Windows Media (XP) - DVDs wont work with data projector

Trotter

Hi all,

Just trying to get my classroom ready for kickoff on monday and Im having trouble with a DVD presentation.

Its a short film DVD and I can play it fine on my laptop but as soon as I run it through the data projector, I have sound but no picture in windows media.

Can anyone tell me how I can get around this?

Is there a simple, free DVD player software that just.. works!?

ajmull

Try reducing the hardware acceleration in Display Properties - Advanced - Troubleshoot

Redisle

You could try vlc
.. usually works fine for nearly everything and nearly everyone on here will recommend it as a media player..

Khannie

Are you seeing a blue screen inside the media player perchance? edit: If you are, you need to switch to projector only (instead of projector and laptop screen).

Saruman

Khannie wrote:

Are you seeing a blue screen inside the media player perchance? edit: If you are, you need to switch to projector only (instead of projector and laptop screen).

Another possble reason. This is very common. Usually whats happening is windows sets it up as 2 screens. In other words as if you have 2 monitors. So you drag software to the other screen.

Untick "Extend my Windows desktop" click apply and you should the display on the screen.

Of course, all of this hinges on you not being able to view ANYTHING when you switch to projector.

Trotter

Ya see its a wireless projector.. so the laptop isnt recognising that there is a second monitor at all.

Its not a blue screen, just blank in the windows media window. (On the projected image and the laptop).

If I drop the wireless connection between the laptop and the projector, the laptop plays the DVDs as normal.. except I can see them in the windows media window.

Does that make sense?

Redisle

From here

The significant limitation, however, is that wireless projectors are currently unable to show full motion video in real time, because they are limited by the bandwidth of the connection. However, the next step in wireless standards will undoubtedly make full motion video possible and wireless connections will become commonplace.

Its possible the wireless connection between the laptop and the projector dosent have enough bandwidth to play the video.. Could you try connecting it by vga cable and see if it plays videos that way?

Edit: You could also try giving panasonic customer support a shout, details are here

For all other enquiries, please complete an e-mail via Contact Us
or telephone us on 01 289 8333 and we will endeavour to assist.


Our opening hours are 9.00 to 17.30 Monday to Thursday, 9.30 to 17.30 Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)

ab,

8T8

Make sure the laptops graphics driver is up to date.

Now download MPC Home Cinema, run it and click View->Options->Playback->Output

Under DirectShow video select the "overlay mixer" as the output click apply then okay and close MPC HC. Now start it again and drag the app to the other display if not using clone mode and from the File menu select play DVD.

Trotter

Thanks for all the advice!

I've managed to get it going with PowerDVD and Im going to try it later with VLC media player.

The quality is much better on the video if I use the serial cable it came with. Trouble is.. its quite short.


I spent ages last night scouring the internet for a 15 pin male to male cable thats at least 5 metres long. (From my desk to where the projector will be).

No joy there!

Redisle

Just had a quick look for those cables.. mapin sells a 5m male to male but its 30sterling on their website.. pretty steep, you can get them on ebay but I find shipping from Uk very slow lately, Example this one or this one.

ab,

Trotter

ab_cork wrote:

Just had a quick look for those cables.. mapin sells a 5m male to male but its 30sterling on their website.. pretty steep, you can get them on ebay but I find shipping from Uk very slow lately, Example this one or this one.

ab,

Brilliant! I was looking for 15 pin serial.. no wonder I couldnt find it.


Edit.. would this one be ok? They seem very cheap coming from the States or Hong Kong!

http://cgi.ebay.ie/VGA-HDB15-Male-to-Male-5m-Extension-M-M-16-feet-Cable_W0QQitemZ180154160684QQihZ008QQcategoryZ41999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ironclaw

Windows Media Player > Options > Performance > Video Acceration > Use Overlays.

Should solve the problem. But as above, wireless is no good for video. I don't know why they put them in my school. It destroyed a great wifi service (with 2.4 Ghz Interference) and is hackable

And I'm a student.

Saruman

Im sure after almost a year they have figured it out

Nothingbetter2d

Trotter wrote: »

I spent ages last night scouring the internet for a 15 pin male to male cable thats at least 5 metres long. (From my desk to where the projector will be).

No joy there!

try here for a 5m cable http://www.cables.ie/computer-cables/monitor--vga---svga-/p176_monitor-extension-cable--m-m-.html