Dual display video problems

Alanmelon · 15-02-2004, 18:31

I'm running a television as a second output from my Geforce FX5200 graphics card, and am finding that whilst most things display ok, whenever I try to play a video in Windows Media Player through the television, I only get a blank picture.
The video plays fine on the primary monitor, and I have had this configuration working before, so I must just be missing something.

Any ideas?

rdhw · 15-02-2004, 18:35

How up to date are your graphics drivers?

Sociable · 15-02-2004, 18:40

From memory the solution is in the display settings and it is about which of the two is set as the primary display I think.

Will see if I can find any specific details on this though as working from memory and that's never a good idea where I'm concerned.

Alanmelon · 15-02-2004, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdhw

How up to date are your graphics drivers?

They're the latest ones.

Stuartbe · 15-02-2004, 19:59

Are you trying to play any films that have copyright protection ?

What screen resolution are you running ?

Alanmelon · 15-02-2004, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartbe

Are you trying to play any films that have copyright protection ?

What screen resolution are you running ?

Nope, no copyright protection, the films have worked before. The TV resolution is set at 800x600

Sociable · 15-02-2004, 20:09

Just add to my earlier post the problem is linked to how video video overlay works and this is why it is seen only on the primary display as the secondary takes its copy before the overlay is applied (I think). I'm sure there must be detailed info on this somewhere but having some brobs sitting at PC long enough to do a detailed search today.

Stuartbe · 15-02-2004, 20:18

How are you connecting to the tv (compsite or Svideo) ?

Does the screen just go totaly black when you start the film ?

Are you able to play the film in a window instead of full screen ?

Alanmelon · 15-02-2004, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartbe

How are you connecting to the tv (compsite or Svideo) ?

Does the screen just go totaly black when you start the film ?

Are you able to play the film in a window instead of full screen ?

S-video connection. The media player window and desktop are all visible, but instead of the video, I get a black(blank) square.

Stuartbe · 15-02-2004, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alanmelon

S-video connection. The media player window and desktop are all visible, but instead of the video, I get a black(blank) square.

Sound to me like some kind of macrovision protection is kicking in m8

Alanmelon · 15-02-2004, 21:43

It would appear that certain (downloaded) files play fine, but others, recorded using Intervideo WinDVR (with some obscure codec) will not play back via the second TV output. I suspect a codec problem?

Kneebs · 15-02-2004, 21:55

When I used to use the tv out feature of one of my graphics cards, to get video displayed properly on the tv, I'm sure i had to use an extra piece of software - tv tool, me thinks it was called - maybe you had similar software installed before ?

martinell · 15-02-2004, 21:57

are you using the 2 separate displays as separate devices(do you extend a desktop onto the tv)? the display mode should be set as a clone display in ure nview display mode,with the monitor as the primary display. look in the video overlay tab and enable the overlay on the secondary display. it should auto set full screen on the tv when any video is selected.

Alanmelon · 15-02-2004, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinell

are you using the 2 separate displays as separate devices(do you extend a desktop onto the tv)? the display mode should be set as a clone display in ure nview display mode,with the monitor as the primary display. look in the video overlay tab and enable the overlay on the secondary display. it should auto set full screen on the tv when any video is selected.

The clone setting did the job, thanks! I was using Dual View before. Just one more question now - when I switch back to Single display, the refresh rate of the monitor reverts back to 65Hz, is there anyway I can set this to remain unchanged?

martinell · 21-02-2004, 12:39

sry been busy diy'in, erm if you set up each mode in single/clone/extended individually; and apply them; as you switch between modes the drivers "remember" the settings of each(seem to here) it just takes time to set them all up.
for a lot more reading on multi monitor displays i would recommend taking a look around http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/ ,lots of resources and a proggy to use monitors better.