Player Stays Minimized in Taskbar

[Frunobulax]

I recently downloaded the RiffTrax Player and installed it on my XP sp2 machine. However, when I try to run it, it doesn't open -- it just stays minimized in the taskbar. If I right-click on it and select restore, nothing happens. I uninstalled, re-downloaded and reinstalled with the same result. I also ran the live update to update to the latest version with the same outcome. Has anyone else come across this problem?

[markbevins]

hmm...there should be no reason why that would do that - try to make sure you have launched the main app and closed any previous - maybe a restart would be in line off the top of my head

[Frunobulax]

I tried that, Mark, but no joy. I found a thread here where a few others are having the same problem. It's frustrating, but I know the player is a beta and work is coming along on it bit by bit. Maybe I'll install Vista on another drive and see if the player works on that...

[metalpuppy]

Currently experiencing the same issue.  Have used the player for months without this issue.  Tried today and its minimized, and not only cannot be right clicked in the task bar and restored, it cannot be exited without opening the task manager.

Tried uninstalling, restarting, installing, updating.  No change.  Currently closing down background tasks to see if theres a problem there...

[metalpuppy]

No luck there, and also tried installing SP3 for xp.  Did not change anything.  No drastic changes to my configuration, nor installed programs come to mind.  Stopping virus protection has no effect either.  Kinda wish there was a debug mode...

[Steve-O]

Interesting behavior.  I assume since a right-click on the taskbar won't work, that an alt-<space> also does nothing?  Does it even bring up the context menu (the one with minimize/maximize/restore on it?)

Another possibility is that the application has a modal dialog box open that you can't see.  Have you tried alt-<tab>bing a few times until you get to the icon for the player?  That will sometimes bring the dialog to the fore so you can do something with it.

[metalpuppy]

it can be right clicked and the context menu will come up.  The options are Restore, Minimize, and Close.  Close does not work, which makes me think its not just hidden off the screen.  Either Minimize or Restore are ghosted.  If Restore is available for clicking, it has no function.   Going back to the context menu shows the restore option is still available.

However, I've found that double clicking the task bar button a bunch occasionaly give the effect of it being maximized (ya know, the little animation of the icon floating up to the middle of the screen, which would usually then cause the window to come up)  but nothing comes up.  When it DOES do that, the minimize option is now available and the restore is ghosted, so its doing SOMETHING.

I wonder if the other person who is having the problem uses Kaspersky antivirus.  There was a problem with steam's (the video game client program) graphical overlay effects when using Kaspersky, and its a protection that goes into effect as windows boots, so shutting down kaspersky has no effect... there could have been an update to the program that caused an issue. 

Its kind of a stretch because i think the guis of the to programs are very different, but there was a work around for it for the steam overlays that i'm gonna try later.  I'll keep in touch.

[Frunobulax]

I've found the solution, at least for me. I use Firefox for browsing, which is fine, and I have Adobe's Flash Player installed. However, I had to open up Internet Explorer and also go to www.adobe.com and install the Flash Player again while in IE. After that, the Rifftrax Player seems to work just fine. I really hope this works for you guys as well!

[metalpuppy]

Interesting you say that, because now that you mention that, I currently have the latest beta of flash 10 installed.  I think you are my hero.  I'll tell you in a second.

WHOOP!  It worked!

I had to actually download a flash uninstall program from adobe (using add remove programs and reinstalling at adobe.com didn't work)  so i ran the program, restarted the computer (needs to to delete certain files)  and tried again (with no flash installed at all)  The same behavior occurred.    I then installed the flash player with ie and tried again and it worked!  You're the man, frunobulax!

Can anyone else confirm that if flash is completely uninstalled (http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_14157 then restart)  that the Rifftrax does not load?  And if so.... shouldn't there be a work around or at least a check that informs you of what to do?

Either way, glad its working now!

[AnimeHeretic]

For Vista try running as Admin.

[Core]

I've found the solution, at least for me. I use Firefox for browsing, which is fine, and I have Adobe's Flash Player installed. However, I had to open up Internet Explorer and also go to www.adobe.com and install the Flash Player again while in IE. After that, the Rifftrax Player seems to work just fine. I really hope this works for you guys as well!

I had the same problem as this thread and your advice worked for me!  Much thanx my friend!!! Woot! Off to watch.....(*sigh* OK fine) and listen (the wife is such a purist lol) to a RiffTrax on my new player! Thanx again! 

EDIT: OK that worked to get the player to load but now the codecs aren't right and the DVD won't render. I posted in the
           Codecs thread asking for help. Anyone that can help I appreciate it. Thanx.