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I would like to configure VLC Media Player to use in presentations. (On a projector from my laptop.) I would like to have the video play on the second screen in a fullscreen mode with a "clean" output while having the controls on screen 1. By a clean output I mean with no controls, title bars, play/pause indicators, etc. I'd like to see just the video or a black screen when there is no video playing.

I am running VLC 2.1.0 Rincewind on Windows 7.

The best I have so far is under Video Effects-Advanced using clone. The only problems here are (1) the title bar at the top, (2) the play and pause indicators) and (3) the fact VLC does not remember where I put the clone video the next time I start VLC. (The remembering part is not that important to me, but it would be nice.)

If you have suggestions on how I can configure VLC to do this I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Jon

I followed the advice at
http://www.inlet.co.nz/tutorials/micros ... in-windows
I could not find the info in the wiki or forum.
It worked fin on a Windows Vista laptop connected to a projector using VLC 1.1.11 and DirectX
However if I upgrade to VLC 2.1.10 no setting gives me an option to "Disply device" other than "Default".
So I went back to VLC 1.1.7
The only snag is that the FullScreen is often not optimized when I start a wide screen video clip causing me to have to hit "F" twice.

I don't know what clone is.

Hi

Windows system-key + p

kodela

Jon,

To have all your controls on 1 screen and just the video on an external monitor,
try v. 2.1.3 with DirectX where you can select the DISPLAY number:

Tools -> Advanced Preferences (-> Show settings = All) -> Video -> Output modules
and then on the right-hand side select "Video output modules " = "DirectX (DirectDraw) video output "
Tools -> Advanced Preferences (-> Show settings = All) -> Video -> Output modules -> DirectX
and then on the right-hand side select "Name of desired display device" = "\\.\DISPLAY2" (or "\\.\DISPLAY1" if required)

Also easier from:
Tools -> Simple Preferences (-> Show settings = Simple) -> Video
and then on the right-hand side
select Output = "DirectX (DirectDraw) video output"
select "Display device" = "\\.\DISPLAY2" (or "\\.\DISPLAY1" if required)

I'm not using clone - have only 1 video image playing on the projector.

Jon,

To have all your controls on 1 screen and just the video on an external monitor,
try v. 2.1.3 with DirectX where you can select the DISPLAY number:

The problem with this solution is using DirectX with Windows 7. Windows 7 doesn't really seem to like DirectX- or at least aero doesn't like DirectX. Using DirectX on Windows 7 will force-change your desktop to basic color scheme (no transparency). Making this change is rather disruptive and can cause instability in Windows & with the display drivers.

So, at least I have finally managed to get the video to go to the display I want it to automatically. BUT it only works if I force VLC to use DirectX as the output engine (the default for Windows Vista & above is Direct3D). That wouldn't be a problem if DirectX video output were compatible with Windows Aero (enables transparency effects of taskbar & window titlebars & etc.). Launching VLC in this mode forces the display driver to reset (all my monitors go black & reset) and then Windows basic theme is enabled. It is recommended to use Direct3D for Windows Vista & newer: VLC FAQ.

I have seen many times that this feature was restored/fixed with the release of 2.1.3, but apparently that is really only for Windows XP & older since by default VLC is set to use Direct3D on Vista & newer and changing to DirectX is not recommended (because of the reasons I described). So is there another way to get this feature back that is "recommended" which is compatible with Windows Aero themes?

Thank you so much!

Hi auralarh!

I still hope there is something better than DirectX - I know very little about all the technical aspects.
Just last week I had to present a hi-res video to a large audience and DirectX did not correctly resize the video to the screen - on the righthandside about 30% was cut off - no matter what I tried.
With smaller videos I still have to resize to full screen every time I switch to a new video clip - causing some nasty flashing.

I'm glad you made progress. (I have switched off Aero.)