Recent MKV files don't play

[vtimmerm]

Hi,

I have many mkv files on the internal hard disk of my A110 that play just fine. However, recently, more and more mkv files that I download don't play anymore.

The mkv's download and extract fine and I can play them on a computer using Media Player Classic, over the network, directly from the Popcornhour's hard disk without problem. So the file seems to be intact and in order.

What's happening here? Have there been changes in the mkv file format the Popcornhour doesn't know about? MKV files used to be a safe choice for downloading. In the past, never had any problems with them.

I am not running the latest firmware, because of the audio play bug. The screensaver is just too important for me, because I have a plasma television that is rather vulnerable to burn in, and a wife who... well, doesn't seem to give these kind of things much thought... So I can't depend on her to stop the movie instead of pausing it when she decides to talk to her sister on the phone for an hour.

Any thoughts?

Vincent

[MiniMe]

(04-01-2011 12:31 PM)vtimmerm Wrote:  Hi,

I have many mkv files on the internal hard disk of my A110 that play just fine. However, recently, more and more mkv files that I download don't play anymore.

The mkv's download and extract fine and I can play them on a computer using Media Player Classic, over the network, directly from the Popcornhour's hard disk without problem. So the file seems to be intact and in order.

What's happening here? Have there been changes in the mkv file format the Popcornhour doesn't know about? MKV files used to be a safe choice for downloading. In the past, never had any problems with them.

I am not running the latest firmware, because of the audio play bug. The screensaver is just too important for me, because I have a plasma television that is rather vulnerable to burn in, and a wife who... well, doesn't seem to give these kind of things much thought... So I can't depend on her to stop the movie instead of pausing it when she decides to talk to her sister on the phone for an hour.

Any thoughts?

Vincent

Sounds like the mkv header compression issue. Latter versions of firmware can handle it, but if you can't upgrade then you'll need to re-mux and remove the header compression. Here is one link to simple instructions, or search the forum for "mkv header compression" for others.

[vtimmerm]

Yes,

It seems you're right. The mkv files all play with the latest firmware. I guess I have no choice but do disable the screen saver. I hope they come up with a decent fix for the audio play bug really soon.

Thanks,
Vincent

[telexxingou]

i have the latest firmware and get some mkv not playing too
When got problem, i reboot my nmt and it play fine the same mkv who refused to work......that's the only solution for me at this time

[MiniMe]

(04-04-2011 11:41 AM)telexxingou Wrote:  i have the latest firmware and get some mkv not playing too
When got problem, i reboot my nmt and it play fine the same mkv who refused to work......that's the only solution for me at this time

That's another long-standing known issue. Especially prevalent on 1080P movies when using a memory intensive jukebox like YAMJ and Aeon. There is apparently a memory leak that is exacerbated by that combo. Last I checked your only recourse is to reboot.

[hib1000]

(04-05-2011 12:21 AM)MiniMe Wrote:  

(04-04-2011 11:41 AM)telexxingou Wrote:  i have the latest firmware and get some mkv not playing too
When got problem, i reboot my nmt and it play fine the same mkv who refused to work......that's the only solution for me at this time

That's another long-standing known issue. Especially prevalent on 1080P movies when using a memory intensive jukebox like YAMJ and Aeon. There is apparently a memory leak that is exacerbated by that combo. Last I checked your only recourse is to reboot.

http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showth...?tid=19715

[chrismgan]

I was wondering why this thread is marked as solved? I haven't seen any solutions posted. I am also having problems playing MKV (mostly large ones 4gig +) files. I'm running the latest firmware on my A-110. Any ideas? My A-200 plays them just fine.

[steagle]

MiniMe posted a solution which is also well documented all over the internet. If MKVs simply do not play back at all 9 times out of 10 it is because it was muxed with header removal compression enabled, which is the "new" default setting on mkvmerge since v4. If you remux the MKV and ensure header removal compression is disabled, and it still doesn't play back, then i would need to see a lot more detail regarding your setup and the usual mediainfo specs on the file in question.

Also, FWIW, when i upgraded to the latest firmware (Jan 2011) it basically broke playback on 90% of my MKV files. So I'm not sure about MiniMe's statement that new firmware got rid of the header compression removal bug, because my files sure as hell didn't play. After much research on the forum i took someone's advice of downgrading to the March 2010 firmware, and this restored normal playback functionality on my A-110. Unfortunately, there are still other bugs present in this version of the firmware so basically i cannot win with this machine.

[accident]

I'd be more willing to say that it's the format of the audio track.. 110s play header compression just fine, however they cannot downmix many hd audio formats that are more and more common lately.

---

to add: I've been informed a more common reason is: embedded hidef vob subs

[steagle]

which formats can it not play back? what happens if it can't downmix an audio track - it doesn't play the file at all?

and yes, with recent firmware the A110 can play back mkv's with header removal compression i've heard, but then why couldn't half of my mkv's play after i installed the last firmware? these were files that played back perfectly fine before the update. at any rate, all i know is with March 2010 firmware or earlier, the A110 certainly does not play back mkv's with header removal compression. whenever i encounter a mkv that doesn't play, i run it through mkvmerge (with that setting disabled) and then the A110 plays it. i'd love to not have to do this, but at least it's a solution until there comes a time when a firmware upgrade does not break my machine (crossing fingers)

[rolandhii]

(05-23-2011 01:54 AM)steagle Wrote:  Also, FWIW, when i upgraded to the latest firmware (Jan 2011) it basically broke playback on 90% of my MKV files.

Have you tried the latest A-110 firmware [5 Apr. 2011]?

[steagle]

Hmm, don't think so, I couldn't find anything more recent than Jan 2011 through the built-in firmware search in Maintenance. I'll try manually installing via USB - at this point, I'm willing to try anything but I think my core issues will never be solved (not enough processing power in the A-110 to handle high bitrate scenes in MKVs). I'm right on the cusp of buying a Dune device, either a Smart D1 or the Duo, but I'll give the A-110 a few more chances before pulling the trigger.

[cachirro]

any news on this?

[Tjempeng]

Is there still any development for the A-110 ?
I don't need new features but i sure wish this bug to be fixed.
Lately more and more movies won't play anymore. Rebooting doesn't help.
It only plays the first one or 2 minute of the movie and then it stops playing the movie while the audio is still there for a few seconds.
Starting another movie results in a weird situation where the last frame of the previous movie is somewhat showing and the movie I just started won't play either anymore. A reset is the only solution then.

[dave.t]

(03-30-2012 08:10 PM)Tjempeng Wrote:  Is there still any development for the A-110 ?
I don't need new features but i sure wish this bug to be fixed.
Lately more and more movies won't play anymore. Rebooting doesn't help.
It only plays the first one or 2 minute of the movie and then it stops playing the movie while the audio is still there for a few seconds.
Starting another movie results in a weird situation where the last frame of the previous movie is somewhat showing and the movie I just started won't play either anymore. A reset is the only solution then.

This looks like the same problem I had. Do you have sub/idx subtitle files with the movie? If so they don't work with mkv files. Rename the files or delete them and se if the movie works.
Dave