Greetings -

Platform: W98se/2.0Ghz
Software: Real Alternative Player 1.48
K-Lite Codec Pack 2.72 Full
Media Player Classic 6.4.9.0

Problem:
1) Error message displays an Invalid Page Fault in Pncrt.dll
2) "Cannot render the file" displayed on the Media Player Classic GUI.

Depending on which settings are used, the problems occur when attempting to play streaming media (.ram audio files or .ram video files) or .rm / .ra audio files.

1) If MPC 6.4.9.0 is configured to use Real Media (as opposed to using Direct Show) for any type of ra. / .rm / .ram file I am now getting a constant problem with pncrt.dll file in C:\Windows\System.
The error message box displayed is:
Mplayerc caused an IPF in Module PNCRT.DLL at 0177:60a2fab9.

This causes mplayer to remain running as an active process - though no visible window / player is seen. If I attempt to try further with playing any other of the above type of files by launching further instances of mplayer, the same result occurs. This can lead to having as many invisible - yet running - instances of media player classic as try to launch.

2) If I enable Direct Show instead of Real Media as the chosen means to play said mentioned files, then an altogether different situation arises: I can then play both .rm and / or .ra files without any problem, but any attempt to play .ram files results in a "Cannot render the file" display on MPC 6.4.9.0.
The IPF in module PNCRT.DLL does not appear in this case.

Additionally, I do not see any activity as far as Internet access is concerned regarding the playing of Streaming Media .ram files. The Firewall displays no message of a program trying to access internet, nor so I see any download (or even upload request) of MPC onto the internet.

I'd like to make a few things clear by adding this information which follows:
1) I've been a successful (in 99% of the cases) user of Real Alt Player and K-Lite codec packs for well over two years. I've had nearly every version since 6.4.8.2.

2) I've used K-Lite codec packs (again 99% success rate) since at least build 1.33.

3) The above situation with the pncrt.dll is a brand new issue occuring since today. Never saw this before.

4) As briefly stated above, is that MPC 6.4.9.0 has not made the customary request to access the internet (through my firewall Zone Alarm Pro). I see no activity in that area whatsoever.

5) The above Firewall problem is not really new (though this time more difficult to "fix") in that this occured when first installing for the very first time, this build - MPC 6.4.9.0 a few weeks back. Solved by removing older firewall internet access allowed build of 6.4.8.4 (or maybe it was 6.4.8.2) and manually entering build 6.4.9.0. That solved this problem in the past.

6) Still, despite having the current build recognized as the build which is installed, and configured *to ask for permission to access the internet* when trying to play streaming .ram files, it does not ask as it normally would.
It also must not be actually trying to connect for it would display that in Zone Alarm. It would also normally return one of the two messages such as: "You may be following an old link" , or it would start to load the file (buffering).

7) This is the third re-installation of this program. It was done cleanly and efficiently. I do not rely upon standard Windows add/remove programs to remove a program nor to prepare my system for a clean re-install. The reason for this third re-install was due to minor errors regarding FLV type files with a secondary program not specifically related.
However, in an attempt to see if it was K-Lite Codec pack / Real Alternative Player related, I had done several "on top" re-installs of them. Therefore , I wished to re-install to have things in a clean and orderly manner.

This brings us to the present: Just today I noticed that my attempt to play a .ram file was stymied by the above stated problems.

Have I provided enough info here so as to possibly get some assistance with this problem ? If someone could point out what is going wrong, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you.
Capt.Picky

Er... hello. :-)

Any ideas, anyone ? Someone...? Bueller...? Anyone ...? :-D

PNCRT.DLL is part of Real Player and Real Alternative.
Isn't it possible that you had the official Real Player installed before, and it wasn't uninstalled completely? That DLL or reg.keys remained? If so, read this article.

Hi.
Yes, that's right... it is part of RealPlayer and RealAlternativePlayer.

Yes... I did have RealPlayer installed..... about 3 years ago. lol Good suggestion, but I believe I stated that I've used K-Lite for a number of years since at least build 1.33

Anyway... I long ago removed it (RealOne) and have had RealAltPlayer with K-Lite Full, or K-Lite Mega without RealAlt (depending). I've had RealAlt MPC 6.4.8.2 / 6.4.8.4 / 6.4.8.9 /6.4.9.0 installed since then (we're talking years here). Worked fine, up until a few days ago.

The prnct.dll is gone. No longer in the installed location of C:\Windows\System. (along with the myriad other dll's which Real Alt places there)

I don't use Win native Add/Remove programs, but have used "Total Uninstall" to monitor all installs and to use for un-installing ALL programs since near inception on this PC. Therefore, though it is not always *perfect* in every aspect of an un-install, it far exceeds the Windows native uninstaller as Total Uninstall monitors whatever entries are written to the Registry. Also, it doesn't rely solely upon an unins000.dat or uninstall.log or any other sort of OEM install file as far as the registry is concerned.

Anyway, two things:
1) it seems academic about the RealPlayer (bonafide genuine Real) being the issue as all versions of RealAltPlayer (even up to 6.4.9.0) worked with nearly every file type I could throw at it.

2) Since I've removed and not yet re-installed any version of K-Lite / Mega or Full or RealAlt or QuickTime Alternative, I can give the suggested file you've mentioned a shot. It won't hurt. Thanks for the tip / name and link.

As far as the presence of Real in the registry is concerned.... unlikely, and more than that... Non-existent... I'm well adept at using JV16 Powertools at doing Registry Checks as well as Registry Detective in conjunction with Regedit Plus. There are no visible related entries. '-))

However, your suggestion will not go un-heeded... I'll try it; it *can't hurt*, but it doesn't explain the fact of the recent change in behavior or for what reason and why Pncrt.dll is causing MPC to remain active, as well as being unstoppable as far as running is concerned.

Nor does it explain why a prior setting required Real Media instead of Direct Show, and now requires the opposite to get .rm or.ra files to work. .ram files don't work now in either setting, though they did, 4 days ago.
However, having it set to one choice over the other results in small differences of what MPC displays as far as not rendering file. One causes a pncrt.dll error and myriad mplayers in Taskmanager, the other does not. In neither case are. ram files played. And, there are no Firewall "request alert" from MPC to access internet with those types of files. It (my Firewall) does with other files/applications/etc in a normal manner as it always has.

BTW... there are many Pncrt.dll's (depends on the application). All others reside in their own directory of the given application which has call to use it and not in C:\Windows\System directory. They all still work. They have all been on-board this PC in excess of 2 years. I cannot see any conflict there.

The pncrt.dll used by Real AlT is: 278,528 bytes (IIRC). I'm unable to provide an MD5 or a version number at the moment as it has been removed along with Real Alt Player.

Anyway... thanks for the help. :-)
Cheers.

Greetings again.
Thanks, but .r1pclean.exe is useless for me, as "There is an error starting program" > "Cannot find Pncrt.dll". <-- As if I didn't know that. lol. Of course I don't have the RealOne/RealPlayer/Realwhatever directory in which to place it either. Still, no prnct.dll is existing where RealOne (or RealAlt) would place it on a w9x system anyway.

Nevertheless, I suppose it'd be handy for those who *have* RealOne... who use Add/Remove Programs to manage their un-installs --> *MISTAKE* and so forth, but it has no value for me on this PC.

For those who might find need for it, here you are:
hXXp://www.lillevold.com/files/r1pclean.zip (correct the "hXXp" address and paste in Browser address bar)
According to another source (SpywareInfoForums), it won't clean errant Registry entries anyway. I don't know that for a fact, as it is "hearsay" from that site.

Source:
SpywareInfoForums
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/lofiversion/...php/t11867.html
RealOne - How do I completely uninstall RealOne Player and RealOne Music from my computer?
http://service.real.com/realone/faq/r1p_01..._rap01408v.html

Thanks anyway, I appreciate the input. I'll need to follow through more extensively on this myself and/or seek help elsewhere... UNLESS someone has more thoroughly read my initial post; has given this issue more thought and has a more likely idea/solution.

Cheers and take care.