Deskscapes stopped playing video backgrounds that previously worked

from Stardock Forums

Deskscapes stopped playing video backgrounds that previously worked. WTH? Unable to load this background. Typically means you do not have a decoder for MPEG2. Click here is a waste of time as it addresses older Windows versions.

I thought I fixed this years ago. How does it keep coming back? Why is there no straightforward way to fix it? I have totally updated latest version of Windows 10. I just don't get why there can't be an easy fix where I don't have to work my way through pages of text. Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sick of doing the same thing over and over every time it shits a brick.

stardock software deskscapes
13,281 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Have you got some examples of backgrounds which do not work?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

All of them. None that worked previously work. None that I download work. All I did today was go to download a new one and change the animated background. I tried uninstalling Deskscapes and reinstalling and that did not work. They no longer even show a preview image. Sakura Cherry Blossoms in Japan is the one that was running fine before I went to change it. Now it doesn't work. Lost as to what to do at this point.

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I think it best to do purge and reinstall steps as mention here : [Link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account page. Reboot after the purge. Reinstall and reboot again after the installation. Retest and report back here.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Purged, reinstalled latest version from my account page, rebooted. Same problem. Preview turns black and then I get the MPEG-2 message.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

I should add that there is no problem wit the static wallpapers. None before, none now.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Have you tried changing there setting? Try any of those options and see if it help. Report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

I had not. Changed it to the "Use Media Foundation . . ." (from "DirectShow EVR" which is where it was set), and it now works. I hesitate to do anything else at this point. Thanks for the help, although I am unsure as to why this would have happened since it was working fine previously and I did not touch any DS settings.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Not sure what happened in your system. But, glad it is working now. Report back if the issue arise again.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

What have worked for many users encountering the same or similar issues with missing or not working MPEG2, is to install the K-Lite codec pack. That package also include the excellent Media Player Classic, that can play almost all known audio & video formats.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Regrading K-Lite codec pack, it was already installed, and when this happened, I set it to default settings and reinstalled an updated download. It had no effect on the problem.