I need clip player help, please!!

[Haltickling]

Help, please! My computer (newest free version) always freezes after 3-7 Windows Media Player clips. I've already switched the mpg-files to my RealPlayer, but I still need WMP for .wmv-files. Is there a way to stabilize WMP? BTW, the same happened with my earlier WMP versions, and quite often with Java.

Okay, I've got a crappy second-hand computer with only 128 MB RAM, but I hope there is a way to fix this nuisance.

As a by-effect of my switching mpg to RealPlayer, I can't play avi files anymore, because my DIVX codecs only works for WMP. Bitmap mpg don't work either... Isn't there a player anywhere which works for all systems? I think I read about one some time ago, but I can't remember the name.

As a reward for help, I offer to send you a clip of your choice from my 1000+ clips' archive via email. Thanks!

 

[Myriads]

I think you have pegged your own problem Hal.

128 Ram is very light. Both WMP and most Java's gobble Ram and you are probably hitting your system's limits. Buying another 128 or perhaps a 256 (Ram is pretty cheep right now) will probbaly clear the issue, it will also probably make your machine work a lot better also!

Myriads

 

[BOFH666]

May I suggest Media Player Classic? The latest build's available from, well, a lot of places but here's a link:

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_players/media_player_classic.cfm#download

It's less than a meg to download so shouldn't take too long and

Don't be fooled by the look, it's only modelled on the old Media Player and has nothing to do with Microsoft. Unzip the file and you should just be able to run it without having to install anything and (hopefully) it should play anything you've got installed. The only potential problems are with Real and Quicktime formats but I think they've got that sorted provided you've already got those programs on your machine. It seems to take a little more memory to run than WMP, but actually grabs what it needs to run the file when it first opens it, rather than adding more as it goes along so may be a little better.

I have to say though, I think Myriads is right, you're probably maxing the memory and getting more would be A Good Thing. If that's not an option, how many hard drives have you got in the machine? If you've got more than one try shifting your windows swapfile onto the disk that doesn't have your windows directory on it.

 

[Haltickling]

Thanks to both of you, but that doesn't exactly help me... I know I need more RAM, and I'll try to find someone who can fix that. As a computer illiterate, I don't even dare to open my comp, let alone plug in a card.

BOFH, the new Media Player Classic is only for Windows 2K/XP, and the software homepage with the W9x version has been down for a while now. If it works the way I need it, you may choose from my clip storage anyway. Just drop me a line and specify your wish: [email protected] .

 

[UnclStevel]

Try turning your hardware accelleration down Hal. That will use less ram, and probably fix the problem. In the WMP go to Tools>Options>Performance and slide the video acceleration bar down some.

Steve