Album Player returns "Could not load the decoder error"

highstream

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I need some technical help and am not sure where to pose this, as it's a problem that the program's developer has never seen before and his suggestions didn't solve.


Album Player is a very good sounding small audio player that's been around for a few years: Audio player Album Player 2.105. It simply unzips to wherever the user wants; i.e. it doesn't use the installer. After running it successfully for months, for the past three days it's been returning an error box on starting the program with the message, "Could not load the decoder." But the thing is the decoder file, ap2decoder.exe, shows as a running process in Windows Task Mgr (Win 8.1 x64 Pro). The developer says the decoder program hasn't changed in five versions (since 2.101, now 2.105).


Here's what I've tried without success:
- deleted and reinstalled the x64 and x32 versions a few times (with reboots)
- excluded the player from Comodo anti-virus and firewall (there were no warnings)
- changed folders where it's located
- run as administrator
- run Yamicsoft Windows 8 Mgr repair module


The only other new thing I can think of during these past couple of days is that there have been two computer startups among many where the system SSD wasn't recognized by the BIOS. The first time I checked BIOS settings and all looked normal, and then coming out of it the computer started right up. The second time I ignored it and it just rebooted normally. I also unplugged/replugged the SSD on both ends just to be sure (Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK mobo; firmware up to date).


Any other ideas? Anything about Windows that could be causing this? Thanks,


Album Player decoder error.JPG
 

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It's a long shot, and totally just if you are up for a troubleshooting experiment..

but you could use Macrium Reflect Free to backup your system image right now,.. save it to External Drive/usb..



then, either clean install windows / Refresh/ Reset Windows and then try Album Player and see how it responds to a fresh new system...

You'll have your Macrium USB image from before which you can just put back..


That's the Long winded way to troubleshoot to see if something has changed in your system to cause it to not run...

and don't install Comodo or anything before you try Album player again in the New Fresh system.. (i've tried comodo and it was a mess.. very secure but stopped everything - including myself just trying to use "my" own system!)

hope that makes sense
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
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    Laptop
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    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
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    8
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    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Thanks. I've from May to October, I had need to do three reinstalls of 8.1 due to new hardware, so am not keen on another. I'll just have to muddle through.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
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    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
Now having said that, you NEED macrium reflect free to save you from doing installs..

Perhaps you aren't sure what Macrium does?

it takes a picture or snapshot of your entire computer which you can carry around on a USB or External Harddrive.. and then at anytime that you want (usually when something goes wrong) you just "snap" that "Picture" back into place -which usually only takes 30min-1 hour (depending on how new of a computer you have and how large size of drive) ..

It keeps everything from the exact date you take that "picture" and you never have to re-install again.. you just essentially copy that older "picture" back onto your hard drive.. no install no hassle..

so you actually should be doing this anyway..

so If you had a Macrium Image right now, you wouldn't be actually installing anything.. you would just be copying a hard drive back ..


So to try this, would mean - just make an image using Macrium Reflect program and then save it to maybe 2 usb or external hardrive (maybe make 2 copies of your "picture" incase one goes .. you never know) and then just do a "reset" or "refresh" already inside your windows.. that would save you from doing a complete reinstall and you can see if your program works then..

if it still doesn't or does, then just "snap" in that macrium image you just took a few hours ago before the refresh or reset.. and viola.. no install ever needed and your right back to square one.. where your audio program doesn't work again with the decoder error.. nothing changed..
Hope this makes sense..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
How is it different than cloning? Cloning Win 8.1 from a 128gb to a 250gb SSD via paid Todo or EaseUs - I forget - was a disaster that lasted for months. Check my posts last summer and you'll see a long thread that was almost entirely caused by that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
Your Joking right Highstream?

Cloning is the process of taking 1 hard drive and copying onto a 2nd Hard drive in Real Time.. That means it does it right then and there and you can watch it.. It only happens once.

Imaging is where you take an external HardDrive or USB stick and let the computer compress and save an Image or "clone" to that External Hard Drive or USB from your 1st Hard drive.. no 2nd hard drive at all actually.. So now you can walk around with your Image you just created of your Hard drive and go to your friends house with it and now "clone" it onto his hard drive.. (of course totally erasing his computer ha.)

Now see the difference?


also these "problems" you probably encountered were some of the factors involved when "cloning" to a different Hard drive.. correct? or was it cloning back to the same exact hard drive?? I bet not.. thus more potential for problems because of factors like is it GPT or MBR mode (hard drive partition) and things like that that you have to know about the two hard drives..

Now, it's also [DEL]2015[/DEL] wait! 2016! and these programs have been updated and many bugs fixed and now very stable.. They actually can even compress your entire HardDrive to fit on a 32 or 64gig USB stick and you can walk around in your pocket with your whole Hard drive and put it on anyone's computer.. how about them apples??

I'll have to look at your previous posts but I will say this, software and Hard Drives have come a long way in a short time.. You know this in the computer industry how fast things change..

I'm sure your "problems" were related to as you say, "cloning" and probably to two different Hard drives! which of course you can do but then you need to know more information about both hard drives and more technical aspects of settings to set before you just do it..


Hope this clearly clears up your differences with Cloning and Imaging with Macrium or whatever paid program..\

and even more so, I really hope this helps you not be scared or fear Cloning or Imaging to another Hard drive.. As a matter of fact, that's all I do now all the time with Laptops, and now even got my brother to "image" (not clone) his old Spinning Harddrive to a new SSD drive.. no problems by the way.. (ok actually we had to change the setting mode AHCI and tweak some settings in the Registry to make it work at first because his Old hard drive was IDE mode..) See what I mean about knowing settings and what you are doing to not have those "problems" you had?? but we are more technically inclined perhaps so that helped..

Now my brother didn't "clone" you see.. he made an Image onto a USB external Hard drive.. then he "imaged" that onto the NEW SSD hard drive.. later.... see how it wasn't in realtime right then and there.. therefore it wasn't a "cloning" he just imaged his hard drive for later use..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
by the way, this may not be by actual definition but that is how you can look at it when someone "clones" or "images" now.. ok
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I don't have a clue what you're talking about. I know what an image is and I know what a clone is, but if the image has a bug in it, then at least for my purposes it's no better than a clone.

You may well have something useful to convey to me. I just wish you'd explain it in two or three sentences, without all the other stuff.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
I need some technical help and am not sure where to pose this, as it's a problem that the program's developer has never seen before and his suggestions didn't solve.


Album Player is a very good sounding small audio player that's been around for a few years: Audio player Album Player 2.105. It simply unzips to wherever the user wants; i.e. it doesn't use the installer. After running it successfully for months, for the past three days it's been returning an error box on starting the program with the message, "Could not load the decoder." But the thing is the decoder file, ap2decoder.exe, shows as a running process in Windows Task Mgr (Win 8.1 x64 Pro). The developer says the decoder program hasn't changed in five versions (since 2.101, now 2.105).


Here's what I've tried without success:
- deleted and reinstalled the x64 and x32 versions a few times (with reboots)
- excluded the player from Comodo anti-virus and firewall (there were no warnings)
- changed folders where it's located
- run as administrator
- run Yamicsoft Windows 8 Mgr repair module


The only other new thing I can think of during these past couple of days is that there have been two computer startups among many where the system SSD wasn't recognized by the BIOS. The first time I checked BIOS settings and all looked normal, and then coming out of it the computer started right up. The second time I ignored it and it just rebooted normally. I also unplugged/replugged the SSD on both ends just to be sure (Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK mobo; firmware up to date).


Any other ideas? Anything about Windows that could be causing this? Thanks,


View attachment 66721

Looking at your link, it shows it was updated a few days ago. I didn't see you mention downloading the decoders mentioned right below the player,

2016-01-01_19h59_32.png

Have you tried that?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz
    Motherboard
    Asrock P67 Extreme4
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    auria eq2367
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
    1TB WD Blue
    1TB Hitachi
    PSU
    SeaSonic X 650W 80 Plus Gold
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Cooling
    Corsair H60, Three 140mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Keyboard K520
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse M310
    Internet Speed
    Wave Broadband ~ 100 dn 5 up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Laptop specs: HP g7-1365dx /
    CPU: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics /
    RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) /
    SSD: Crucial M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device/ FW 000F /
    GFX: AMD Radeon HD 6520G /
    OS: Windows 10 Pro x64
Here is 2-3 Sentence answers.


How is it different than cloning? Cloning Win 8.1 from a 128gb to a 250gb SSD via paid Todo or EaseUs - I forget - was a disaster that lasted for months..

I explained what the difference is. I hope you now understand.. so the only thing else here is that you used Todo or EaseUs to do this project instead of what is now mainstream called "Macrium Reflect" and is free for all the more..

I don't have a clue what you're talking about. I know what an image is and I know what a clone is, but if the image has a bug in it, then at least for my purposes it's no better than a clone.

Ok, so you do you know what the difference is..ok then I see no problem?

but if the image has a bug in it, then at least for my purposes it's no better than a clone.

The only "bug" in your cloning process or Imaging would be if the power goes out while creating/doing a clone/Image.. or if you didn't allow the Clone/Image to "verify" which it does at the end of the process...

Otherwise you may be using the word "bug" as a reference meaning that windows doesn't work correctly and then you make an image of it. (as like windows itself it's bugged already before you image?)


Remember this is solely for you to not have to reinstall windows again.. that is the whole point of this
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
derekimo, Thanks, that update fixed it! Perhaps others ran into it too or the developer decided to see if he could find a bug or quirk in the program that could be causing it. I'll write and ask, but as I write now the music is playing. The Album Player is the best I've found short of Bug Head player, which is brilliant but as esoteric and quirky in its use practically as the developer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
derekimo, Thanks, that update fixed it! Perhaps others ran into it too or the developer decided to see if he could find a bug or quirk in the program that could be causing it. I'll write and ask, but as I write now the music is playing. The Album Player is the best I've found short of Bug Head player, which is brilliant but as esoteric and quirky in its use practically as the developer.

You're welcome, Glad you got it sorted. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz
    Motherboard
    Asrock P67 Extreme4
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    auria eq2367
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
    1TB WD Blue
    1TB Hitachi
    PSU
    SeaSonic X 650W 80 Plus Gold
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Cooling
    Corsair H60, Three 140mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Keyboard K520
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse M310
    Internet Speed
    Wave Broadband ~ 100 dn 5 up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Laptop specs: HP g7-1365dx /
    CPU: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics /
    RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) /
    SSD: Crucial M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device/ FW 000F /
    GFX: AMD Radeon HD 6520G /
    OS: Windows 10 Pro x64
Actually, I realized that I didn't download the FFmpeg decoders just now, but the main x64 program file. So something must have changed.

Update: installing those in-FFmpeg files in the main player folder caused the decoder error to return. It's a good idea that I didn't install them right off! I've written the developer to ask about them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
It turns out that the player works once or twice after an install and then goes back to either the decoder error while loading or a "can't read the file" error box upon clicking play. The developer says he hasn't changed anything in the latest update that would affect decoding.

I think what I'm going to do next is an in-place reinstall of Windows. I think that's what brooksndun has been trying to suggest, but I'd forgotten about that (done it before).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
I think what I'm going to do next is an in-place repair reinstall of Windows. I think that's what brooksndun has been trying to suggest, but I'd forgotten about that (done it before).
Didn't solve it. As I suspected, not Windows but some other conflict.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
wait.. now hold on there soldier..

Which "in place install" did you do??

because the difference between refresh and reset and a clean install could and would change drivers and the way windows might use codecs.. compared to a "repair" install

especially since nobody else appears to have this problem.. it unfortunately is looking like your system setup..

perhaps your special audio card you have?

or you even mentioned it worked once or twice and then had an error? was that enough time for windows to download and change a codec ? can you try running the program disconnected from internet?

is comodo doing something with the way your audio card and system works? What has been updates since this stopped working?

I have a feeling you didnt do the "reset" or "clean windows" install.. That may be your last option to see if it's a system change..

I'm guessing you already did a macrium backup to just put back anyway..

I'll try this program too and see what happens even though I have different system than you.. but similar.. (Samsung SSD, 16gig ram, etc..)

It is all files that you get the decoder error? or just certain wav or aiff or mp3 files??

Can you send me the specific song that give you a decoder error and I will try it on my system with your audio program..

and I wasn't thinking more about your system and noticed this "special usb sound card".. whats the deal there?? hmm..

also noticed in your first post you had this..

After running it successfully for months, for the past three days it's been returning an error box on starting the program with the message, "Could not load the decoder." But the thing is the decoder file, ap2decoder.exe, shows as a running process in Windows Task Mgr (Win 8.1 x64 Pro). The developer says the decoder program hasn't changed in five versions (since 2.101, now 2.105).

what can you remember that got updated before it stopped working? comodo? sound card?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I did the following: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26095-repair-install-windows-8-a.html

Updated none of the above. Turning off the only things updated didn't have any effect.

The question is, why does it work on unzip (noninstall) once or twice, then go problematic, i.e., decoder error. For example, last night after unzipping the x32 version it was playing right before I shut down, but wouldn't play this morning first thing on (cold) startup.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
yeah, ok well if you have a latest "image" from macrium already saved on an External USB/Drive then I would have tried the "Reset" actually..

but then you have to install your audio card drivers and such.. but that is strictly to see if it was something like that causing this decoder error..

then you would just put your macrium usb boot disk back in and put your image from before back on and it's like nothing changed..

this one -- http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html

But, anyway, it works a couple of times right after you unzip it aye??? then your sound card software or windows is changing something after the first or second time.. I assume..

You do seem to have a special sound card right? not just the built in sound card?

I just downloaded the program.. but I'd have to try your file that needs decoding..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
[I've checked the box on this thread for Show your signature, but have yet to see it.] I use a JCAT USB card, a USB cable from it to a Uptone Regen, and from there to a PS Audio Directstream dac, the latter having its own USB driver and speaker driver. JPlay is also running, including JPlay Streamer, but turning them off, or turning off Process Lasso, Fidelizer and anti-malware programs don't solve it.

I would think most any folder with mp3 or flac files will do for testing, but the most common problem, the decoder error box, shows before that on program startup. That is, the main screen opens, disappears, and then instead of reopening I get the decoder error box (but with ap2decoder.exe process running).

I should mention that there is an outside possibility this is related to a bit of motherboard instability (Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK). SATA III Port 0 on the mobo can take a regular SATA cable, but can't handle the JCAT SATA cable (system SSD), so I had to move it. The latter on that port caused intermittent boot problems, which Gigabyte says there is no reason for. In additioning to cloning the new driver, this was part of the problems I had last summer, mentioned in another thread. I've held off sending the board back because of the assembly hassle and Gigabyte's turnaround being about three weeks.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    i5 4690K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK3 (rev. 1.2) UEFI Bios
    Memory
    16 GB (4x4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Ultimate HD7750
    Sound Card
    JCAT USB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD
    Seagate 3TB, 2TB & 1TB HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic x650 PSU
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 335
    Cooling
    Prolimatech Megahalems Rev. C cooler, 3 Nexus Silent Fans
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M
    Mouse
    Bornd Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60+ mbps claimed
    Antivirus
    Comodo CIS, MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    PS Audio Directstream dac, Quad 12L powered speakers, Core Audio Tech Kora LPS, JCAT USB card, Uptone Regen USB
Hate to say it.. but this sounds like a problem with hardware comparability then..

especially since the developer has informed you that this is something he never heard of and he didn't change the way the encoder works since the last versions..

I mean now your mentioning how your motherboard may have incompatibility and you just had to have a special sound card setup as well didn't you! yikes! ha

Of course you should be able to use this program without a problem but..man

I guess there is no other audio player you can get used to by any chance that doesn't have decoder errors?? ha..


I mean the only thing left to try is if the developer allows you to set which decoders the program uses.. or you do a "reset" windows (after macrium backup!) or try different audio drivers and settings with your motherboard audio / bios or the card settings itself..

if you Reset, you will need to download your audio drivers and etc.. but that is for testing purposes anyway to see if you still get the decoder error.. whether you do or don't get the error, you would still just put back your macrium image of right now back onto your hard drive anyway..



[video=youtube;DSQEhYmz61M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSQEhYmz61M[/video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSQEhYmz61M
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo g750
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    Some Chinese Crap..
    Memory
    8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 755
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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