PowerDVD-DDraw Overlay mode

alancool

Hi All I'm encoutering a problem on my PC at home. I cant play DVD's.
PowerDVD VR-X gives the following error message.

PowerDVD VR-X does not support the current display mode.
DDraw Overlay mode is the recommended mode. To restore it, please:
1. Close other video applications that are using DDraw resources, or
2. Lower the screen resolution, color depth, and/ or refresh rate, or
3. Update to the latest Microsoft DirectX Runtime and to the latest display driver.

I have a Dimenision 4400 with a ATI Rage 128 Ultra 16MB graphics card. I reinstalled the driver for this card from the dell utilities cd shiped with the PC. I have also downloaded and installed the latest version of direct x 9.c. I also tested all the various combinations for reduced refresh rate, colour depth and resolution. I checked other forums which indicated I should go into the Bios and in the advanced chipset section increase the apeture to the maximum. Here I found two values 64MB (default) and 256MB. I changed the setting 256MB to no avail has anyone any suggestions?
Media Player does not play dvd's either and I've also reinstalled Power DVD twice.

Tanx in advance
Alan

Stephen

See if VLC (www.videolan.org) will play the DVD.

alancool

I'll try this though I'm not optimistic also theres a virus warning on the site. Any other ideas??

Ciaran500

The virus warning is only on a certain AV program, its just giving false results.


I'm downloading it now, I'll report back if there's anything wrong with it.

Inspector Gadget

There is a diagnostic program that has shipped with the last few versions of PowerDVD that will test your display and set the right mode. (It's the same program that sets the DMA modes for your optical drives). Click the "Diagnostic" button and let it do its thing - assuming it's there.

Hope this helps,
Gadget
(I think that PowerDVD VR-X is what PowerDVD XP was called in some countries - did you get this abroad?)

Ciaran500

I just finished downloading VLC and no problems detected and it played a dvd perfectly.

alancool

I got PowerDVD VR-X from a friend, your right though to think it's foreign as there is foreign writing on the initial splash screen. It's not an issue though as I do use it on my laptop without any problems. In fact it has additional functionality compared with the power dvd application shipped with the PC. Example: I can capture screenshots...handy if you'd like framed digital "photos" of your favourite movie scene's.

I've tried both power DVD applications but the problem I'm having remains. The diagnostic tool you mentioned does ring a bell and I'll have a look for it tonight.
Tanx everyone I'll let you know how I go, keep the suggestions coming just in case.
Alan

alancool

No joy with the diagnostic tool. Im considering the possibility it could be a hardware fault. I'll swap out the drive with a friends dvd drive and see if that helps.

Has anyone encounterd this problem before????

alancool

Hi Folks

Tanx 4 all your help, my DVD player is back in the game. I'm not entirely sure what the cause was but here's what I did (out of desperation rather than while following any logical lead). I Uninstalled serveral programs I thought might have been a drain on direct draw resources including DVDidle and 2 PC Games. I logged on as my brother and noticed an error. Some program in his start up was generating an error. It turned out to be a shortcut to a GAIN Publishling app. He had deleted the file s this shortcut refernced so I spent a couple of hours in the registry deleting all refernces to Gator GMT and CMII. :mad:

I ran another av check and found a trojan in his Internet settings folder. It put the string msblast.exe in my Windows Update key which I cleared. :eek:

I came back to the PC couple of nights later and installed WinDVD platinum. All is working fine again...Still a bit confused but glad to be working again.

Persistence is a virtue!!