Archive:Windows FAQ: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
>Udepub m (→General FAQ) |
>NedBot m (Robot: Cosmetic changes) |
||
Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
__TOC__ | __TOC__ | ||
{{-}} | {{-}} | ||
==General FAQ== | == General FAQ == | ||
:<big>''See also: '''[[XBMC all platforms FAQ]]''' for FAQs that apply to all versions of XBMC.''</big> | :<big>''See also: '''[[XBMC all platforms FAQ]]''' for FAQs that apply to all versions of XBMC.''</big> | ||
{| width="100%" | {| width="100%" | ||
Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
| Question= XBMC for Windows version | | Question= XBMC for Windows version | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*The current stable version of XBMC for Windows is v12.1 [[Frodo FAQ|Frodo]]. This is the same code that all of the other platforms (Linux, iOS, Mac OS X) are using. | * The current stable version of XBMC for Windows is v12.1 [[Frodo FAQ|Frodo]]. This is the same code that all of the other platforms (Linux, iOS, Mac OS X) are using. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
| Question= What version/nightly build/beta of XBMC am I running? | | Question= What version/nightly build/beta of XBMC am I running? | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*XBMC main menu > System > Lower submenu > System info. '''Note the build date.''' | * XBMC main menu > System > Lower submenu > System info. '''Note the build date.''' | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
| Question= Programs and tools to help with XBMC | | Question= Programs and tools to help with XBMC | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*For a list of programs and tools to help with XBMC, such as renaming files, managing media, file sharing, and more, see '''[[Supplemental tools/Windows]]''' | * For a list of programs and tools to help with XBMC, such as renaming files, managing media, file sharing, and more, see '''[[Supplemental tools/Windows]]''' | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
| Question= Portable mode | | Question= Portable mode | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*If you wish, you may run XBMC in portable mode by adding the ''-p'' switch (in the ''Target field'' after the closing quotation mark) to the shortcut's properties used to launch XBMC. This will then use the XBMC folder itself as the Home folder, which means scripts, plugins, skins and userdata will be located in the 'portable_data' folder within the XBMC folder. This is useful for running XBMC for Windows off a USB stick for portability. | * If you wish, you may run XBMC in portable mode by adding the ''-p'' switch (in the ''Target field'' after the closing quotation mark) to the shortcut's properties used to launch XBMC. This will then use the XBMC folder itself as the Home folder, which means scripts, plugins, skins and userdata will be located in the 'portable_data' folder within the XBMC folder. This is useful for running XBMC for Windows off a USB stick for portability. | ||
* You'll have to put the XBMC folder in a place where standard users have write permission (e.g. ''not'' under Program Files) or run the shortcut as admin (even though you're logged in with an admin account). Otherwise you'll get the error message "ERROR: Unable to create application. Exiting." | * You'll have to put the XBMC folder in a place where standard users have write permission (e.g. ''not'' under Program Files) or run the shortcut as admin (even though you're logged in with an admin account). Otherwise you'll get the error message "ERROR: Unable to create application. Exiting." | ||
*You will, however, have to be careful when upgrading to make sure that the [[userdata]] folder you use is not overwritten. | * You will, however, have to be careful when upgrading to make sure that the [[userdata]] folder you use is not overwritten. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 57: | Line 57: | ||
| Question= Upon booting, start XBMC with a delay | | Question= Upon booting, start XBMC with a delay | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*When starting XBMC on Windows startup it can be that some sub services weren't started when XBMC is up. To delay XBMC just add the parameter -d X (in the ''Target field'' after the closing quotation mark) to the shortcut's properties used to launch XBMC, with X equal to the startup delay in seconds. | * When starting XBMC on Windows startup it can be that some sub services weren't started when XBMC is up. To delay XBMC just add the parameter -d X (in the ''Target field'' after the closing quotation mark) to the shortcut's properties used to launch XBMC, with X equal to the startup delay in seconds. | ||
}} | }} | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Troubleshooting== | == Troubleshooting == | ||
{{see also|Troubleshooting}} | {{see also|Troubleshooting}} | ||
{| width="100%" | {| width="100%" | ||
Line 79: | Line 79: | ||
:''See '''[[How-to:Submit a proper bug report]]''' for bug reporting details and '''[[forum:42708|here]]''' for instructions on reporting an issue to the forums'' | :''See '''[[How-to:Submit a proper bug report]]''' for bug reporting details and '''[[forum:42708|here]]''' for instructions on reporting an issue to the forums'' | ||
*[[Userdata folder]]: | * [[Userdata folder]]: | ||
**Windows XP: {{highlight|Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\XBMC\userdata\}} | ** Windows XP: {{highlight|Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\XBMC\userdata\}} | ||
**Windows 7: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\userdata\}} | ** Windows 7: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\userdata\}} | ||
*[[Debug log]]: | * [[Debug log]]: | ||
*:''If XBMC is started in [[#portable|'''portable''' mode]], the log file will be created in the XBMC folder itself.'' | *: ''If XBMC is started in [[#portable|'''portable''' mode]], the log file will be created in the XBMC folder itself.'' | ||
**Windows XP: {{highlight|Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\XBMC\xbmc.log}} | ** Windows XP: {{highlight|Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\XBMC\xbmc.log}} | ||
**Windows 7: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\xbmc.log}} | ** Windows 7: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\xbmc.log}} | ||
*Crash report: | * Crash report: | ||
**Windows XP: {{highlight|Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\XBMC\xbmc_crashlog-[DATE]-[TIME].dmp}} | ** Windows XP: {{highlight|Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\XBMC\xbmc_crashlog-[DATE]-[TIME].dmp}} | ||
**Windows 7: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\xbmc_crashlog-[DATE]-[TIME].dmp}} | ** Windows 7: {{highlight|Vista/Windows 7: Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\xbmc_crashlog-[DATE]-[TIME].dmp}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 95: | Line 95: | ||
| Question= Black/white screen instead of video | | Question= Black/white screen instead of video | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*... but the gui works fine. | * ... but the gui works fine. | ||
* If you have a video adapter with pixel shader >= 2.0 | * If you have a video adapter with pixel shader >= 2.0 | ||
:* XBMC compiles the video shader at runtime and the compiler was not installed. When installing XBMC, do not uncheck the "Install DirectX" option. Contrary to a common belief, Windows Vista and above do not have a complete DirectX installation out of the box. | :* XBMC compiles the video shader at runtime and the compiler was not installed. When installing XBMC, do not uncheck the "Install DirectX" option. Contrary to a common belief, Windows Vista and above do not have a complete DirectX installation out of the box. | ||
Line 107: | Line 107: | ||
| Question= "Allow hardware acceleration (dxva2)" and WASAPI output settings missing | | Question= "Allow hardware acceleration (dxva2)" and WASAPI output settings missing | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*These options are available with Windows Vista, 7 and later. | * These options are available with Windows Vista, 7 and later. | ||
*If you have the required OS and do not see the options, check System Info->Summary->Operating system. It should match your actual OS version. | * If you have the required OS and do not see the options, check System Info->Summary->Operating system. It should match your actual OS version. | ||
*If not, Windows is starting XBMC in a compatibility mode, which reports an alternative OS version. To disable the compatibility mode, open the file properties of xbmc.exe (located in Program Files\XBMC), and uncheck all the options of the Compatibility tab. | * If not, Windows is starting XBMC in a compatibility mode, which reports an alternative OS version. To disable the compatibility mode, open the file properties of xbmc.exe (located in Program Files\XBMC), and uncheck all the options of the Compatibility tab. | ||
*If that doesn't help, check the compatibility options of the shortcut used to start XBMC or any launcher program that starts XBMC. If there is a chain of launchers, check each and every one. | * If that doesn't help, check the compatibility options of the shortcut used to start XBMC or any launcher program that starts XBMC. If there is a chain of launchers, check each and every one. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 117: | Line 117: | ||
| Question= Video stutters when "Adjust display refresh rate" is turned on | | Question= Video stutters when "Adjust display refresh rate" is turned on | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*The "Adjust display refresh rate" function of XBMC sometimes has bad interactions with Aero on Windows Vista and 7. | * The "Adjust display refresh rate" function of XBMC sometimes has bad interactions with Aero on Windows Vista and 7. | ||
:* Turn off the "Use a fullscreen window rather than true fullscreen" option. | :* Turn off the "Use a fullscreen window rather than true fullscreen" option. | ||
:* If you must have the "Use a fullscreen window..." option turned on, disable Aero, either globally on the PC with the selection of a basic theme, or just for XBMC, with the "Disable desktop composition" option, in the compatibility tab of xbmc.exe's file properties. | :* If you must have the "Use a fullscreen window..." option turned on, disable Aero, either globally on the PC with the selection of a basic theme, or just for XBMC, with the "Disable desktop composition" option, in the compatibility tab of xbmc.exe's file properties. | ||
Line 126: | Line 126: | ||
| Question= Video plays in half/quarter of the screen | | Question= Video plays in half/quarter of the screen | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*This happens for certain settings with nVidia graphics cards/integrated chipsets and hardware decoding. To fix this, go in the 3D settings of the nVidia Control panel and stop forcing antialiasing to be used (set "Antialiasing - Mode" to Application-controlled or Off). To avoid changing the setting globally and to preserve it for other applications, you can alternatively create a program profile for XBMC and only disable antialiasing in that profile. | * This happens for certain settings with nVidia graphics cards/integrated chipsets and hardware decoding. To fix this, go in the 3D settings of the nVidia Control panel and stop forcing antialiasing to be used (set "Antialiasing - Mode" to Application-controlled or Off). To avoid changing the setting globally and to preserve it for other applications, you can alternatively create a program profile for XBMC and only disable antialiasing in that profile. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 133: | Line 133: | ||
| Question= DVD player does not work/"please insert disk" message | | Question= DVD player does not work/"please insert disk" message | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*Please check if you have more than one ejectable media drive in your system. If that's the case you must be sure that you insert the disk in the drive that has the first drive letter, as XBMC will fail in all others. You may need to swap driver letters in your Windows installation. | * Please check if you have more than one ejectable media drive in your system. If that's the case you must be sure that you insert the disk in the drive that has the first drive letter, as XBMC will fail in all others. You may need to swap driver letters in your Windows installation. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 140: | Line 140: | ||
| Question= Chinese/Asian text as unrecognized squares | | Question= Chinese/Asian text as unrecognized squares | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
*For example, using the YouTube add-on to search for Chinese media video content, the XBMC displays the retrieved media video title Chinese text as unrecognized squares. The reason is that the default font pre-installed with XBMC does not support Chinese Unicode Font display. | * For example, using the YouTube add-on to search for Chinese media video content, the XBMC displays the retrieved media video title Chinese text as unrecognized squares. The reason is that the default font pre-installed with XBMC does not support Chinese Unicode Font display. | ||
*To make XBMC to display proper Chinese Text, you need a True-Type Font (.ttf) that supports Chinese Unicode. Below steps guide you on how to install the required font: | * To make XBMC to display proper Chinese Text, you need a True-Type Font (.ttf) that supports Chinese Unicode. Below steps guide you on how to install the required font: | ||
*#Navigate to Windows -> Fonts directory, select an Unicode ttf font file that supports Chinese characters display e.g.KaiTiRegular, copy the font file. | *# Navigate to Windows -> Fonts directory, select an Unicode ttf font file that supports Chinese characters display e.g.KaiTiRegular, copy the font file. | ||
*# Navigate to the XBMC user directory i.e. C:\Users\<your_user_name>\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\media\Fonts (Windows 7) | *# Navigate to the XBMC user directory i.e. C:\Users\<your_user_name>\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\media\Fonts (Windows 7) | ||
*# Create the Fonts sub-directory if it does not exist. | *# Create the Fonts sub-directory if it does not exist. | ||
Line 149: | Line 149: | ||
*# Launch XBMC and navigate to System -> Appearance -> Skin | *# Launch XBMC and navigate to System -> Appearance -> Skin | ||
*# Change the Fonts selection to 'Arial based'. | *# Change the Fonts selection to 'Arial based'. | ||
*You should now be able to see the Chinese font display properly. | * You should now be able to see the Chinese font display properly. | ||
*Note: Your Windows system must have the Asia Fonts support pre-installed. Otherwise you may not be able to find any Chinese .ttf font file in Windows -> Fonts directory. | * Note: Your Windows system must have the Asia Fonts support pre-installed. Otherwise you may not be able to find any Chinese .ttf font file in Windows -> Fonts directory. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Line 176: | Line 176: | ||
| Answer= | | Answer= | ||
{{See also|Settings/System#Audio output}} | {{See also|Settings/System#Audio output}} | ||
*Make sure that your audio settings are correct. Wrong audio settings will have severely negative effects on video playback. | * Make sure that your audio settings are correct. Wrong audio settings will have severely negative effects on video playback. | ||
:* Check to see if your speaker setup is really correct | :* Check to see if your speaker setup is really correct | ||
:* If passthrough: make sure you '''only''' enable the audio codecs your receiver supports. | :* If passthrough: make sure you '''only''' enable the audio codecs your receiver supports. |
Revision as of 16:08, 27 April 2013
Frequently Asked Questions Windows and Windows-compatible computer hardware.
General FAQ
- See also: XBMC all platforms FAQ for FAQs that apply to all versions of XBMC.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Troubleshooting
See also: Troubleshooting
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
|