Dual Display Problem on M-II w/PowerDVD

**DrDeriv** · 04-01-2005, 10:32 PM

On my M-II I'm using the VGA for the front dash display and also have a rear overhead connected S-Video. I'd like the two displays to just be identical. I've set it up in XP to do that and it works perfectly except when using PowerDVD. When I play a DVD, the screens look identical except that on the VGA display, the window where the video is supposed to be is just black. The S-Video is fine.

I'd like to get the same display on both, but if I can't, I'd at least like to be able to choose front or rear. I've played with the setting in PowerDVD for Primary or Secondary but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I've tried it w/Zoom Player and it does the same thing (although in the DVD Configuration it's using PowerDVDs video stuff).

For BIOS settings, I've got the Display set for CRT+TV and the TV Layout setting set for S-Video.

What else needs to be done in order to be able to get the DVD video to the front VGA while keeping it in the rear S-Video or having the rear be the one with the black video window?

**MaleBuffy** · 04-02-2005, 02:57 AM

LOL, this is exactly what I am trying to achieve in my setup. I dont wont them to be identical. Now if you could tell us more about your setup/hardware which VideoCard u r using, bios versions etc. we could be of more assistance....

**0l33l** · 04-02-2005, 02:59 AM

Its evil copy protection.

**HostileJava** · 04-02-2005, 09:46 AM

Actually it sounds like you are having a problem with Direct Draw. It seems that some video card drivers don't support using Direct draw on two or more monitors at the same time. Make sure that your DirectX and Video card drivers are up to date and look for any settings in the disply properties that might indicate a way to enable using direct draw on both monitors.

**SPiTFirE** · 04-02-2005, 12:30 PM

It sounds to me like you are having overlay problems. I know on one of my pc's with an ATI graphics card one screen would stay black until I changed the overlay options. After that it worked like a charm!

I'm not sure what type of overlay control you have with the onboard video, but check in the advanced display settings and see if you can change it around.

**DrDeriv** · 04-02-2005, 07:21 PM

Thanks so far to everyone who's contributed.

SPiTFirE definitely got the switching thing right. My M-II uses the VIA/S3G CLE266 graphics "card" (I believe it's embedded on the motherboard) and my BIOS version is 98.C7.00.16 (7/25/03). There's an Overlay tab in the Advanced Properties of the screen Settings and there's a button there that says "Switch". Clicking that does shift the DVD video from front to rear. You MUST have a DVD playing or the button isn't available. That's how I missed it. Either/or problem now solved. Thanks SPiTFirE.

Next step is to try to get it on both without using anymore hardware. HostileJava, I'm using DirectX 9.0b. Since the S3Graphics settings stuff has that "Switch" button, it's hard to imagine it's geared up to work on both at the same time. Any other place I should be looking or anything else to try? Everything else about the two screens is identical, which is how I want it, it's just the overlay that seems to be either/or.

If anyone else has suggestions, by all means....

**HostileJava** · 04-03-2005, 04:59 AM

Unfortionately it sounds like your videocard driver only supports the Direct Draw Video overlay on one monitor at a time. Maybe you can find a hacked version of the driver? Usually its because the card can't handle it though.

**MaleBuffy** · 04-03-2005, 05:17 AM

Why dont you try another DVD player sofftware....U never know!

**xrayman** · 04-03-2005, 06:41 PM

It could just be that in your screen properties you need to go to settings and then advanced, look at the displays and make sure both are selected. If only one is the video shows on one not the other. Everything shows on both displays but video then this is probly the problem.

**wizz** · 04-03-2005, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by DrDeriv

On my M-II I'm using the VGA for the front dash display and also have a rear overhead connected S-Video. I'd like the two displays to just be identical. I've set it up in XP to do that and it works perfectly except when using PowerDVD. When I play a DVD, the screens look identical except that on the VGA display, the window where the video is supposed to be is just black. The S-Video is fine.

I'd like to get the same display on both, but if I can't, I'd at least like to be able to choose front or rear. I've played with the setting in PowerDVD for Primary or Secondary but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I've tried it w/Zoom Player and it does the same thing (although in the DVD Configuration it's using PowerDVDs video stuff).

For BIOS settings, I've got the Display set for CRT+TV and the TV Layout setting set for S-Video.

What else needs to be done in order to be able to get the DVD video to the front VGA while keeping it in the rear S-Video or having the rear be the one with the black video window?

I have a M10K motherboard and I have exactly the same problem with my rear RCA screen. It seems that the M Series embedded graphics/drivers can only handle the one video overlay. I don't use DVD, I play AVI, DIVX movies direct from the hard drive, but the same problem still exists.

A VGA splitter might work with two VGA screens, but like me you have VGA and RCA.

If someone has cracked this problem, let us know how.

Wizz