(In reply to Lee Donaghy from comment #2)
> If you're having problems playing back mpeg2 the XBMC devs recommend turning
> off vdpau acceleration for mpeg2.
> settings, video, acceleration. then untick 'Use MPEG-2 VDPAU', need to
> change the settings level to expert to see it listed.
> Not sure if the latest XBMC has this option or you might have to upgrade to
> Kodi.

Thanks, did that, works. However, I still think that a userspace program
shouldn't be able to hang the GPU so completely as to warrant a reboot.