8gb MKV files shows up as 3.95gb on WDTV (gen 1, latest firmware) and doesn't play

[vadox6466]

See title for problem info.  I have an 8gb MKV file that plays on my computer from a 16gb usb stick, when I try playing the same file on WDTV from the same sandisk usb stick, the file shoes up as 3.95gb in the WDTV file explorer and doesn’t play.  File information below:

General

Complete name                    : C:\clip.mkv

Format                           : Matroska

File size                        : 7.95 GiB

Duration                         : 1h 42mn

Overall bit rate                 : 11.1 Mbps

Encoded date                     : UTC 2010-10-14 06:58:10

Writing application              : mkvmerge v4.3.0 (‘Escape from the Island’) built on Sep  5 2010 10:30:51

Writing library                  : libebml v1.0.0 + libmatroska v1.0.0

Video

ID                               : 1

Format                           : AVC

Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec

Format profile                   : High@L4.1

Format settings, CABAC           : Yes

Format settings, ReFrames        : 3 frames

Muxing mode                      : Container profile=Unknown@4.1

Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC

Duration                         : 1h 42mn

Bit rate                         : 9 586 Kbps

Width                            : 1 920 pixels

Height                           : 1 080 pixels

Display aspect ratio             : 16:9

Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps

Color space                      : YUV

Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0

Bit depth                        : 8 bits

Scan type                        : Progressive

Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.193

Stream size                      : 6.71 GiB (84%)

Writing library                  : x264 core 107 r1745 4785e8e

Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=4 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.20 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-6 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=0 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=9586 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

Language                         : English

Audio

ID                               : 2

Format                           : DTS

Format/Info                      : Digital Theater Systems

Format profile                   : ES

Muxing mode                      : Header stripping

Codec ID                         : A_DTS

Duration                         : 1h 42mn

Bit rate mode                    : Constant

Bit rate                         : 1 510 Kbps

Channel(s)                       : 6 channels

Channel positions                : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE

Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz

Bit depth                        : 24 bits

Stream size                      : 1.08 GiB (14%)

GeneralComplete name                  Format                           : MatroskaFile size                        : 7.95 GiBDuration                         : 1h 42mnOverall bit rate                 : 11.1 MbpsEncoded date                     : UTC 2010-10-14 06:58:10Writing application              : mkvmerge v4.3.0 (‘Escape from the Island’) built on Sep  5 2010 10:30:51Writing library                  : libebml v1.0.0 + libmatroska v1.0.0
VideoID                               : 1Format                           : AVCFormat/Info                      : Advanced Video CodecFormat profile                   : High@L4.1Format settings, CABAC           : YesFormat settings, ReFrames        : 3 framesMuxing mode                      : Container profile=Unknown@4.1Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVCDuration                         : 1h 42mnBit rate                         : 9 586 KbpsWidth                            : 1 920 pixelsHeight                           : 1 080 pixelsDisplay aspect ratio             : 16:9Frame rate                       : 23.976 fpsColor space                      : YUVChroma subsampling               : 4:2:0Bit depth                        : 8 bitsScan type                        : ProgressiveBits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.193Stream size                      : 6.71 GiB (84%)Writing library                  : x264 core 107 r1745 4785e8eEncoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=4 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.20 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-6 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=0 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=9586 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00Language                         : English
AudioID                               : 2Format                           : DTSFormat/Info                      : Digital Theater SystemsFormat profile                   : ESMuxing mode                      : Header strippingCodec ID                         : A_DTSDuration                         : 1h 42mnBit rate mode                    : ConstantBit rate                         : 1 510 KbpsChannel(s)                       : 6 channelsChannel positions                : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFESampling rate                    : 48.0 KHzBit depth                        : 24 bitsStream size                      : 1.08 GiB (14%)

[RoofingGuy]

What format is the USB stick formatted to?

I’ve never had any issues with a Gen1 and my NTFS drives, even with 15GB files.  They show up correctly and play correctly.

[vadox6466]

USB stick is formatted to NTFS.  I even tried an external 1.5TB HDD with the same file, and had the same problem.

It’s a problem that’s been more prevalent lately on my WDTV.  Since upgrading to the latest firmware, more and more files have failed to play.  Similar story with all of them (a large file displaying as much smaller, and resulting in an empty black screen when a playback attempt is made)

Thanks for the quick reply, btw

[vadox6466]

I’ve also tried rebooting, resetting the system physically, formatting my USB stick and re-upping the file.  Nothing seems to work.  Frustrating because recently only 3 or 4 out of 5 files have worked on the sytem

[RoofingGuy]

Actually… I just looked closer at your original post.  I should have seen the problem immediately, but I was too focused on the file-size aspect and just skimmed the rest quickly.

The reason more and more of your files won’t play, is because they’ve been encoded with “header compression” turned on for either the audio track, or the video track or both.

The WDTV will not play files that have header compression enabled.

This never used to be a problem.

But mkvmerge 4.1.x started compressing the headers on the audio track(s) by default.

Mkvmerge 4.2.x and newer used compression on both the audio and the video tracks, by default.

The MediaInfo you posted shows mkvmerge 4.3.0.

You will have to re-multiplex the file (and any others with compressed headers) with compression turned off for all tracks to get it (them) to play.

And what’s worse, once you try playing a “bad” file, the WDTV tends to not play _ any _ files, even ones it had been able to play in the past.

So, here’s what you need to do:

• re-mux all.mkv files that have compression (or remove them from the USB drive)
• reset the WDTV to factory defaults
• press the reset button on the side
• leave the WDTV unplugged for 10 minutes, or longer
• delete the .wd-tv folder on your USB drive (if it exists)

Then you’ll be back in business until you try to play another file with header compression.

It isn’t the newest firmware causing the problem… it’s the newest mkvmerge – the problem exists for all firmware revisions.

[RoofingGuy]

Oh… and there’s 2 ways to go about re-muxing the files to “fix” them…

Either use a version of mkvmerge that pre-dates the compression being enabled by default (4.0.x or earlier), or use the newest versions (4.1.x or newer) and for _ each _ audio and video track in the .mkv click on “Extra Options” and select “Compression → None”.

I believe there are some programs and scripts running around that will scan your files for you and fix any that need fixing, instead of having to check each one manually, but I’ve never used any of them so I can’t vouch for any of them.

[vadox6466]

Just followed your advice, remuxed the file, and it works… thanks so much!

But the strange thing is it still displays as a 3.95gb file on the WDTV explorer. No issue with playing it back anymore, but slightly confusing nonetheless. 

[RoofingGuy]

Well, to tell you the truth, I’ve always had the “Display File Size” set to “Off” in my settings, so I have no clue what sizes the WDTV would report for my files.

Glad you got everything sorted out, though.