether WMP is installed as part of Windows 7. A lot of posters were adamant that they have it on their Win7 installation disc. It certainly isn't on mine.
I was thinking of installing it to see if it solved the problem.

I can see me having to reinstall windows to get rid of it

Simon · Mar 01, 2011, 16:06:43

Try CCleaner to remove debris from the old VLC installation. This might remove the file association.

Rik · Mar 01, 2011, 17:55:55

Quote from: DarkStar on Mar 01, 2011, 15:53:29
I also noticed a forum discussion just now re whether WMP is installed as part of Windows 7. A lot of posters were adamant that they have it on their Win7 installation disc. It certainly isn't on mine.

It probably depends on which flavour you install. Ian.

Lona · Mar 01, 2011, 18:11:35

Have you tried installing Windows Classic Player. I've found that when I can't get some videos to play on VLC, Classic player will usually play anything you throw at it.

DarkStar · Mar 01, 2011, 21:48:14

Quote from: Lona on Mar 01, 2011, 18:11:35
Have you tried installing Windows Classic Player. I've found that when I can't get some videos to play on VLC, Classic player will usually play anything you throw at it.

Have just logged on to download Classic to see if it helps, I had it on my XP machine and never had any problems with it at all.
I have actually managed to get rid of VLC, it seems another program was holding on to remnants of it.

I will be out for a lot of the day tomorrow as I have work to do over my Grandaughters so will be late when I get back. Retire and sit about, don't you believe it

Lance · Mar 01, 2011, 22:06:10

Maybe try deleting the file association and then recreating it.

DarkStar · Mar 01, 2011, 23:25:48

Quote from: Lance on Mar 01, 2011, 22:06:10
Maybe try deleting the file association and then recreating it.

Sorry to appear ignorant but how exactly do I do that?

Rik · Mar 02, 2011, 10:43:17

In XP, Ian, open Explorer, then go to Folder Options > File types.

DarkStar · Mar 06, 2011, 15:47:48

An update:
Have spent some time searching the web and there appears to be more than a few people with this problem. The only surefire answer seems to be reinstalling Windows (whatever flavour) as the root cause seems to be a corrupted registry, everyone seems to be missing a particular registry entry, including me

I have however found a temporary workaround by installing the Canon software that I got with my new camera (Powershot S95). This shows all my Canon created video with their thumbnails and also plays them in their correct screen size based on the image size they were recorded at. I also have Picasa for viewing my photos and that also shows all my Sony video thumbnails and also the Olympus ones I have. So I can now see the thumbnails for all my video and play them but not all in one place as I would if Explorer was working correctly.
While all (?) photos seem to be a common standard - JPEG - the situation with video seems to be a real mess, I have three different formats with Canon alone and the new(ish) AVCHD format seems to be causing more than a few problems for playback options.

Rik · Mar 06, 2011, 16:45:01

JVC have their own format too, Ian.

Technical Ben · Mar 07, 2011, 08:41:45

Can you install/reinstall media player? That should set a new registry entry to have media player set the thumbnails for you. Then use VLC by hand (click and drag etc).
I would guess, setting VLC player to default, will make windows turn off previews, and set vlc icon instead. No idea how\if VLC is integrated into the shell to show thumbnails.

DarkStar · Mar 07, 2011, 19:58:37

Quote from: Technical Ben on Mar 07, 2011, 08:41:45
Can you install/reinstall media player? That should set a new registry entry to have media player set the thumbnails for you. Then use VLC by hand (click and drag etc).
I would guess, setting VLC player to default, will make windows turn off previews, and set vlc icon instead. No idea how\if VLC is integrated into the shell to show thumbnails.

I have looked for a download of WMP for Win7 but MS tell me that Windows 7 Pro comes with WMP installed, that WMP is an integral part of Win7. Well it isn't on mine and wasn't when I first got it. To be honest I'm beginning to wonder just what I have got installed on this computer.

Glenn · Mar 07, 2011, 20:03:17

you can try reload Windows Media Player by going to Control Panel. For your reference, I have included the steps below:

1. Open Control Panel -> Programs and Features.

2. Click "Turn Windows features on or off" in the left pane.

3. Expand "Media Features", uncheck "Windows Media Player". Click "Yes" to continue, and click OK to quit. Then Restart.

Note: If you turn off Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center will be turned off either. You may need to re-configure settings for Windows Media Center after re-enabling it.

4. Open "Turn Windows features on or off" again. Turn on the features "Windows Media Player" and "Windows Media Center". Restart.

5. Launch Windows Media Player, initialize the program.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itpromedia/thread/aa03b2d8-34ec-4c2f-b38a-ecf43510cddf

DarkStar · Mar 07, 2011, 21:45:43

Thanks for that Glenn, a bit late now but will try it tomorrow and report back

DarkStar · Mar 08, 2011, 09:36:09

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 07, 2011, 20:03:17
you can try reload Windows Media Player by going to Control Panel. For your reference, I have included the steps below:

1. Open Control Panel -> Programs and Features.

2. Click "Turn Windows features on or off" in the left pane.

3. Expand "Media Features", uncheck "Windows Media Player". Click "Yes" to continue, and click OK to quit. Then Restart.

Note: If you turn off Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center will be turned off either. You may need to re-configure settings for Windows Media Center after re-enabling it.

4. Open "Turn Windows features on or off" again. Turn on the features "Windows Media Player" and "Windows Media Center". Restart.

5. Launch Windows Media Player, initialize the program.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itpromedia/thread/aa03b2d8-34ec-4c2f-b38a-ecf43510cddf

Tried that just now, see the attachment. So that doesn't work

pctech · Mar 18, 2011, 09:44:07

Sounds like VLC has changed something at quite a low level in both OSes.

Can't help much with Ubuntu but regarding the Windows setup problem you are having if you have a Windows DVD make sure it is in the drive while you are trying to re-enable Windows Media Player so that any files can be re-copied.

Something I don't like about Windows post 98 is that the errors don't explain much and you have to go hunting in the system Event Viewer.

If the problem still occurs with the DVD inserted go to Start and type Event Viewer in search.

Click it in the list of results and then select the System Error log and look for one with a white x in a red circle with today's date and the time would should be within a few seconds.

Double-click it and tell us what error it says occurred.

armadillo · Mar 18, 2011, 16:51:35

It's probably a bit late to say this but I never install software if there is a portable version available that can just be run without installation.

VLC does have such a portable version. You just download the zip file, extract it to a folder and you can run VLC simply by double clicking the VLC.exe that is in that folder. You can even make a desktop shortcut to it and drag a video onto the shortcut to play it. No need to install anything at all or make any system changes.

That may or may not help with your original problem. Personally, I do not have thumbnails enabled for any files whatever in Windows. I allow applications to display their own thumbnails. ACDSee displays thumbnails when nothing else does. Video files appear to adhere to few standards if any for thumbnails.