The VideoLAN Forums

Hi. I searched the forum, but couldn't seem to find an answer.
I built a computer to use as a media server. It uses an Evga/Nvidia Geforce 9800 GTX+ video card with dual DVI outputs. I connect my panasonic 720p plasma tv to one output, and an Acer 20" LCD monitor to the other.
I used my laptop to play movies in the past: I used the Multiple Monitors setup wizard to configure dual view, TV setup wizard, and set a full screen option so movies would play normally on the TV, without the menu bars and desktop showing.

With my new computer and the latest Nvidia drivers, the wizards aren't available. The Nvida documentation seemed to say the wizards weren't supported anymore. Dual view doesn't seem to be supported either. I can clone my screens, but then I get the player, desktop, icons etc on the TV as well. I just want to play a movie in the VLC window on the monitor, and have it show up fullscreen on the TV without any other stuff showing. There don't seem to be any options for this in the nvidia control panel. I also haven't been able to find an option in VLC to adjust this either. I don't know if Windows 7 has anything to do with this, I am running 64 bit ultimate.

If anyone can shed some light on this problem, I would really appreciate it.

Also, I want to use this computer to make movies available to the other TV's in the house. Right now, the main TV is HDMI, but the other older TV's only have cable inputs. I want to be able to play different movies on the other TV's, and control them at the various TV's. I have a gigabit ethernet wired network to use for this. It sounds like VLC will work for this, but that I will need some sort of set top box for each TV to control the process and provide the proper TV output. What is the easiest & cheapest way to do this? IE: something like a slingbox, or cinema tube? Or is there a cheaper, easier way? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Although the computer is not running server software, it sounds like it could probably handle 2 or 3 data streams from the hard drive. I could also add more video cards, but I don't know if it's possible to play different movies on different cards at the same time. I assume there is software that can do this, but I'm not clear on what type. I haven't been able to find a really clear source of information on how to do this type of setup.

Many thanks,
Bryan P
Avon CT USA

System: Intel I7-930 & ASUS P6X58D Premium mobo
GPU EVGA/Nvidia Geforce 9800 GTX+
6 Gb Kingston HyperX 2000 ram (3x2Gb)
1Tb Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm hard drive
Corsair 850w PSU
Asus 300 case
Corsair H50 PSU cooling
win 7 64 bit ultimate

Use extended desktop mode. Then you can drag and drop VLC to seconds desktop.

If I drag the window to the TV, I "lose it" and can't get it back, the TV is in another room. If I put the window about 1/2 and 1/2, then hit full screen, it seems to work, but the VLC window still shows. I am starting to think that Win 7 and maybe Vista changed something, that doesn't allow the option that the Nvidia driver had with XP.
It just seems WAY too hard to play a movie on the TV at full screen.

hit the windows key (super) and the letter p at the same time. it brings up the mode selection for projector or secondary monitor. this function is new in windows 7. select extend desktop and then open your video. drag it to the secondary screen (on the right side by default) put it completely on the other screen and double click in the middle of the window and it should go full screen. I have noticed that the newest versions of VLC have issues going to full screen and end up leaving bars all around the screen. 1.0.5 doesn't have this issue. if you are running a beta then go back to the last release.

as for your way to get movies on each tv. the best option is to have a media box at each tv and keep your gigabit ethernet. thats what i do. just share your media folder through standard windows sharing (SMB) and give each computer permissions for it. then use each of those tv's like a monitor. you may need to get video card adapters to switch to coax video. there is also the option of using multiple tv's on each computer to save the amount of systems required but you will have to then find a way to hook up your audio to both and won't be able to play two a different video on every tv at the same time.