Unable to connect with the VideoLan forums.

[Shabakthanai]

I haven't used the VideoLan forum in a long time and am unable to login. When I attempt to get help with the login, I am given a new Login password, but it fails.

Thinking I may not be in their login records for some reason, I attempt to login fresh. The reply is that my username and email address are already in use, which suggests that I am already registered.

Pursuing the problem, it is suggested that I contact an Administrator. I can not find a link to an Administrator.

There is a suggestion that an Administrator may have blocked my email or Username, but that does not make any sense. Why would I be blocked? Is it because I haven't posted in a long while? Does anyone know?

I realize this is not a Kubuntu problem, but I have decided to use and have installed Kubuntu 14.04.1 LTS, and VLC does not install in my distribution. There are several posts regarding this problem, however I have not been able to find a solution that works. Thanks!

[Rod J]

I switched to SMPlayer ages ago because my favourite feature in VLC got broken by the developers (the ability to automatically remember where in a video you've watched up to ... something I use a lot because I hardly ever watch something all the way through in one sitting).

Of course, the question goes begging: Why can't you install VLC in Kubuntu?

[claydoh]

As Ubuntu build vlc packages that we use, it is likely more an Ubuntu-related problem, so asking here is probably more appropriate since the videolan folks don't provide installable packages for us themselves. Tell us what steps you did to try and install it, the errors you have, and any additional things you have tried to fix things, if any.


It *should* be just a simple as using the package manager or command line to install the package vlc.

[Shabakthanai]

Thanks friend.

I switched to SMPlayer ages ago because my favourite feature in VLC got broken by the developers (the ability to automatically remember where in a video you've watched up to ... something I use a lot because I hardly ever watch something all the way through in one sitting).

Of course, the question goes begging: Why can't you install VLC in Kubuntu?

[Shabakthanai]

Hi friend, I just backward installed my OS. I now and plan to keep as a standard OS, Kubuntu 14.04 LTS. I installed vlc as usual by using the konsole with the command: sudo apt-get install vlc. It shows as installed but times out when attempting to open.

I attempted to install using MUON. I selected vlc and clicked on Installation. The package manager said it was rebuilding the data base, but did not install. At this point, I am quite confused. Usually vlc has been the easiest installation and stable install of those applications I always install. I will install and try synaptic to see if it might work.

As Ubuntu build vlc packages that we use, it is likely more an Ubuntu-related problem, so asking here is probably more appropriate since the videolan folks don't provide installable packages for us themselves. Tell us what steps you did to try and install it, the errors you have, and any additional things you have tried to fix things, if any.


It *should* be just a simple as using the package manager or command line to install the package vlc.

[Shabakthanai]

These are required but will not install.

Depends: libsdl-image1.2 but it is not going to be installed
Depends: libva-drm1 but it is not going to be installed
Depends: libva-x11-1 but it is not going to be installed
Depends: libvncclient0 (>=0.9.9) but it is not installable
Depends: libxcb-xv0 but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: vlc-plugin-notify but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: vlc-plugin-samba but it is not going to be installed

[Snowhog]

Open a console and type sudo apt-get update. When it finishes, type sudo apt-get dist-upgrade. When that finishes, type sudo dpkg --configure -a. Repeat the two previous commands then do a normal shutdown/reboot. Open a console and repeat all three previous commands. There 'should' be no indicated package updates, and all installed packages on your system should now be 'up to date'. Try reinstalling vlc from the console by typing sudo apt-get install --reinstall vlc.

[Shabakthanai]

After completing your recommendations, I tried to open vlc from the konsole. Here is the result:

steven@steven-K1404:~$ vlc
VLC media player 2.2.1 Terry Pratchett (Weatherwax) (revision 2.2.1~trusty2)
[000000000242c5d8] skins2 interface error: no XML found in theme /home/steven/Downloads/vlc-skins.zip
[00007f5f8c03aba8] xml xml reader error: XML parser error (line 1) : Document is empty

[000000000242c5d8] skins2 interface error: no skins found : exiting
steven@steven-K1404:~$

Is there any new option I may try? Thanks friend

Open a console and type sudo apt-get update. When it finishes, type sudo apt-get dist-upgrade. When that finishes, type sudo dpkg --configure -a. Repeat the two previous commands then do a normal shutdown/reboot. Open a console and repeat all three previous commands. There 'should' be no indicated package updates, and all installed packages on your system should now be 'up to date'. Try reinstalling vlc from the console by typing sudo apt-get install --reinstall vlc.

[claydoh]

steven@steven-K1404:~$ vlc
VLC media player 2.2.1 Terry Pratchett (Weatherwax) (revision 2.2.1~trusty2)
[000000000242c5d8] skins2 interface error: no XML found in theme /home/steven/Downloads/vlc-skins.zip
[00007f5f8c03aba8] xml xml reader error: XML parser error (line 1) : Document is empty

[000000000242c5d8] skins2 interface error: no skins found : exiting
steven@steven-K1404:~$

Is there any new option I may try? Thanks friend

It may be that the custom vlc skins you are/were using are corrupt or missing some bits.

You can reset vlc to all its original settings by either deleting the config file, or by the following command:

vlc --reset-config

This command will run vlc, but with any settings you had, including the skin, reverted back to the stock defaults.

[Shabakthanai]

Thanks my friend. That was the problem. I have used vlc for a long time. Each time something happens, videos may or may not accept and retain my aspect ratio. I so enjoy the movie filling the screen without the black spaces top and bottom; the vlc capability is missed. Additionally, the sound and video seem to be better using vlc and being able to create a menu list that does not require re-entering the next episode each time I view several episodes of my backups.

I wish I could understand what happened with my login problems with Videolan Forums, but I can't seem to be able to contact an Administrator to find the solution. I really appreciate this help and wish I was able to avoid bothering people for solutions that do not occur to me. You are terrific.

It may be that the custom vlc skins you are/were using are corrupt or missing some bits.

You can reset vlc to all its original settings by either deleting the config file, or by the following command:

vlc --reset-config

This command will run vlc, but with any settings you had, including the skin, reverted back to the stock defaults.

[Snowhog]

Like all/most forums, there is a link on the front page of their forum that allows you to tell them you forgot your password:


Have you tried this yet?