Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

cb474 · 2009-08-16 05:45:26

I have a DVD that I can't play for the life of me in Arch. I've tried VLC, Totem, Xine, and MPlayer. And I do have libdvdcss installed. Other DVDs work fine.

With VLC the DVD menu comes up, but when I hit play I get choppy sound and no picture. And I get these errors:

[0x7f91f4000c18] main input error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
[0x7f91f4000c18] main input error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
[0x15c0a08] a52 decoder: A/52 channels:2 samplerate:48000 bitrate:192000
No accelerated IMDCT transform found
[0x7f91f4000c18] main input error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
[0x7f91f4000c18] main input error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
[0x15c0a08] libmpeg2 decoder error: invalid picture encountered
[0x12839a8] a52 decoder: A/52 channels:2 samplerate:48000 bitrate:192000
No accelerated IMDCT transform found
[0x15c0a08] libmpeg2 decoder error: invalid picture encountered
[0x15c0a08] libmpeg2 decoder error: invalid picture encountered
[0x15c0a08] libmpeg2 decoder error: invalid picture encountered

With Totem I get the DVD menu and when I hit play it just freezes.

With Gxine I just get a popup window that says "Media stream scrambled/encrypted" (but again I do have libdvdcss, libdvdread, and libdvdnav installed). In the terminal Gxine reports it's using libdvdcss to get the encryption keys and it appears to all go fine, but then I get the "Media stream scrambled/encrypted" popup window.

Mplayer plays the the DVD but the image is scrambled and the sound is a little choppy.

On the other hand, in Windows, on the same computer, the DVD plays fine with an older version of VLC (0.8.6d) and with Media Player Classic with the K-Lite Codec Pack.

I'm especially baffled that VLC does it in Windows, but not in Arch (nor in Debian).

Any thoughts? Thanks.

djszapi · 2009-08-16 07:48:01

Hello cb474!

Which kernel/xorg/driver do you use ? Did you try it from a livecd e.g. ?

cb474 · 2009-08-16 08:35:17

Hi, thanks for the help. I use kernel 2.6.30-ARCH (nothing special, just what's in the repos). Xorg-server 1.6.3-3. And xf86-video-intel 2.7.99.902-1. Of course, I'm getting the same results in Debian, as I noted, which has a totally different kernel, version of xorg, and ATI graphics and driver.

I did not try the live CD. There's a live cd for Arch?

nawitus · 2009-08-16 12:47:56

Do you have a52dec installed?

djszapi · 2009-08-16 22:32:50

"I did not try the live CD. There's a live cd for Arch?" <- Yeah, You install Archlinux from live too, but I thought for ubuntu/sushe livecd e.g.

skottish · 2009-08-17 02:09:25

nawitus wrote:

Do you have a52dec installed?

Mplayer uses it's own internal version.

cb474 · 2009-08-18 02:24:23

Thanks for the further suggestions. I do have a52dec installed.

Unfortunately, I had to return the DVD sooner than I thought, so I can't troubleshoot this problem any further. I'm still curious if anyone else has had this sort of problem where a DVD will play in Windows, but not Linux, on the same machine, even when using VLC under both systems. Again, other DVDs work okay for me on this machine, both in Arch and Debian, just not this one. But since it worked in Windows under VLC and Media Player Classic, I can't just say it's something wrong with the DVD.

Rasi · 2009-08-18 10:18:22

Welcome to copyprotection hell. Many dvds are not only encrypted using css, but with several other mechanisms too. Such dvds cannot be played back on linux. It might work with one of the commercial players, but definately wont work with free tools.

This is the reason why i will definately NOT jump on the bluray train, because the format restricts your common rights even more.

cb474 · 2009-08-18 18:56:07

Rasi wrote:

Welcome to copyprotection hell. Many dvds are not only encrypted using css, but with several other mechanisms too. Such dvds cannot be played back on linux. It might work with one of the commercial players, but definately wont work with free tools.

That's interesting. I didn't realize it was all css. But how does that explain in this case the DVD did work with free players in Windows. As I said, both with Media Player Classic with the K-Lite codec pack and with an older version of VLC (0.8.6d)? Thanks.

Last edited by cb474 (2009-08-18 18:56:56)

Rasi · 2009-08-18 21:32:05

cb474 wrote:

Rasi wrote:
Welcome to copyprotection hell. Many dvds are not only encrypted using css, but with several other mechanisms too. Such dvds cannot be played back on linux. It might work with one of the commercial players, but definately wont work with free tools.
That's interesting. I didn't realize it was all css. But how does that explain in this case the DVD did work with free players in Windows. As I said, both with Media Player Classic with the K-Lite codec pack and with an older version of VLC (0.8.6d)? Thanks.

That is very possible. All those players use (or can use) direct show. As soon as you have the needed filter installed by SOME software all those players will be able to make use of it. And i think Vista even had dvd filters pre-installed.

Btw. One of the more common protections on dvds is called arcos and is developed by Sony. Google for it

Last edited by Rasi (2009-08-18 21:32:56)

cb474 · 2009-08-19 05:49:19

Thats a bummer. So there are filters available in Windows that provide functionality not available in Linux. Thanks for the explanation.

SiegeMachine · 2009-10-26 03:09:45

I am having the same issue where I can't play certain dvd's on linux but I can on windows. Whats even more wierd is that I try playing them in a windows install on virtual box while on my Arch linux boot and still can't play them using the windows vlc. Though if I boot into my windows boot I can play them no questions asked, it is rather annoying and something needs to be done!

cb474 · 2009-10-26 06:33:19

That is very strange that it doesn't work in virtual box. I was hoping that would be my solution, but hadn't tried it yet.

SiegeMachine · 2009-10-26 06:45:17

My friend mentioned to me about the DirectShow thing which is part of DirectX which is only experimental in VirtualBox and as for Wine it MIGHT work, but that would be sketchy as well I think running VLC in wine. Microsoft must fall! The basis of the problem is close-source coding that windows has to play the DVD's and Linux doesn't.

cb474 · 2009-10-26 07:26:39

But the DVDs would presumaby play in an actual set-top DVD player (as well as I suppose in OS X)? So does that just mean there's some proprietary something that Linux would have to license to play these DVDs? That is, I assume the DVDs that we're having trouble with were not designed to only work in Windows.

Last edited by cb474 (2009-10-26 07:26:55)

SiegeMachine · 2009-10-26 18:50:50

Anything that has the lisence can play it. I'm pretty sure a Mac can, dvd players you buy from the store can, windows can, Linux can't.

cb474 · 2009-10-27 05:18:56

So in theory a Linux distribution could pay for the license and not have these problems?

kayosiii · 2009-11-09 13:35:12

From memory such a license would be a 5 figure number possibly a six.

from memory though there is already one commercial DVD player on linux..... Some Distros ship it with there payed for versions. (I think Mandriva do and so did Linspire (do they even exist any more?)

Last edited by kayosiii (2009-11-09 13:37:18)

cyberwinnie · 2010-01-16 12:23:20

Hey2all,
maybe it's to late, but you need to get the package libdvdcss via pacman. You can also get the source on videolan.org.

clu · 2010-04-24 01:06:24

cyberwinnie wrote:

Hey2all,
maybe it's to late, but you need to get the package libdvdcss via pacman. You can also get the source on videolan.org.

This fixed the same trouble for me.

mjaning · 2013-11-05 18:07:56

Thanks cyberwinnie, by installing libdvdcss has been solved my issues with VLC for playing dvds.

pacman -S libdvdcss libdvdread
pacman -S vlc

karol · 2013-11-05 18:15:57

Welcome to the forums, mjaning.

Look at the online package database https://www.archlinux.org/packages/extra/i686/vlc/ or pacman's output - you will find vlc has quite a few optional dependencies.
No need to bump old threads :-)

Arch Linux

#1 2009-08-16 05:45:26

Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#2 2009-08-16 07:48:01

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#3 2009-08-16 08:35:17

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#4 2009-08-16 12:47:56

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#5 2009-08-16 22:32:50

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#6 2009-08-17 02:09:25

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#7 2009-08-18 02:24:23

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#8 2009-08-18 10:18:22

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#9 2009-08-18 18:56:07

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#10 2009-08-18 21:32:05

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#11 2009-08-19 05:49:19

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#12 2009-10-26 03:09:45

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#13 2009-10-26 06:33:19

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#14 2009-10-26 06:45:17

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#15 2009-10-26 07:26:39

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#16 2009-10-26 18:50:50

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#17 2009-10-27 05:18:56

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#18 2009-11-09 13:35:12

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#19 2010-01-16 12:23:20

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#20 2010-04-24 01:06:24

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#21 2013-11-05 18:07:56

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

#22 2013-11-05 18:15:57

Re: Can't Play DVD (with VLC, Totem, Xine, MPlayer), But Works in Windows

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