Suddenly, VLC is playing up.

On my desktop, which is my main PC, this morning it would not even
launch. Research told me that this was not an unknown phenomenon.
I followed a procedure to upgrade the font cache (?), and now at least
I can launch VLC as before. But the most important thing that I do with
it is to watch a CCTV feed, which requires that I use Network Stream to
connect to its DVR. But it now fails to connect, it just says: "Your
input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'. Check the log for details."
If by 'the log' it means the VLC messages, there are none.

I have a laptop which runs as much as possible as a backup for the
desktop, it has no problem with VLC today, and still links
successfully to the DVR using the identical URL.

I have tried removing and re-installing VLC, but I still cannot get this
to work. VLC plays videos, but will not connect to the DVR any more.
Was there a bad update to VLC in the last day or two?

Any useful help most welcome.

--
Davey.


--- MBSE BBS v1.1.1 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes:

Suddenly, VLC is playing up.

On my desktop, which is my main PC, this morning it would not even
launch. Research told me that this was not an unknown phenomenon.
I followed a procedure to upgrade the font cache (?), and now at least
I can launch VLC as before. But the most important thing that I do with
it is to watch a CCTV feed, which requires that I use Network Stream to connect to its DVR. But it now fails to connect, it just says: "Your
input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'. Check the log for details."
If by 'the log' it means the VLC messages, there are none.

See
https://askubuntu.com/questions/910037/where-is-the-vlc-logfile-for-errors
for what it means and how to configure logging.

--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

--- MBSE BBS v1.1.1 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: terraraq NNTP server (2:250/1@fidonet)

On Sun, 23 Nov 2025 21:26:48 +0000
Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes:

Suddenly, VLC is playing up.

On my desktop, which is my main PC, this morning it would not even
launch. Research told me that this was not an unknown phenomenon.
I followed a procedure to upgrade the font cache (?), and now at
least I can launch VLC as before. But the most important thing that
I do with it is to watch a CCTV feed, which requires that I use
Network Stream to connect to its DVR. But it now fails to connect,
it just says: "Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open
the MRL 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'. Check the log for
details." If by 'the log' it means the VLC messages, there are
none.

See https://askubuntu.com/questions/910037/where-is-the-vlc-logfile-for-errors for what it means and how to configure logging.

Wow! Thanks.
Well, it worked, but I have no idea how to interpret its output!

"main debug: processing request item: rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0,
node: Playlist, skip: 0 main debug: rebuilding array of current - root
Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index 0
main debug: starting playback of new item
main debug: resyncing on rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0
main debug: rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0 is at 0
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'
main debug: requesting art for new input thread
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using default timeshift path
main debug: `rtsp://192.168.1main debug: processing request item: rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0, node: Playlist, skip: 0 main debug:
rebuilding array of current - root Playlist main debug: rebuild done -
1 items, index 0 main debug: starting playback of new item
main debug: resyncing on rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0
main debug: rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0 is at 0
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'
main debug: requesting art for new input thread
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using default timeshift path
main debug: `rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' gives access `rtsp' demux
`any' path `192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' main debug: creating demux:
access='rtsp' demux='any' location='192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'
file='(null)' main debug: looking for access_demux module matching
"rtsp": 18 candidates main debug: no access_demux modules matched main
debug: creating access: rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0 main debug:
looking for access module matching "rtsp": 29 candidates main debug:
looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua
debug: Trying Lua scripts in
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua
scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher main debug: no meta fetcher
modules matched main debug: looking for art finder module matching
"any": 2 candidates satip debug: try to open
'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' satip debug: connect to host
'192.168.1.195' main debug: net: connecting to 192.168.1.195 port 554
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in
/home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts
in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua
playlist script
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/art main debug: no art
finder modules matched main debug: looking for meta fetcher module
matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua
scripts in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher main debug: no
meta fetcher modules matched main debug: looking for art finder module
matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts
in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua
playlist script
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/art main debug: no art
finder modules matched main debug: connection succeeded (socket = 44)
main debug: net: opening 0.0.0.0 datagram port 9400 main debug: net:
opening 0.0.0.0 datagram port 9401 qt debug: IM: Setting an input satip
error: Failed to setup RTSP session main debug: net: connecting to 192.168.1.195 port 554 main debug: connection succeeded (socket = 43) access_realrtsp warning: Cseq mismatch, got 1, assumed 0
access_realrtsp debug: rtsp connected access_realrtsp warning: only
real/helix rtsp servers supported for now main debug: no access modules
matched main debug: dead input qt debug: IM: Deleting the input main
debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1) main debug:
nothing to play.195:554/ch04/0' gives access `rtsp' demux `any' path `192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' main debug: creating demux: access='rtsp' demux='any' location='192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' file='(null)' main
debug: looking for access_demux module matching "rtsp": 18 candidates
main debug: no access_demux modules matched main debug: creating
access: rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0 main debug: looking for access
module matching "rtsp": 29 candidates main debug: looking for meta
fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua
scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher main
debug: no meta fetcher modules matched main debug: looking for art
finder module matching "any": 2 candidates satip debmain debug:
processing request item: rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0, node:
Playlist, skip: 0 main debug: rebuilding array of current - root
Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index 0 main debug:
starting playback of new item main debug: resyncing on rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0 main debug:
rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0 is at 0 main debug: creating new input
thread main debug: Creating an input for
'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' main debug: requesting art for new
input thread main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB main
debug: using default timeshift path main debug: `rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' gives access `rtsp' demux `any' path `192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' main debug: creating demux: access='rtsp' demux='any' location='192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' file='(null)' main
debug: looking for access_demux module matching "rtsp": 18 candidates
main debug: no access_demux modules matched main debug: creating
access: rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0 main debug: looking for access
module matching "rtsp": 29 candidates main debug: looking for meta
fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua
scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher main
debug: no meta fetcher modules matched main debug: looking for art
finder module matching "any": 2 candidates satip debug: try to open 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' satip debug: connect to host
'192.168.1.195' main debug: net: connecting to 192.168.1.195 port 554
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in
/home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts
in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua
playlist script
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/art main debug: no art
finder modules matched main debug: looking for meta fetcher module
matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua
scripts in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher main debug: no
meta fetcher modules matched main debug: looking for art finder module
matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts
in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua
playlist script
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/art main debug: no art
finder modules matched main debug: connection succeeded (socket = 44)
main debug: net: opening 0.0.0.0 datagram port 9400 main debug: net:
opening 0.0.0.0 datagram port 9401 qt debug: IM: Setting an input satip
error: Failed to setup RTSP session main debug: net: connecting to 192.168.1.195 port 554 main debug: connection succeeded (socket = 43) access_realrtsp warning: Cseq mismatch, got 1, assumed 0
access_realrtsp debug: rtsp connected access_realrtsp warning: only
real/helix rtsp servers supported for now main debug: no access modules
matched main debug: dead input qt debug: IM: Deleting the input main
debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1) main debug:
nothing to playug: try to open 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0' satip
debug: connect to host '192.168.1.195' main debug: net: connecting to 192.168.1.195 port 554 lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts
in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua
playlist script
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/art main debug: no art
finder modules matched main debug: looking for meta fetcher module
matching "any": 1 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua
scripts in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher main debug: no
meta fetcher modules matched main debug: looking for art finder module
matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/david/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts
in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua
playlist script
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua
debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug:
Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/art main debug: no art
finder modules matched main debug: connection succeeded (socket = 44)
main debug: net: opening 0.0.0.0 datagram port 9400 main debug: net:
opening 0.0.0.0 datagram port 9401 qt debug: IM: Setting an input satip
error: Failed to setup RTSP session main debug: net: connecting to 192.168.1.195 port 554 main debug: connection succeeded (socket = 43) access_realrtsp warning: Cseq mismatch, got 1, assumed 0
access_realrtsp debug: rtsp connected access_realrtsp warning: only
real/helix rtsp servers supported for now main debug: no access modules
matched main debug: dead input qt debug: IM: Deleting the input main
debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1) main debug:
nothing to play".

I have no idea what that means. Interpretation much appreciated.

It used to work, dammit! What changed?

--
Davey.


--- MBSE BBS v1.1.1 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes:

Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes:

On my desktop, which is my main PC, this morning it would not even
launch. Research told me that this was not an unknown phenomenon.
I followed a procedure to upgrade the font cache (?), and now at
least I can launch VLC as before. But the most important thing that
I do with it is to watch a CCTV feed, which requires that I use
Network Stream to connect to its DVR. But it now fails to connect,
it just says: "Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open
the MRL 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'. Check the log for
details." If by 'the log' it means the VLC messages, there are
none.

See
https://askubuntu.com/questions/910037/where-is-the-vlc-logfile-for-errors >> for what it means and how to configure logging.

Wow! Thanks.
Well, it worked, but I have no idea how to interpret its output!

[..]

real/helix rtsp servers supported for now main debug: no access modules matched main debug: dead input qt debug: IM: Deleting the input main
debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1) main debug:
nothing to play".

The reformatting makes it hard to follow but ‘nothing to play’ suggests it’s not finding anything at the stream URL. Does it work from any other device?

--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

--- MBSE BBS v1.1.1 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: terraraq NNTP server (2:250/1@fidonet)

On Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:44:26 +0000
Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes:

Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote: =20

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes: =20

On my desktop, which is my main PC, this morning it would not even
launch. Research told me that this was not an unknown phenomenon.
I followed a procedure to upgrade the font cache (?), and now at
least I can launch VLC as before. But the most important thing
that I do with it is to watch a CCTV feed, which requires that I
use Network Stream to connect to its DVR. But it now fails to
connect, it just says: "Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable
to open the MRL 'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'. Check the log
for details." If by 'the log' it means the VLC messages, there are
none. =20

=20
See
https://askubuntu.com/questions/910037/where-is-the-vlc-logfile-for-er=

rors

for what it means and how to configure logging.
=20

Wow! Thanks.
Well, it worked, but I have no idea how to interpret its output! =20

[..]

real/helix rtsp servers supported for now main debug: no access
modules matched main debug: dead input qt debug: IM: Deleting the
input main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
main debug: nothing to play". =20

=20
The reformatting makes it hard to follow but =E2=80=98nothing to play=E2=

=80=99

suggests it=E2=80=99s not finding anything at the stream URL. Does it work from any other device?
=20

Yes, it works perfectly when run from the laptop. I even copied and
pasted the URL from the laptop to the desktop to be sure it was the
same.
I have today followed lots of other suggestions of things to try, but
with no improvement, it still won't connect.

The log I posted was a straight copy of what the log said, no
reformatting took place.

All I can think of is that the laptop was not fired up for several
days, and that an 'update' has bricked the desktop's VLC. I shall resist updates on the laptop for a while.

--=20
Davey.


--- MBSE BBS v1.1.1 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)

On Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:56:48 +0000
Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote:

On Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:44:26 +0000
Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
=20

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes: =20

Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote: =20

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes: =20

On my desktop, which is my main PC, this morning it would not
even launch. Research told me that this was not an unknown
phenomenon. I followed a procedure to upgrade the font cache
(?), and now at least I can launch VLC as before. But the most
important thing that I do with it is to watch a CCTV feed,
which requires that I use Network Stream to connect to its DVR.
But it now fails to connect, it just says: "Your input can't be
opened: VLC is unable to open the MRL
'rtsp://192.168.1.195:554/ch04/0'. Check the log for details."
If by 'the log' it means the VLC messages, there are none. =20 >>=20

See
https://askubuntu.com/questions/910037/where-is-the-vlc-logfile-for-=

errors

for what it means and how to configure logging.
=20

Wow! Thanks.
Well, it worked, but I have no idea how to interpret its output!
=20

[..] =20

real/helix rtsp servers supported for now main debug: no access
modules matched main debug: dead input qt debug: IM: Deleting the
input main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
main debug: nothing to play". =20

=20
The reformatting makes it hard to follow but =E2=80=98nothing to play=

=E2=80=99

suggests it=E2=80=99s not finding anything at the stream URL. Does it w=

ork

from any other device?
=20

=20
Yes, it works perfectly when run from the laptop. I even copied and
pasted the URL from the laptop to the desktop to be sure it was the
same.
I have today followed lots of other suggestions of things to try, but
with no improvement, it still won't connect.
=20
The log I posted was a straight copy of what the log said, no
reformatting took place.
=20
All I can think of is that the laptop was not fired up for several
days, and that an 'update' has bricked the desktop's VLC. I shall
resist updates on the laptop for a while.
=20

Cancel the 'it still works on the laptop' Today, it doesn't. It must
have updated yesterday, and now the 'update' has screwed the laptop's
VLC. Bugger.

I just checked the direct programming access to the DVR, and it's
working fine. And that's on a proprietary Windows program running om
Wine (after a lot of work). So the DVR is still functioning ok.

I looked at the VLC forum, it talks about several similar cases,
but none matched mine exactly.

--=20
Davey.


--- MBSE BBS v1.1.1 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (2:250/1@fidonet)

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes:

Cancel the 'it still works on the laptop' Today, it doesn't. It must
have updated yesterday, and now the 'update' has screwed the laptop's
VLC. Bugger.

AFAICS Ubuntu 22.4 has not updated VLC for over three years.

https://packages.ubuntu.com/jammy/vlc https://changelogs.ubuntu.com/changelogs/pool/universe/v/vlc/vlc_3.0.16-1build7/changelog

/var/log/dpkg.log will record any recent upgrades.

--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

--- MBSE BBS v1.1.1 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: terraraq NNTP server (2:250/1@fidonet)

On Mon, 24 Nov 2025 22:31:29 +0000
Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Davey <davey@example.invalid> writes:

Cancel the 'it still works on the laptop' Today, it doesn't. It must
have updated yesterday, and now the 'update' has screwed the
laptop's VLC. Bugger.

AFAICS Ubuntu 22.4 has not updated VLC for over three years.

https://packages.ubuntu.com/jammy/vlc https://changelogs.ubuntu.com/changelogs/pool/universe/v/vlc/vlc_3.0.16-1build7/changelog

/var/log/dpkg.log will record any recent upgrades.

Hmm. My desktop has version 3.0.16 Vetinari.The laptop had, when I last
looked, version 3.0.20 Vetinari. Who is Vetinari? He sounds like an
Italian animal doctor.

'/var/log/dpkg.log' tells me, re vlc:
2025-11-23 12:17:09 install vlc-plugin-qt:amd64 <none> 3.0.16-1build7 2025-11-23 12:17:09 status half-installed vlc-plugin-qt:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:09 status triggers-pending libvlc-bin:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:09 status triggers-pending man-db:amd64 2.10.2-1
2025-11-23 12:17:09 status unpacked vlc-plugin-qt:amd64 3.0.16-1build7 2025-11-23 12:17:09 install vlc:amd64 <none> 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:09 status half-installed vlc:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:09 status triggers-pending mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1 2025-11-23 12:17:09 status triggers-pending gnome-menus:amd64
3.36.0-1ubuntu3
2025-11-23 12:17:09 status triggers-pending desktop-file-utils:amd64 0.26-1ubuntu3
2025-11-23 12:17:09 status unpacked vlc:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 install vlc-l10n:all <none> 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-installed vlc-l10n:all 3.0.16-1build7 2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-l10n:all 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 install vlc-plugin-access-extra:amd64 <none>
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-installed vlc-plugin-access-extra:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-access-extra:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 install vlc-plugin-notify:amd64 <none>
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-installed vlc-plugin-notify:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-notify:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 install vlc-plugin-samba:amd64 <none> 3.0.16-1build7 2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-installed vlc-plugin-samba:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-samba:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 install vlc-plugin-skins2:amd64 <none>
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-installed vlc-plugin-skins2:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-skins2:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 install vlc-plugin-video-splitter:amd64 <none> 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-installed
vlc-plugin-video-splitter:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-video-splitter:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 install vlc-plugin-visualization:amd64 <none> 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-installed
vlc-plugin-visualization:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-visualization:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 startup packages configure
2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc-plugin-video-splitter:amd64
3.0.16-1build7 <none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-video-splitter:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured
vlc-plugin-video-splitter:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc-plugin-video-splitter:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc-l10n:all 3.0.16-1build7 <none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-l10n:all 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured vlc-l10n:all 3.0.16-1build7 2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc-l10n:all 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc-plugin-visualization:amd64
3.0.16-1build7 <none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-visualization:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured
vlc-plugin-visualization:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc-plugin-visualization:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc-plugin-access-extra:amd64
3.0.16-1build7 <none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-access-extra:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured
vlc-plugin-access-extra:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc-plugin-access-extra:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc-plugin-qt:amd64 3.0.16-1build7 <none> 2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-qt:amd64 3.0.16-1build7 2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured vlc-plugin-qt:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc-plugin-qt:amd64 3.0.16-1build7 2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc:amd64 3.0.16-1build7 <none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured vlc:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc-plugin-notify:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
<none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-notify:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured vlc-plugin-notify:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc-plugin-notify:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc-plugin-samba:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
<none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-samba:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured vlc-plugin-samba:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc-plugin-samba:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 configure vlc-plugin-skins2:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
<none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status unpacked vlc-plugin-skins2:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured vlc-plugin-skins2:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed vlc-plugin-skins2:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 trigproc man-db:amd64 2.10.2-1 <none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured man-db:amd64 2.10.2-1
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed man-db:amd64 2.10.2-1
2025-11-23 12:17:10 trigproc libvlc-bin:amd64 3.0.16-1build7 <none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured libvlc-bin:amd64
3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status installed libvlc-bin:amd64 3.0.16-1build7
2025-11-23 12:17:10 trigproc mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubuntu1 <none>
2025-11-23 12:17:10 status half-configured mailcap:all 3.70+nmu1ubu

i see the term 'half' many times in there, but it's otherwise fairly
Greek to me.

On the laptop, I have tried numerous deletes and re-installs, but it
doesn't change the failure of Network Stream. I have tried Synaptic and
other methods, but although each time VLC installs, it still won't run
Network Stream, but works on .mp4 etc files.

If it is something else, what could that be?

Totally frustrated with what used to work without any problem, suddenly failing.

I tried to open an account with Ask Ubuntu, to post a question in the
Forum, but it kept complaining that there was a problem with my IP
address. Huh ????

--
Davey.


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