[jmbattle]

Hey folks!

Well, I'm so close to having the perfect, stripped-down XP setup it's not true!

Testing under VPC, I select all components for removal (yes, including all the Media Player stuff and codecs), and just integrate some original XP drivers and VPC drivers from previous driver backups. Note that I *do not* use the 'Keep Media Player compatibility' option in nLite 99.8b5, as I gather this simply registers an ActiveX .ocx class to prevent the UI controls breaking in Mozilla/Firefox.

From there, I use titou2k's WMP10_Stream&Codecs.exe package, as detailed in this thread.

Next, I install Firefox and copy the npdsplay.dll plugin to it's 'plugins' folder.

Using this bare configuration, I am able to play all streaming Windows Media, such as the BBC's wonderful online content in Firefox, with the attractive WMP9 interface.

However, the strange things is - and this is the killer - I cannot play [/i]exactly the same[/i] media using Media Player Classic; either an .asx playlist or the mms://... *.wmv file that it points to. Locally downloaded .wmv files however, play perfectly.

Can anyone help me out here? I'm so close...

Cheers,
James

EDIT: You will need to correct the final MMS:// link manually...

[jmbattle]

Well, it's taken me bloody ages, but I think I've sussed it out...

The Mozilla/Firefox plugin must use a different method of streaming media to MPC, because the standalone player requires three extra files:

drmclien.dll
dxmasf.dll
strmdll.dll

Copy these somewhere (such as the /system32 folder), or place them in the nLite 'keep' box. Next, register the 'dxmasf.dll' file from the 'run' box:

regsvr32 dxmasf.dll

...and all being well, you should now be able to play streaming Windows Media content in standalone players. Lovely.

Of course, I probably wouldn't have to have done any of this faffing around, had I not removed 'Media Player 6.4' in the first place, but for those striving for the cleanest, bearest setup, these steps may come in handy.

Perhaps titou2k wouldn't mind updating the codec pack again...?

Cheers,
James

[titou2k]

EDIT Ok i will see, what i can do.

[titou2k]

@jmbattle

Could you send me (if you have it) english version of dxmasf.dll and strmdll.dll?
I use french version in this test package.
Changelog:
Updated each files in their last version.
Removed wmpshell.dll which put WMP command in context menu.
Removed wmidx.dll. It seems that it is not usefull.
Added your 3 files.

[OCedHrt]

English versions. I used dxmasf.dll from my XP SP2 cd since it wasn't in the WMP10 installer. I got the other file from my system32.

[titou2k]

thanks OCedHrt.

I updated the package (full english now) here.

[jmbattle]

Thanks titou2k!

Do you think it will be possible to slipstream these files into the I386 folder and automatically register them somehow?

Cheers,
James

[titou2k]

It should be possible.

Copy files in i386
Put lines in dosnet.inf and txtsetup.sif

Make a Components in SYSOC.inf to register them?
or
Use cmdlines.txt?
or
Hive?
or
?

I don't know which are the best and if it will work.

[titou2k]

Someone give me this site with stream. He can't pay it in firefox.

I am not firefox user so i tested it in IE and it's OK.

Then i installed firefox, and i did some quick tests.
- BBC stream plays great
- given stream site doesn't work

jmbattle or others, could you test this stream with firefox?

[Xable]

Hello titou2k,
no streaming media works for me! in firefox or ie.
Just to be clear i have removed player and codecs with nlite, put npdsplay.dll in plugins folder and instaled your pack. I think this is all thats needed!

The bbc asks if i want to listen in the stand alone realplayer, i say yes, Media Player Classic opens but says "Cannot render the file"
The other site looks like this Screenshot

[titou2k]

BBC stream: why realplayer? You should test with WMV video stream, like BBC News Headlines
and for the other site, this is the same for me. Ok

[jmbattle]

titouk, hmmm I didn't look terribly closely at the site, but was unable to view the video using my current Firefox installation either. I think it could simply be a case of the site only working with IE - perhaps it uses some ActiveX controls? Either way, I am not terribly worried - I can view 99% of online content using Firefox, and expect compatibility to improve in the future; indeed, Yahoo recently announced it's media content will soon support non-IE browsers.

Just out of interest, why have you reverted back to IE?!

Neanderthal, I assume you have also installed the Real codecs, using a pack such as RealAlternative? titou2k's codec pack only installs the files required for Windows Media content.

Cheers,
James

[titou2k]

@jmbattle
ok thanks for testing. I will test with normal SP2 without removing anything.

EDIT Test Result: You are right, the stream should not be compatible with firefox

In fact, I never used firefox, only for some tests. I Prefer Maxthon (IE)

[jmbattle]

titou2k, no problem bud - happy to test!

In fact, I'm seriously considering putting together some sort of nLite codecs package that consists of *just* the files required to play WMA/WMV, RealMedia and QT content in Firefox/MPC.

I know there are several codec packages already out there, but I'm sure they are not as clean or compact as they could be, with regard to extraneous files and registry entries.

Cheers,
James

[Zoofield]

that'd be just fine.

[Xable]

titou2k, OK tested with WMV stream and it works on BBC News Headlines as it should. Sorry, got my wires crossed there.

jmbattle, that codecs package is exactly what i have been lookin for, wma/wmv, realmedia and quicktime all bundled together with MPC and the ability to stream media in FF.
I`m all for keeping everythig as clean and compact as possible. Some of the cedec packages i have been checking out here are huge, surely they could be stripped back a bit without loosing functionality.

Anyway, it sounds very good to me, if you decide to go for it i would be happy to help in the testing.

[coch]

jmbattle, on Mar 20 2005, 07:37 PM, said:

In fact, I'm seriously considering putting together some sort of nLite codecs package that consists of *just* the files required to play WMA/WMV, RealMedia and QT content in Firefox/MPC.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I made myself codec packs for all three formats (RP, QT and WMP), although now I use I now use titou2k's pack and works perfectly, but if you search in this forum I had made a few post some time ago (I believe in nLite 0.99.4 thread) in which I made some research about files that are really required. Not sure if some additional files could be further removed from the pack and retain full functionality.

For Realplayer, search for a recent post I made about that topic, listing all files and registry entries required. You can also search for a very old similar post I made in the winamp forums a few years ago. However I have not fully trimmed down and tested what are the minimal files required. For instance, I did not try removing files under the plugins, common and codecs folders. For rpplugins folder I did i.e. the files I mention are the minimum required, same for keys.dat one level above, it is required. Reg keys are also trimmed down to the bare minimum. I guess we could get rid of some of the files under the folders I mention above, since they seem to be, for the most past, additional codecs for more formats, but this is hard to do tough, it would require testing in many many websites to ensure compatibility with any website design.


For Quicktime, I started with the latest Quicktime version, and trimmed down to the bare minimum (files and reg keys).

Files you need are:

C:\Windows\System32\QTPlugin.ocx
C:\Windows\System32\QuickTime.qts
C:\Windows\System32\QuickTimeCheck.ocx
C:\Windows\System32\QuickTime.ax

C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeEssentials.qtx
C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeInternetExtras.qtx
C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeMPEG.qtx
C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeMPEG4.qtx
C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeStreaming.qtx
C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeStreamingAuthoring.qtx
C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeStreamingExtras.qtx
C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeVR.qtx
C:\Windows\System32\Quicktime\QuickTimeWebHelper.qtx

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\Plugins\npqtplugin.dll

No registry keys needed, just run:

regsvr32 QTPlugin.ocx
regsvr32 QuickTimeCheck.ocx
regsvr32 QuickTime.ax

[jmbattle]

Coch, wow that's fantastic - great work!

Yes, actually, I recall seeing your RealMedia post the other day and was rather impressed. I'm reasonably confident that the RealAlternative package can be further stripped down just for RealMedia audio/video - I gather there are extra plugins for playing MP3s, viewing JPEG/PNG images etc. which in my opinion are rather pointless when standalone players do the job more efficiently (WinAMP and Irfanview immediately spring to mind...).

The QT stuff looks almost too easy, great stuff!

Actually, I'm a bit of a sucker for keeping a 'clean' system, installing the least amount of software as possible. Even having codecs copied to /system32 is adding extra clutter; I prefer applications that can simply be executed from any path, without having to be re-installed (hence my 'Apps ThatDontNeedToBeReinstalled' folder that contains loads of useful stuff). Ideally, I would could just create a folder called 'Codecs' that contains the necessary WM, QT and RM libraries (and perhaps ffdshow?) and a single batch/.reg file. From here, I would be able to play 99% of all media content without needing to reinstall a package!

Anyway, enough waffle!
Cheers,
James

[titou2k]

I am interested in LiteCodec Package project. I only use WM, Real, Quicktime, OGG codec so most codec pack are not for me.

Let's try. We will find the best smaller codec package.

[OCedHrt]

I have been following it and the package seems to work great on the site mentioned here However, I can't seem to get it to work for http://www.big-boys.com/ on this computer. It does work on another computer though. I'm not too sure if I kept media player compatibility with nLite in this installation, would that be the reason why?