Why I can't play 2 AVI files simultaneously?

[swordfish1]

looks like I can't play 2 normal AVI files at the same time on two monitors attached to the same VGA card in a dual view configuration, although I can play 2 AVIs on two different disaplys attached to different VGA cards.

I can play multiple MPEG files without a problem, as well as one AVI and multiple MPEGs.

When I try to play 2 AVIs via the same VGA card, the one plays fine, and the other is just black, no picture.

Can you please test on your system and post the results, I am wondering if it is a problem on my machine or general restriction of the AVI playback.

I am running windows 2000 + Zoom player

 

[Person]

I know sometimes with AVI files if you play them on a screen and a projector it works on the screen and the vid is blank on the projector. But it found that to be program releated.

See if you can get hold of Media player classic and see it that works.

 

[Angellus]

If i remember correctly your problem is related to the overlay only displaying on one screen. I think the solution would be to either run your dual view in a span mode where you have one big desktop, The Taskbar will go accross both Screens.

The other option is to use Media Player Classic like person said but to switch it to the Overlay Mixer Output setting.

I think this might work but I am not 100% sure.

If anyone else can either confirm mine will work or give a certain solution pls do.

Fiveby5 runs dual view, maybe he can help you.

 

[werner]

videos in overlay will only display on the primary monitor.

 

[swordfish1]

If i remember correctly your problem is related to the overlay only displaying on one screen. I think the solution would be to either run your dual view in a span mode where you have one big desktop, The Taskbar will go accross both Screens.

The other option is to use Media Player Classic like person said but to switch it to the Overlay Mixer Output setting.

I think this might work but I am not 100% sure.

If anyone else can either confirm mine will work or give a certain solution pls do.

Fiveby5 runs dual view, maybe he can help you.

ok, span is not an option, but the Overlay Mixer Output thing seems to do the trick. There is such option in Zoom Player so I unticked it and it seems to work now, except that the task bar on the primary screen will always stay on top no matter what I do (including switching on the option always on top in the player). Well that isn't too big problem as I can hide it manually, just a minor annoyance.

Windows media player worked without any settings changes, but I can't use this for various reasons, main ones, it is crap and it doesn't support multiple monitors properly while in full screen mode

thanks a lot for the help!

 

[swordfish1]

videos in overlay will only display on the primary monitor.

it does display on either the primary or secondary, but not on both simultaneously

 

[werner]

it does display on either the primary or secondary, but not on both simultaneously

I'm sure I am not mistaken, but pretty willing to bow down if I am wrong. My recollection (from messing around with this) is that the overlay is only available on the primary monitor...sure, you can make any monitor primary, but the overlay will be on primary only.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq.aspx#3_7

<edit> actually, I would love for this to be proven untrue, as I have a use for playing files on both primary and secondary (tv+proj) but havent got it to work yet

 

[swordfish1]

I'm sure I am not mistaken, but pretty willing to bow down if I am wrong. My recollection (from messing around with this) is that the overlay is only available on the primary monitor...sure, you can make any monitor primary, but the overlay will be on primary only.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq.aspx#3_7

<edit> actually, I would love for this to be proven untrue, as I have a use for playing files on both primary and secondary (tv+proj) but havent got it to work yet

well, I didn't read the link that post, but I have 3 displays (not counting the TV), 2 are on GF6600GT, other 1 on GF6600LE. I can play one full screen video with "Force Overlay Mixer" ticked in zoom player, on ANY display I like. I can also play 2 full screen videos on the one (any one) of the displays attached to the GF6600GT and on the one attached to the GF6600LE, at the same time, without any problem. The problem occurs only if I try to play 2 videos (even if they are not full screen) at the same time on the two displays attached to the GF6600GT, irrespective of if I am playing third one on the display attached to the GF6600LE. Unticking the "Force Overlay Mixer" in zoom player fixes the problem and I can play on all 3 displays full screen simultaneously. I am not sure if there are any negative implications by doing that, except that the task bar on the primary display doesn't want to go under the video when playing full screen, it use to do that before.

so conslusion is:
1. you can play on ANY of the screens (not only primary) as long as you are playing one video at a time.
2. You cannot play 2 videos at the same time on a displays attached to a single VGA card (at least the GF6600GT one), if the "Force Overlay Mixer" is ticked.

hope this helps