.ASX stream opens with VLC, not WMP

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Level 3

705 points

.ASX stream opens with VLC, not WMP

We subsribe to a polish language video program, streamed in .ASX. Until recently, we could view this with Safari 1.3.1 using WiMP 9. Somehow, the default helper app/internet plug-in has gotten changed to VLC, which doesn't really work well (it hangs). I have tried the following fixes:
1) Tossed and re-installed WiMP 9... no change.
2) Checked Safari/Help/Internet Plug-ins. Three MIME types are (suspiciously) not referenced to any Extension (blank spaces): application/x-mplayer2, application/asx (should be .ASX), and video/x-ms-asf-plugin (should be .ASF). But, I don't know of any way to edit them (in Safari, at least).
3) Opened IE 5.2.3, and tried to check/update the Helper apps for .ASF, ASX, .WMF, and ,WMX, hoping it would update the InternetConfig settings... no change.
4) Opened the InternetConfig.plist directly with TextEdit, and looked it over for some reference to .ASX, VLC, or WiMP.... no luck.
5) Opened the Safari Package Contents, and looked it over for similar references.... also, no luck.
The only work-around, so far, has been to toss VLC. Then, Safari opens WiMP, and the shows stream just fine. However, I'd like to keep VLC around for other things. I've considered hitting Reset Safari, but I don't want to lose the passwords, cookies, data, and other items that we've accrued (and it might not help, anyway). I searched this site, and couldn't find a fix. I can't be the first person with this problem - how do you reset specific helper apps in Safari???

G4 QuickSilver 867 mhz, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Dec 20, 2005 9:54 PM

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Answer 1

ra5ul

Level 3

500 points

Dec 20, 2005 10:24 PM in response to Scott Sayre

try selecting an .asx file in the finder > get info. > open with...WMP > change all > ok etc...

vlc player is much better than wmp. whatever's causing the hang will probably get fixed soon, anyway. make sure you have the latest version, too (0.8.4a).

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Answer 2

Scott Sayre Author

Level 3

705 points

Dec 21, 2005 1:12 AM in response to ra5ul

Not a bad suggesion, but no, it didn't work (even though it should).
Yes, I have VLC 0.8.4a.
There has to be some config. file or .plist that's specific to Safari (or perhaps internet downloading?), not a general, system-wide thing. Safari is looking for VLC as the default player for downloads from this website. When that's not available, it uses WiMP. OS X wants to use WiMP as the default player for .WMF and .ASF (and similar) sitting on my hard disk (as it should). Very curious....

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Answer 3

ra5ul

Level 3

500 points

Dec 21, 2005 9:03 AM in response to Scott Sayre

you didn't mention ...safari.plist in your original post. you could try moving that out and see what happens.

i believe the main values get saved to the application itself (/applications/safari.app/contents/macos/safari), which you would have to hexedit (not recommended in this case).

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Answer 4

Scott Sayre Author

Level 3

705 points

Dec 22, 2005 10:55 PM in response to ra5ul

I opened com.apple.safari.plist with TextEdit. It doesn't contain any (references to) MIME format preferences.
I cleared all the cookies for the polish website in Safari. Didn't help.
I tried tossing the preferences for VLC. Didn't change anything.
I also looked at the Package Contents Windows Media Plug-in. It definitely is intended to handle .ASX (listed, along with .WMF, and several other common formats) for Safari (and IE, Netscape, and others).
I went through the Package Contents of Safari, using TextEdit, as thoroughly as I could. It's possible that it's in the actual Contents/Safari file (saw some tantalizing clues), but I don't have the chops to find/edit it.
Interestingly, Safari will stream using WiMP from other sites just fine. Example:
http://www.atomfilms.com
Of course, that site asks me to pick what media player I want as default.

Also, I reloaded VLC, latest version. Now when I try to start one of the polish shows, I get this message:
"The internet location you are opening will open the application VLC for the first time. Are you sure you want to open this application?
The application is located in the folder “vlc-0.8.4a”. If you were not expecting this application to open, click Cancel."
Thus far, I have hit Cancel, because I don't want to lock in VLC as the default. Clearly, OS X is trying to protect me from loading a new/unfamiliar app., which is thoughtful security-wise. But, what I really want is an opportunity to Choose what app. to use! Mildly annoying...

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Answer 5

ra5ul

Level 3

500 points

Dec 22, 2005 11:54 PM in response to Scott Sayre

It's possible that it's in the actual Contents/Safari file (saw some tantalizing clues), but I don't have the chops to find/edit it.

grep -i vlc /applications/safari.app/contents/macos/safari

entered in terminal should tell you whether it's stored in there or not, and

strings /applications/safari.app/contents/macos/safari | grep -i --color vlc

should tell you what to edit...you can always make a backup.

ibook g4 OSX.4.x

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Answer 6

Scott Sayre Author

Level 3

705 points

Dec 27, 2005 8:40 PM in response to ra5ul

I tried the text you gave in the Terminal... it didn't give any response or locate the text 'VLC'. Did you actually test it? I didn't seem to work...

Anyway, this can't be the way to fix this. There has to be an easier way to set helper files. Apple just wouldn't have it this way... I'm confused.

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Answer 7

ra5ul

Level 3

500 points

Dec 27, 2005 9:37 PM in response to Scott Sayre

i wouldn't assume there's an easy solution just because it's apple. if there is, it's escaped the notice of several prominent sites. i certainly haven't found any quick fix.

you can read this article, which better details what i meant in my last post. also, you can try following one of today's hints on macosxhints.com (detailing a similar problem) and see if it leads anywhere.

hope this helps.

ibook g4 OSX.4.x

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Answer 8

ra5ul

Level 3

500 points

Jan 30, 2006 12:39 AM in response to Scott Sayre

just came across something you may want to try, if you're still following this thread.

iBook g4 OS X.4.x

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Answer 9

Scott Sayre Author

Level 3

705 points

Feb 27, 2006 11:20 PM in response to ra5ul

Your last post game me a clue...
In User//Library/Preferences, I opened "com.apple.LaunchServices.plist" with TextEdit. It contains MIME settings for .WMF, .WMA, .ASF, and .ASX, all to "MicroSoft.Media.Player", among many other applications. Once again, it appears to be in order.
I also looked through System/Library/Frameworks/LaunchServices, but no luck.
I've pretty much given up on this one. If I need VLC, I just download it, and then toss it. Thanks for your help. If you think of anything else, I'll be checking occasionally.

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Answer 10

ra5ul

Level 3

500 points

Feb 28, 2006 1:02 AM in response to Scott Sayre

one more idea:

open up /applications/vlc.app/contents/info.plist and remove the <dict> ... </dict> section referencing ASX. then rebuild your launchservices database (as described in the macosxhints link).

iBook g4 OS X.4.x

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