path: root/DOCS/xml/en/faq.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<chapter id="faq" xreflabel="FAQ">
<title>Frequently Asked Questions</title>

<qandaset defaultlabel="number">

<qandadiv id="faq-compilation">
<title>Compilation</title>
<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Compilation stops with an error message similar to this one:
<screen>
    In file included from mplayer.c:34:
    mw.h: In function `mplMainDraw':
    mw.h:209: Internal compiler error in print_rtl_and_abort, at flow.c:6458
    Please submit a full bug report,
    with preprocessed source if appropriate.
</screen>
</para></question>
<answer><para>
This is a known problem of <application>gcc</application> 3.0.4, upgrade
to 3.1 to solve the problem. How to install gcc is described in the
<link linkend="gcc-296">gcc 2.96</link> section.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Configure ends with this text, and MPlayer won't compile!
<screen>Your gcc does not support even i386 for '-march' and '-mcpu'</screen>
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Your gcc isn't installed correctly, check the <filename>config.log</filename>
file for details.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
What does &quot;No such file or directory&quot; mean?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Probably there is no such file or directory.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
What's the problem with gcc 2.96?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
<emphasis role="bold">We strongly discourage the use of gcc 2.96!</emphasis>
Read <link linkend="gcc-296">this</link> document for details about why Red Hat
released gcc 2.96 and what the problems are all about. If you still really really
want to use it, be sure to get the latest release and give the
<option>--disable-gcc-checking</option> option to configure. Remember that you
are on your own from this point. Do <emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> report
bugs, do <emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> ask for help on the mailing lists.
We will <emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> provide any support in case you run
into problems.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Great, I have gcc 3.0.1 from Red Hat/Mandrake, then I'm fine!
</para></question>
<answer><para>
No, since there have been/are issues with these compilers as well.
To check the status of current compilers' MPlayer support, see the
<link linkend="install">Installation</link> section.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I tried to compile MPlayer, but I got this output:
<screen>
    In file included from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/std_cwchar.h:42,
                     from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/fpos.h:40,
                     from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/char_traits.h:40,
                     from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/std_string.h:41,
                     from /usr/include/g++-v3/string:31,
                     from libwin32.h:36,
                     from DS_AudioDecoder.h:4,
                     from DS_AudioDec.cpp:5:
    /usr/include/wchar.h: In function Long long int wcstoq(const wchar_t*,
       wchar_t**, int)':
    /usr/include/wchar.h:514: cannot convert `const wchar_t* __restrict' to
    `const
</screen>
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Upgrade your glibc to the latest release. On Mandrake, use 2.2.4-8mdk.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
.. gcc 2.96 ... (Yes, some people are STILL flaming about gcc 2.96!)
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Quoted from a <ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/2001-October/005351.html">mail</ulink>
A'rpi sent to the <ulink url="http://mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/">mplayer-users</ulink>
list (the word 'ideg' is described below):
<blockquote>
<para>
And we have idegs. And our idegcounter overflowed again and again.
</para>
<para>
Unfortunately MPlayer is out of our control. It's used by lamers, Linux
users who can't even use Windows, and never tried to compile a kernel. They
installed (with default options) Mandrake or Red Hat or SuSE, and without
RTFM'ing they send messages saying 'it doesn't work! help me! please! i'm
new to Linux! help! oh! help me!'. We can't stop them, but at least we try
to force them to RTFM and to read the messages of ./configure and MPlayer.
</para>
<para>
And you clever guys come and flame us with gcc 2.96 and binary packages.
Instead of helping users or making patches to help solve problems.
</para>
<para>
Half of our spare/free time is spent by answering silly mails here and
making newer tricks and checks to configure to avoid such mails.
</para>
<para>
And there is a balance. On the one side are you, clever guys, saying we
are very bad because we don't like buggy gcc 2.96, and on the other side
there are the 'new to Linux' guys who are showing us gcc 2.96 is buggy.
</para>
<para>
Conclusion: We can't be good. Half the people will always say we are bad.
</para>
<para>
Maybe we should close the project, make it closed source, commercial, and
provide install support for it. then we could leave current work, so development
could go faster, and we could earn lots of money with it and buy a big house,
etc etc. Do you really want it? It seems.
</para>
</blockquote>
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
SDL output doesn't work or compile. The problem is ...
</para></question>
<answer><para>
It was tested to work with SDL 1.2.x and may run on SDL 1.1.7+. It does
<emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> work with any previous version. So
if you choose to use such a version, you are on your own.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I am still having trouble compiling with SDL support. gcc says something
about &quot;undefined reference to `SDL_EnableKeyRepeat'&quot;. What now?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Where did you install the SDL library? If you installed in
<filename class="directory">/usr/local</filename> (the default) then edit the
top level <filename>config.mak</filename> and add &quot;-L/usr/local/lib&quot;
after &quot;X_LIBS=&quot;. Now type <command>make</command>. You're done!
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
It doesn't compile, and it misses uint64_t inttypes.h and similar things ...
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Copy <filename>etc/inttypes.h</filename> to the MPlayer directory
(<command>cp etc/inttypes.h .</command>) and try again ...
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I have Linux running on a Pentium III but <filename>./configure</filename>
doesn't detect SSE ...
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Only kernel versions 2.4.x support SSE (or try 2.2.19 or newer, but be
prepared for problems).
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I have a G200/G400, how do I compile/use the mga_vid driver?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Read the <link linkend="mga_vid">mga_vid documentation</link>.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Are there rpm/deb/... packages of <application>MPlayer</application>?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
You can make a .deb package for yourself, check the
<link linkend="debian">Debian packaging</link> section. There are links to
official Red Hat RPM packages available on our
<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/dload.html">download page</ulink>.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
During 'make', MPlayer complains about X11 libraries. I don't understand,
I DO have X installed!?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
... but you don't have the X development package installed. Or not correctly.
It's called <filename>XFree86-devel*</filename> under Red Hat, and
<filename>xlibs-dev</filename> under Debian. Also check if the
<filename class="directory">/usr/X11</filename> and
<filename class="directory">/usr/include/X11</filename> symlinks exist (this
can be a problem on Mandrake systems). They can be created with these commands:
<screen>
     $ ln -sf /usr/X11R6 /usr/X11
     $ ln -sf /usr/X11R6/include/X11 /usr/include/X11
</screen>
Your distribution may differ from the
<ulink url="http://www.pathname.com/fhs/">Filesystem Hierarchy Standard</ulink>.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I can't compile SVGAlib. I'm using kernel 2.3/2.4 ...
</para></question>
<answer><para>
You have to edit SVGAlib's <filename>Makefile.cfg</filename> and comment
<systemitem>BACKGROUND = y</systemitem> out.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I compiled MPlayer with libdvdcss/libdivxdecore support, but when I try to start it, it says:
<screen>
error while loading shared libraries: lib*.so.0: cannot load shared object file: No such file or directory
</screen>
I checked up on the file and it IS there in <filename class="directory">/usr/local/lib</filename> ...
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Add <filename class="directory">/usr/local/lib</filename> to <filename>/etc/ld.so.conf</filename>
and run <command>ldconfig</command>.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Hmm, strange. When loading the <filename>mga_vid.o</filename> kernel module, I
found this in the logs:
<programlisting>
Warning: loading mga_vid.o will taint the kernel: no license
</programlisting>
</para></question>
<answer><para>
The latest kernel modutils require a flag indicating the license (mainly to avoid
kernel hackers debugging closed source drivers). Upgrade your kernel, modutils
and <application>MPlayer</application>.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
When compiling <application>MEncoder</application>, it segfaults at linking!
</para></question>
<answer><para>
This is a linker problem. Upgrading binutils should help (2.11.92.*
or newer should be good). Since it is not our fault, please do
<emphasis role="bold">not</emphasis> report!
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
MPlayer dies with segmentation fault upon pthread check!
</para></question>
<answer><para>
<command>chmod 644 /usr/lib/libc.so</command>
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I'd like to compile <application>MPlayer</application> on Minix!
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Me too. :)
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

</qandadiv>

<qandadiv id="faq-general">
<title>General questions</title>
<qandaentry>
<question><para>
How do I create a proper patch for <application>MPlayer</application>?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
We made a <ulink url="../../tech/patches.txt">short document</ulink>
describing all the necessary details. Please follow the instructions.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
How can I support <application>MPlayer</application> development?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
We are more than happy to accept your hardware and software
<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/donations.html">donations</ulink>.
They help us in continuously improving MPlayer.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
How can I become an <application>MPlayer</application> developer?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
We always welcome coders and documenters. Read the
<ulink url="../../tech/">technical documentation</ulink>
to get a first grasp. Then you should subscribe to the
<ulink url="http://mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-dev-eng">mplayer-dev-eng</ulink>
mailing list and start coding.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Can I run multiple instances of <application>MPlayer</application>?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Yes. Some video out drivers like xv, dga or (x)mga are exclusive, some are
exclusive in combination with certain graphics boards and drivers. You will
not be able to run more than one instance of MPlayer with one of those video
out drivers. To a lesser degree this also applies to audio drivers. Not all
allow playback of multiple streams on the same device.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
There is a timer in the upper left corner. How can I get rid of it?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Press <keycap>o</keycap> and try the <option>-osdlevel</option> option.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
The <option>-xy</option> or <option>-fs</option> option doesn't work with
the x11 driver (<option>-vo x11</option>) ...
</para></question>
<answer><para>
It does, but you have to explicitly specify software scaling (very slow) with the
<option>-zoom</option> option. You better use XF86VidMode support: You must
specify the <option>-vm</option> and the <option>-fs</option> option, and you're
done. Make sure you have the right modelines in your <filename>XF86Config</filename>
file, and try to make the <link linkend="dga">DGA driver</link> and
<link linkend="sdl">SDL's DGA driver</link> work for you. It's much
faster. If SDL's DGA works, use that, it'll be even faster.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
What is the meaning of the numbers on the status line?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Example:
<screen>A: 2.1 V: 2.2 A-V: -0.167 ct: 0.042 57/57 41% 0% 2.6% 0 4 49%</screen>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>A: audio position in seconds</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>V: video position in seconds</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>A-V: audio-video difference in seconds (delay)</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>ct: total A-V sync correction done</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>frames played (counting from last seek)</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>frames decoded (counting from last seek)</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>video codec cpu usage in percent (for slices and DR this includes
video_out)</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>video_out cpu usage</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>audio codec cpu usage in percent</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>frames needed to drop to maintain A-V sync</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>current level of image postprocessing (when using
<option>-autoq</option>)</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>current cache size used (around 50% is normal)</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
Most of them are for debug purposes and will be removed at some point.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
What if I don't want them to appear?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Use the <option>-quiet</option> option and read the man page.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Why is video_out cpu usage zero (0%) for some files?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
It's not zero, but it's called from the codec and thus cannot be measured
separately. You should try to play the file using <option>-vo null</option> and
then <option>-vo ...</option> and check the difference to see the video_out speed.
</para></answer>
<answer><para>
You are using Direct Rendering, where the codec renders to the video memory
itself. In this case, the decoding percentage contains the display percentage, too.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
There are error messages about file not found <filename>/usr/local/lib/codecs/</filename> ...
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Download the Win32 codecs from our
<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/MPlayer/releases/codecs/">codecs page</ulink>
(avifile's codec package has a different DLL set) and install it.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Are there any mailing lists on <application>MPlayer</application>?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Yes. See the bottom of the info page on
<ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/info.html">our homepage</ulink>
to subscribe.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I've found a nasty bug when I tried to play my favorite video! Who should I inform?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Please read the
<link linkend="bugreports">bug reporting guidelines</link>
and follow the instructions.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
I have problems playing files with the ... codec. Can I use them?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
Check the <ulink url="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/codecs-status.html">codec status</ulink>,
if it doesn't contain your codec, read the <link linkend="codecs">codec documentation</link>,
especially the <link linkend="win32-codecs">codec importing HOWTO</link> and contact us.
</para></answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question><para>
Umm, what is &quot;IdegCounter&quot;?
</para></question>
<answer><para>
A combination of a Hungarian and an English word. &quot;Ideg&quot; in Hungarian
means the same as "nerve" in English, and is pronounced as something like
quot;ydaegh&quot;. It was first used to measure the nervousness of A'rpi, after
some (umm) &quot;mysterious&quot; disappearance of CVS code ;)
</para></answer>