WMP 12 Video Settings (Brightness/Contrast etc.) Won't Work
Crusoe89
I have new Sony CW laptop running Windows 7 (64-bit) with an Nvidia GeForce
GT 230m graphics card.
The problem I have is that I can't adjust the video settings
(colour/contrast/brightness etc.) in Windows Media Player 12 as I am used to
being able to do in previous versions. I use this function all the time and
it is not enough for me to simply change the global settings as I know it
should be possible within Windows Media Player.
I updated the Nvidia driver and downloaded the K-Lite codec pack (too
complicated - didn't know which codecs to adjust) with no result. The Nvidia
control panel settings are all set to 'use the video player's adjustment
controls' and I have had no luck adjusting any of the options.
Access to the display driver settings is grayed-out, so I cannot adjust
hardware acceleration. I de-activated the Aero theme as I have seen
suggested, but it did not change anything, and my version of Windows 7 (Home
Premium) apparently does not support 'Virtual XP' mode, which may have
allowed me to run a previous version of WMP.
I have posted this question on other forums without reply. I tried the
KMPlayer and was able to change the video settings, as was the case with
Quicktime, but it is very disappointing that my brand new Vaio does not allow
me this simple functionality in the media player I frequently use.
I have not contacted Microsoft support as it would apparently cost me £50!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
**Additional Information**
Here is a list of the codecs installed according to the technical info on
Windows Media Player:
Microsoft RLE
Microsoft Video 1
Microsoft YUV
Intel IYUV codec IYUV
Toshiba YUV Codec
Cinepak Codec by Radius
Xvid MPEG-4 Codec
DivX 6.8.5 Codec (2 Logical CPUs)
DivX 6.8.5 YV12 Decoder
ffdshow Video Codec
VP60® Simple Profile
VP61® Advanced Profile
VP62® Heightened Sharpness Profile
Mpeg4s Decoder
WMV Screen decoder
WMVideo Decoder
Mpeg43 Decoder
Mpeg4 Decoder
Andrew E.
would be in classic display mode.Also,bring up the "view" tab,select "show
enhancements",enhancements get shown in task bar for adjustments.Also,if
older version WMP helps,in xp (maybe 7),one could go to run,type:
MPLAYER2 An older WMP gets displayed.
Tim De Baets
the video settings while playing a WMV file?
I would first uninstall the K-Lite codec pack. If there's a codec
required to play these videos, look for a separate download of that
codec and just install that.
Regards
--
Tim De Baets
http://www.bm-productions.tk
zachd [MSFT]
What are you trying to do?
The Video Settings can NOT be used to globally compensate for a weird
driver, as they always reset after usage. If you're trying to solve video
card issues, you would need to direct your efforts back to the driver.
--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--
"Crusoe89" <Crus...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B9046142-ADE6-44C1...@microsoft.com...
Crusoe89
I can access the video enhancements, they just have no effect. All the other
enhancements, such as Graphic Equalizer etc. work, it is only the Video
Settings that don't. I tried 'MPLAYER2' but it just starts WMP12.
Crusoe89
It doesn't seem to be a file format problem as they all play fine, except
that I can't adjust the Video Settings in any file type. I tried the K-Lite
Codec pack but removed it once I saw it had no effect.
I was able to play these same files and adjust the video settings using
KMPlayer, which allows access to all different kinds of settings, so it seems
to be a problem with WMP12 specifically. Quicktime player also allows video
settings adjustment.
I use WMP as the default media player and so would like the same
functionality I am used to. If it is a codec problem then I would have no
idea which one was at fault or what to download as none of the
troubleshooting or diagnostics programs have identified a problem.
I read online that my Nvidia Graphics card may not allow access to the
hardware acceleration settings in Windows 7 because everything is now
rendered in DirectX9, and indeed that option is 'grayed out' in my Nvidia
Properties menu (I am quoting however, as video rendering is beyond my
understanding!). So the problem could be there. The suggested solutions were
disabling Windows Aero (tried it, didn't work), or running the compatibility
mode for XP, which Windows 7 Home Premium doesn't appear to support!
If other media players allow me to change the video settings, why doesn't
WMP12?
Thanks for your help.
"Tim De Baets" wrote:
> .
>
Crusoe89
Thanks for your reply.
I am merely trying to adjust the Video Settings (particularly
Brightness/Contrast) in video files by going to Enhancements>Video Settings
in WMP12. I simply want to be able to brighten media if it happens to be too
dark etc. on a file by file basis. Just the same as you would be able to add
more Bass etc. to a particular sound file using the Enhancements menu.
When I mentioned 'Global settings', I was addressing the fact that I have
seen suggestions elsewhere that you could simply turn up the brightness of
the monitor, or use the graphics card settings to brighten all media. But I
only want to be able to adjust the settings within WMP if I wish to, as I was
able to do in the past.
I have downloaded the latest Nvidia drivers (even though the computer is
brand new) from the Sony Vaio site to make sure they were compatible, but it
did not change anything.
Thanks for your help.
"zachd [MSFT]" wrote:
> .
>
2p...@in.com
wrote:
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> I am merely trying to adjust the Video Settings (particularly
> Brightness/Contrast) in video files by going to Enhancements>Video Settings
> in WMP12. I simply want to be able to brighten media if it happens to be too
> dark etc. on a file by file basis. Just the same as you would be able to add
> more Bass etc. to a particular sound file using the Enhancements menu.
>
> When I mentioned 'Global settings', I was addressing the fact that I have
> seen suggestions elsewhere that you could simply turn up the brightness of
> the monitor, or use the graphics card settings to brighten all media. But I
> only want to be able to adjust the settings within WMP if I wish to, as I was
> able to do in the past.
>
> I have downloaded the latest Nvidia drivers (even though the computer is
> brand new) from the Sony Vaio site to make sure they were compatible, but it
> did not change anything.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> "zachd [MSFT]" wrote:
>
> > What are you trying to do?
>
> > The Video Settings can NOT be used to globally compensate for a weird
> > driver, as they always reset after usage. If you're trying to solve video
> > card issues, you would need to direct your efforts back to the driver.
>
> > --
> > Speaking for myself only.
> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
> > --
window media player is not worthy to play video files since adjustment
of video control,i.e,cntrast,brightness,hue is so difficult and not
actually working.So, i suggest that you use VLC player instead till
Microsoft can address this problem.
Crusoe89
to give them a try.
But I am disappointed as, flawed though it is, I am used to using WMP as my
default media player. I have all my playlists organized using WMP and my
computer is brand new, so it is frustrating that something as simple as
adjusting the Brightness/Contrast is failing to work.
I doubt Microsoft will be working on this as it does not seem to be a
problem that many encounter, and it also makes me wonder if there is an
underlying error causing this fault that needs fixed, rather than it simply
being a glitch with WMP12.
Oh, well, I'll just keep trying!
Thank for all the help and suggestions!
zachd [MSFT]
Gotcha.
You mentioned that you installed K-Lite: that could have put WMP in a weird
state. If you uninstall WMP using Turn Windows Features On or Off and then
reinstall it, that *may* get the WMP registry back in the correct state.
These should work fine for WMV files and a variety of other types. If
you're seeing them *not* working for WMV, something is awry with your
system.
--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--
"Crusoe89" <Crus...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B62F8D4B-397E-4B23...@microsoft.com...
Crusoe89
I have had this problem with WMP in the past (and in fact you helped me on
this forum then too!), but I was always able to tweak something or download a
codec pack that solved the issue. Therefore one of the first things I tried
straight out of the box on my new laptop was the WMP Video Settings, and they
didn't work!
I downloaded the K-Lite pack (as I was pretty sure it was a codec pack that
solved the issue last time) and when it didn't work, I reverted the entire
system back to the restore point I created before installing it, just to make
sure it didn't cause any residual problems.
I just don't know enough about codecs (or anything about video rendering at
all!) to be able to tell which ones need downloading/tweaking etc. And it is
also very hard to narrow down where the conflict might be i.e. is it the
graphics card, or a driver problem, or something to do with hardware
acceleration etc.!!
I tried 're-installing' WMP12 as you suggested, but there was no change.
One thing I have noticed is that there aren't as many options to mess around
with in WMP12 as there were in earlier versions (e.g. there are no 'Video
Acceleration' options). I'm wondering if other media players in which the
video enhancements work allow access to settings that WMP12 doesn't since it
is part of Windows 7. But then, why doesn't everyone with Windows 7 have this
problem!!
I will keep trying to solve this issue and let you know if I ever succeed!
Kind Regards.
Crusoe89
Hi,
I fixed it!! My laptop started in 'Diagnostic Startup' mode for some reason,
and when I tried the Video Settings on WMP12, they finally worked! So I
realised it must be one of the Startup programs or Services that was to
blame. I went through them all in System Configuration, turning them back on
one by one, and found it was 'Vaio Event Service' that was to blame.
Apparently it is the program that allows you to use keyboard 'hotkeys' with
the 'Fn' button to control volume, brightness etc. Turning this off has
disabled some of the hotkeys, but so far, none that I use. I will see if
there is a way to fix this conflict, but at the moment I am really happy to
have tracked down the problem.
Thanks for all your help.
Kind Regards.
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