FAQs for all users

How-To: View Soft-subs on Mac OS X VLC Media Player It's a very robust and versatile open source (free) cross platform (windows, mac, linux...) media player which has the capability to show subtitles. One problem is that all the codecs are self-contained if a new codec is used on the video file, you wont be able to view it until VLC Player is updated. A second problem is that VLC Player will not play Real Media files (possible solution). DOWNLOAD HERE VLC can handle the following subtitles: Text files - MicroDVD (.sub), SubRip (.srt), Subviewer (.sub), SSA1-5 (.ssa) , SAMI (.smi) and VPlayer(.txt) Vobsub (.idx/.sub) Container formats - OGM and Matroska Partial capability for DVD Simple instructions on how to enable subtitles. Full How-To Guide Installation Basic Use Advance Use

Sunday, January 06, 2008 How-To: View/Convert Real Media Files on Non-Windows OS We've had quite a few questions regarding media players for Mac OS. Most recently; How to play rmvb files. The simple option is to use RealPlayer, and supposedly with the a plugin it can play subtitles. I used RealPlayer around the time it first came out and I hated it. It's potentially possible that they're fixed all the things I hated about the program, but I tend to hold grudges. Only thing I hated more was AOL. Something that rates #2 in PC World Magazine's list of 25 worst products of all time in 2006 (hmmm. AOL made #1) and #5 of 20 most annoying tech product in 2007. Does not inspire much confidence in me. Read further criticisms and and problem here. The next method is to convert the .rm/.rmvb files. This tutorial will explain how to accomplish this. I did some looking around and I think I may have found a player solution that fits the bill. MPlayer Information on wikipedia states: It's a cross platform media player that can be used on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, BSD Unix, Solaris, Other Unix and DOS Plays all video and container formats (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, WMV, RealVideo, Theora, Flash, AVI, ASF, QuickTime, Ogg, OGM, Matroska, MP4) Plays optical discs (CD, VCD, SVCD and DVD) Has subtitle capability (.sub/.idx, .ssa/.ass, .srt, .smi, .rt, microvid .sub, subviewer .sub and .txt) It's General Public License; so it's free. Only problem from what I can see is that it requires a bit more work to get everything up and running. You'll need the source, the binary codecs and skin. So you'll need to read the readme file and the documentation. I don't have a Mac and most likely wont ever get one, so please don't ask me for assistance in getting this to work. Hopefully someone with a Mac can get this to work and can become the resident expert on it.

Thursday, January 03, 2008 How-To: View Movies With Missing Video and Audio Codecs If you try to view most of the movies using Windows Media Player straight from the installation you'll notice that some video files will not play. Blank screen with a message saying missing codec Sound without picture Picture without sound Video artifacts etc. The answer to this problem is that you're missing the proper video/audio codec (compression/decompression). Two methods that I use to view video files and understand it's use are: VLC Player Windows Media Player with codec pack VLC Player It's a very robust and versatile cross platform (windows, mac, linux...) media player which has the capability to show subtitles. One problem is that all the codecs are self-contained if a new codec is used on the video file, you wont be able to view it until VLC Player is updated. A second problem is that VLC Player will not play rmvb files One good feature is that you can get Portable VLC Media Player. Which is an installation free version of VLC Player, which can be run off a USB key and used on a computer that you do not have installation access. Windows Media Player with K-Lite The K-Lite Codec Pack has some nice features: It it always up-to-date with the latest versions of the codecs. It is very user-friendly and the installation is fully customizable, meaning that you can install only those components that you really want. It has been very well tested, so that the package doesn't contain any conflicting codecs. It comes in one installation package which will uninstall previous versions when you upgrade. It includes vobsub to view subtitles. There are three versions of the K-Lite Codec Pack: Basic, Standard and Full. K-Lite Codec Pack Basic contains only the most essential things. It contains everything you need to be able to play the most popular and widespread formats. It is small enough to fit on a single floppy. Also great for including on your movie CDs. K-Lite Codec Pack Standard contains everything you need to play all the commonly used formats. This package should be enough for the average user. K-Lite Codec Pack Full contains even more codecs. It also has encoding support for the various formats. This package is for power users and people who do their own encodings. Both standard and full version comes with Media Player Classic. Which you can choose not to install if you want (just check or uncheck the box during installation). I prefer to use Windows Media Player 11. The other advantage of using codec packs is the ability add the capability to play Real Media and Quicktime files. Real Alternative Quicktime Alternative Note. The "Lite" versions are installers without Media Player Classic.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007 How-To: Use VobSub to view subtitles in Windows Media VobSub VobSub is a filter for Windows Media Player to give it the capability of playing subtitles. It can handle two kinds of subtitle formats: vobsub ripped: idx/sub, and textual: srt, sub, psb, smi, ssa, ass I'll start with a simplified and streamlined installation. This is just if you want to watch subtitled video files. Download the program and run it to begin installation. Once you get the installation options window. Expand the Plugins options and check only the Vobsub for DirectShow option. Complete the installation and "viola" it's done. Windows Media will now be able to show subtitles with your video file. VobSub tied together with Windows Media has the capability to automatically find and load subtitle files so long as the following conditions are met. The video file and subtitle file must be in the same location, and The video file and subtitle file must have the same name (excluding the file extension of course). This is an example of how the files must be named. The blue box is the naming convection for a video with idx/sub files. The purple box is the naming convection for srt files. Therefore starting the video file alone will automatically load up the corresponding subtitle file. You'll know Vobsub has started and the subtitle is loaded when the DirectVobSub icon pops up in the bottom right of your screen. So long as you do not adjust any of the default settings, you should not run into problems. If for some reason you accidentally change the subtitle load setting. Open VobSub from the start menu. Click the tab to General Ensure that Loading is set for "Load when needed" Apply the setting and close. If your subtitles are not synchronized with the video. You can manually adjust the delay (earlier or later) as required. While the video is playing and VobSub is loaded, right click on the VobSub icon. Left click on DirectVobSub (auto-loading version) to open the program settings. Go to the Timing tab. Adjust the delay as required. Note. You can temporarily adjust the timing for a subtitle that was synced for a different video frame-rate, by utilizing the experimental Force FPS feature. A permanent fix for that problem is to use SubResync (a utility of VobSub). Of course you'll need to identify the video frame-rate. GSpot is a good free utility for this. Advanced VobSub features (Properties menu) You can change the font style, size, colour scheme, shadow and outline in the "Main" tab; text settings.

How-To: Use HJSplit HJSplit is a self contained program. That means there is no installation required. Just Download the latest version for your OS (Windows / Mac / Linux). Save to anywhere you desire and remember where it is saved. To join a split file. First start the hjsplit 2.3.exe program. Click join and in the new window, click input file. Open up the folder where the split video files were downloaded to. The program will only show the .001 file. Select the file and it will now show in the file name box. Now select open. HJSplit will now start joining the file and you'll see a status bar. When the joining is complete a new window will indicate completion. Close and exit HJSplit and watch the video. If you so desire, you can link the .001 file to automatically start up HJSplit when you left click the split file. Right click the .001 file and select "open with" In the drop-down menu click "choose program" Check the "always use select program" box Browse for the HJSplit program and select "open" Note. Ensure that you have ALL parts of the video in the same folder and that the names (minus the split file extension; .001 .002 .003 .004 .005......) are identical. As well, ensure that the downloaded file is complete.

Monday, September 17, 2007 FAQ: Megaupload Hacks and Tricks Here's a compilation of Megaupload hacks and tricks which we have personally tested and found to work, including our own review of the advantages & disadvantages for each method: 1. By-passing Megaupload’s Country Limit Advantages: Ability to bypass the Megaupload country download slots limit without installing the Megaupload toolbar. Disadvantages: Only works on Mozilla Firefox (not for Internet Explorer). May clash with gmail applications. Does not support parallel downloads i.e. you may only download ONE file at a time. Click HERE for instructions and step-by-step guide. 2. Megaupload’s Premium Hours Advantages: All the SAME benefits of a premium account, including unlimited downloads. Available daily. Disadvantages: Not available for EVERY country. Users are required to install the “Megaupload toolbar” and to create a free account with Megaupload. “Megaupload’s Premium Hours” only available between 9:00 pm and 3:00 am (EST). “Megaupload toolbar” may be identified as spyware/adware by some anti-virus/antispyware programmes. Click HERE for instructions and step-by-step guide. 3. Megaupload’s Premium Link Generator Advantages: Download limit up to 2GB per file. Parallel downloads allowed (meaning you may download more than 1 file at the same time). Resume function. Faster speed. Premium download links will still work even after the system is offline (provided you have generated and saved the premium download links earlier). Disadvantages: Requires registration to the site. System only works from 9pm - 5am Eastern Time. Site is infested with pop-up advertisements. Click HERE for instructions and step-by-step guide. 4. Megaupload Premium Links Generator - NEW Advantages: Download files with all premium features. No waiting time. Easy to use - just type the MU link in the form, submit and get your premium link! Disadvantages: Does not support the use of download managers. No resume function. Click HERE to start generating your premium links.

Sunday, June 18, 2006 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Please DOWNLOAD and INSTALL the following "cHinKy's Codec Choice (updated 30.07.07)" before posting any technical questions: HJSplit - Splits and joins multiple files (.001, .002 extensions) Combined Community Codec Pack - Video playback (avi, asf, divx, wmv, etc.) RealAlternative - Video playback (rm & rmvb formats) WinRAR – Data compression utility (rar & zip files) Click HERE to download. Here are some of our Frequently-Asked-Questions (in blue) and our responses (in black): Q: What are the differences between hard-subbing and soft-subbing? A: If you can watch the video with its subtitle, it means the video has been hard-subbed. However, if the subtitle (.srt) is provided separately, it means that the episode is soft-subbed. Q: Hey, how do I play the files? I tried abc player, xyz player.. Cant play. Please assist. A: Please try "cHinKy's Codec Choice" and use either the "Media Player Classic" or "Zoom Player" in the pack to play the videos. Q: How do I watch an episode which is soft-subbed? A: The "Media Player Classic" and "Zoom Player" in the "cHinKy's Codec Choice" will be able to auto-detect the .srt file. Q: When I was extracting the files from episodes 5, 6, 7, and 8, and it says the files are corrupted? am i doing something wrong? A: Have you tried re-downloading? If the links are faulty, others will be complaining too. Q: What are .001 , .002... files? A: To watch these videos, you need to download ALL the parts (e.g. .001 , .002...) first and COMBINE them with HJSPLIT before watching. Please ensure that you place all the parts in the same folder too! Q: Can I burn these files in vcd so that I can watch it on tv? A: Yes, there's a function in Nero that says "Make Video CD". Just follow the steps. Alternatively, if you own a divx-enabled video player, you can just burn the video into the disc as "Data". Q: What are mirror links? A: Mirror links are "additional" links for the SAME source file, just in case the other one is not working. Q: How do I download from megaupload for FREE? Step 1: Do you see the "NEW: All users of our free Megaupload Toolbar enjoy unlimited downloads around the clock."? Well, you need to install that toolbar if you are expecting to download from Megaupload for free. Otherwise, you have got to sign up as a "Premium User": Step 2: After installing the Megaupload toolbar, re-start your browser. Then go back to movies2040.blogspot.com and click on the download links again. Step 3: You will be re-directed to the Megaupload site once more (but this time minus the "All download slots (100) assigned to your country are in use". For non-premium users, first you will be required to enter a random text as follow: Step 4: Next, you will have to wait for about 45 seconds before the download bar appears: Step 5: An advertisement pop-up may suddenly appear to block your download bar as you are nearing the 45 seconds countdown. Just cancel the advertisement pop-up, and click on the download bar behind to start downloading: Q: I'm having problems downloading your files in MegaUpload, it is said that "download limit exceeded". A: Non-premium members have a download limit set by Megaupload (about 400MB each session) after which you will need to wait for another few hours s to start downloading again. Q: How do I get around the download limitation as a Free User on Megaupload? Q: Can you upload this movie/drama/soundtrack for me? A: Yes, please leave a comment on the site and I will try to work on your request (if I am free/have the resources). Q: Can you upload this movie/drama/soundtrack from Megaupload to Megashares/ Sendspace/etc (and vice versa) for me? A: No, if there is already a link provided, use it. Cheers!