How To Fix “Failed to open VDPAU backend libvdpau_nvidia.so” Error in GNOME Mplayer

If you are a GNOME Mplayer user, you might have come across the error “Failed to open VDPAU backend libvdpau_nvidia.so”. This error is common among users with NVIDIA graphics cards. It indicates a problem with the Video Decode and Presentation API for Unix (VDPAU) backend library. In this article, we will explore several solutions to resolve this issue.

Solution 1: Create a Symlink to the VDPAU lib

The first solution involves creating a symbolic link (symlink) to the VDPAU library. A symlink is a type of file that points to another file or directory.

Open a terminal and run the following command:

ln -s /usr/lib/vdpau/libvdpau_nvidia.so.1 /usr/lib/libvdpau_nvidia.so

This command creates a symlink from /usr/lib/vdpau/libvdpau_nvidia.so.1 to /usr/lib/libvdpau_nvidia.so. This will enable VDPAU and utilize hardware acceleration if your video card supports it.

Solution 2: Modify the MPlayer Configuration File

The next solution involves modifying the MPlayer configuration file.

Open the MPlayer configuration file ~/.mplayer/config in a text editor. Add the following lines to the file:

[default]
ao=pulse
really-quiet="1"

In this configuration, ao=pulse sets the audio output to PulseAudio, while really-quiet="1" suppresses all dialogues. Save the file and restart MPlayer to apply the changes.

Solution 3: Install Necessary Packages for Intel or Nvidia Graphics

Another solution is to install the necessary packages for your Intel or Nvidia graphics card.

For Intel VGA and x64 systems, run the following commands in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install i965-va-driver
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libvdpau-va-gl1
cd /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau/
sudo ln -s libvdpau_va_gl.so.1 libvdpau_i965.so.1

These commands install the necessary drivers and create a symlink to the VDPAU library for Intel graphics cards.

For Nvidia graphics, run the following command:

sudo apt-get install libvdpau1 vdpau-va-driver

This command installs the VDPAU driver and backend for Nvidia graphics cards.

Solution 4: Specify a Video Output Driver on the Command Line

You can also specify a video output driver when launching MPlayer. Use the -vo option to specify the driver. For example:

mplayer -vo xv video.wmv

This command launches MPlayer with the xv video output driver. You can use the command mplayer -vo help to see a list of available video output drivers.

Solution 5: Change the Video Output Module in GNOME Player Preferences

Another solution is to change the video output module in GNOME Player.

Open GNOME Player and go to Edit → Preferences. Select the “Player” tab and choose x11 for the Video Output. Close the preferences and try opening the video file again.

Solution 6: Set the VDPAU_DRIVER Environment Variable

The final solution is to set the VDPAU_DRIVER environment variable to Nvidia.

Open a terminal and run the following command:

export VDPAU_DRIVER=nvidia

This command sets the VDPAU driver to Nvidia.

Conclusion

The “Failed to open VDPAU backend libvdpau_nvidia.so” error in GNOME Mplayer is a common issue that can be resolved in several ways. The solutions provided in this article are applicable to specific hardware and software configurations, so it is important to choose the one that best fits your situation. Remember to always backup your system before making any changes.

ln -s /usr/lib/vdpau/libvdpau_nvidia.so.1 /usr/lib/libvdpau_nvidia.so

[default]
ao=pulse
really-quiet="1"

mplayer -vo xv video.wmv

export VDPAU_DRIVER=nvidia