The VideoLAN Forums

Here's what I have setup:
I have my tv connected to my comp as second monitor. The sound card is running the audio over to the tv. I also have Windows setup to copy what's on the computer to the tv.

Here's the problem:
When I try to play a video so both the monitor and the tv can see it, only the monitor actually shows the video. The tv will show everything but the video (desktop, VLC window). Instead of video, I get a black screen where the video should be.

The strange thing about this is the tv will play the audio. I just can't seem to make the video play. I think there may have been another post on this issue, but I can't seem to find it (and the search on this website appears to be broken).

I appreciate any advice you can give as I have been searching through help files and posts here for the past three hours.

Thank you very much,
Trevis

Trevis -

How is your TV physically connected to the computer ?

What type of graphics card do you have ?

Mike

Does your TV show your desktop if you have that shown, but not the video when that turns full screen, or does your TV monitor never show what's on the screen?

It might be best to create a new shortcut with no options or nothing after C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe assuming the default directory. The "Start in:" for the shortcut is: C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC In this way when you set preferences the shortcut will not override the settings.

Now this might be as easy as setting the monitor preference in Preferences, Video, Output Modules, DirectX and press Refresh list then from the pull down select your monitor. It should show up as \\.\DISPLAY1 and \\.\DISPLAY2 being Primary and Secondary display respectively. According to the way Windows has locked them. If this does not work Windows has not locked them and you will need to go check it. Don't forget to press "Save" when changing the Preferences.

It may also be wise if you have been playing with this for a while to reset your preferences before starting:

reset the defaults or better yet erase the preferences directory. C:\Documents and Settings\Owner (this is you)\Application Data\VLC Erase VLC, Application Data is a hidden directory so you will need to make it visible. Reset can be accomplished external to VLC by going to Start Menu. Programs, VideoLAN and selecting the reset icon or internal to VLC through Miscellaneous, Preferences, reset. Then you must restart VLC.

Assuming you have chosen the secondary monitor the defaults should leave you with the controls on the primary monitor and the video on the secondary monitor. You can set the preferences to start in full screen mode. Preferences, Video then check the box marked Full screen video output then press Save and close the player.

If you have problems with a blank or black screen go to Settings, Preferences and uncheck the box marked "Overlay video output" then press "Save" and close the player. Generally this indicates a problem with DirectX or your Video Card's Drivers need updating.

It has been noted by a few users that new drivers did not resolve the issue for the Overlay function. This does shut down video acceleration. However, it still uses DirectX and the video card still takes the load off the CPU.

Actually the solution to this is simple i had the same problem use the image clone feature in the extended Gui and the one that shows up double click on to go fullscreen