FF7 FMV sequences freeze, go slow

[Sicel1304]

Hey guys, I have the 1.02 patch and the chocobo patch installed.  I'm running it with a 6800 GT, with the software renderer, as that's my only option.  Anti-aliasing is forced off.  

Whenever there is a FMV sequence, the game will freeze for awhile, or the FMV will play really slow.  The characters in the frame will also slide on the screen.  

Do you guys know how I can fix this?  Thanks for your help.

[dziugo]

Move your movies to HDD... Use a virtual copy of your play disc... spin up the cdrom before the FMV...

[Sicel1304]

Is that the only way to solve the problem?  By moving the movies over to my harddrive?  

And will that solve the problem for sure?

[jamesyfx]

Since the game doesnt have to access the CD to access the movies (WHich causes it to pause for a few seconds), they will play instantly.

So that means theres no "catching up" to do, and it's all in sync, etc.

It takes a bit more than just moving them to a folder though - you have to go into the Windows Registry and change a path.. where that is, i'm not sure. However.

[Sicel1304]

Did all that...now, my game will crash whenever you walk into a shop / room / place where an FMV sequence takes place.  

I followed this guide http://www.ff7-universe.com/Downloads/FF7Movietweak.txt , and I'm sure I did everything the right way...and it still won't work.

EDIT:  Also crashes during battles.

[Threesixty]

You probably have a video codec conflict. I don't know how to fix it manually other reformating the drive and reinstalling Windows. But then I don't know very much on the subject of removing video codecs. Windows has a habit of finding removed codec drivers, when you remove them from that control panel buried in one of those icons. So I imagine you have to delete the actual files....and beats me where those files end up on the harddrive or what strange names they have.... Or where they are hidden in the registery. Anyway, I imagine it turns into a huge mess.

I just noticed on my PC, I had terrible framerates on a lot of FMV's on a few games I own...and after I had my harddrive crash, and was forced to reinstalled, everything. Those FMV play smooth, now.

Repair probably won't work, because Windows will just reinstall all the 3rd party windows programs it can find from the harddrive. Anyway...you're probably better off just living with it.

I guess you can try that remove feature inside that sound icon in Control Panel. I think it's in there.....under Hardware, should be a button called properties in there and then it throws you into a box with two tabs....the second tab allows you to remove codecs. I guess you can try removing all of them. But I really don't know what will happen when you do. I think Windows will just reinstall them as needed....maybe. I'm pretty sure that it treats them as drivers...and if that's the case, windows doesn't delete the files....it just removes it from the registery. So, if that's the case....windows will probably just reinstall the conflicting driver, and the problem will not go away.

But it's up to you.... I'm basicly guessing. (aka: talking out of my butt)

[Sicel1304]

I'm not sure either...this is causing me a lot more heartache then it should, but thanks for the recommendation threesixty.

Can anyone else offer something?

[Sad Jari]

But then I don't know very much on the subject of removing video codecs. Windows has a habit of finding removed codec drivers, when you remove them from that control panel buried in one of those icons. So I imagine you have to delete the actual files....and beats me where those files end up on the harddrive or what strange names they have.... Or where they are hidden in the registery. Anyway, I imagine it turns into a huge mess.

It's surprisingly simple: regsvr32 /u filename.dll from command line, although most often the extension is .ax, since these are DirectShow codecs. You still have to know the filename and where the file is located, though.

[Melanthius]

Here is an easy way you can play the movies from your HD (as mentioned):

Using Nero or something similar, save all CD's images to your HD as .iso

Get daemon tools (google for it)

Install FF7 using the .iso and daemon tools, and play it from the .iso's as well

[EmperorSteele]

Actually, it's probably software mode; it can't runt he FMVs as fast as hardware mode can (unless you have like a 3 gig processor).  However, it should also slow down then on-screen sprites so things don't conflict.