Films on a TV

MotherMayI · 29 Dec 2007 at 20:49

I was wondering if anybody could help me with a query.

I recently bought a new rig, in which I put an 8800GT. Today I bought an S-Video cable so I have my HD TV (32" GoodMans) hooked up via that with the purpose of watching films, videos and so on from my hard drive.

Currently the best way I seem to be able to get this to work is setting up dual monitors as extended workspace, not as a mirror, then dragging across Windows Media player to the TV and full screening it. However, this is fiddly and slightly annoying.

Is this the best way to go about it? Is there any software that is specifically for this task?

Fanatic · 29 Dec 2007 at 21:16

Just an idea but, if you install Ultramon then open Windows Media Player and drag it accross to the other screen Ultramon remembers this and in future will open WMP on the other screen.

UFX · 29 Dec 2007 at 21:38

Mines setup as video mirror & after launching in wmp, vlc or Powerdvd it plays on the Tv automatically.

I have in the past had problems doing this & had to resort to your method before but I found it was problems with certian Nvidia drivers .

Try updating or rolling back to a diff versions, always sorts my problems out.

MotherMayI · 29 Dec 2007 at 21:42

Fanatic said:
Just an idea but, if you install Ultramon then open Windows Media Player and drag it accross to the other screen Ultramon remembers this and in future will open WMP on the other screen.

I would find that really annoying, but I'll see if that program you mention will do what I would like, thanks.

Is a 'Video Mirror' just another term for a cloned display? The problem I had with using a cloned setting was not only could I not browse the web or anything while watching the film on the TV, but also it made my desktop background a ridiculously low resolution with no options of changing it.

HighlandeR · 29 Dec 2007 at 22:52

Welcome to my world

Ive been complaining and whining on the Nvidia forums since 8800 series arrived, why ? cos they decided "Full Screen Video mirroring" feature is taken off and not possible on an 8800 series card.

Its all to do with Vistas Video/HD protection, but there drivers are still messy and its taken off in the latest drivers.

Theres no hack or work around other then the 2 options mentioned above ie u can drag and drop the box over to the right and then double click for full screen or use cmp or a decent video player that will remember its on the 2nd screen.

Personaly thats pretty bad... I view 90% time on the main PC display so like to sometimes check out my vids... so cant do that no more.

Only ATI currently support Video mirroring in there latest cards but there was talk of them ditching this feature but its still there in there latest card/drivers.

Guess which card mine will be next....

Only work around is to get a network based HDD player or divx/movie box but frankly its hassle imo but will see.

MotherMayI · 30 Dec 2007 at 04:06

Hmm, what a shame

Also, although the video is playing fine through the s-video cable to the TV, the sound is still coming out of the PC speakers - is this unavoidable? It is quite annoying.

UFX · 30 Dec 2007 at 12:15

MotherMayI said:
Hmm, what a shame

Also, although the video is playing fine through the s-video cable to the TV, the sound is still coming out of the PC speakers - is this unavoidable? It is quite annoying.

what you need is a Scart adapter with phono & s-video

You can pick them up for about £3 try the Bay