T40 does not play dvd's

[Butch Henderson]

When I try to play a dvd on any of our T40's (we have 4) an error message of "Create overlay failed. Please lower screen resolution on color depth and try again." This is displayed in Intervideo's windvd version 5 and the os is XP sp 2.

Lowering the screen resolution and color depth does not help.

I have tried updating the dvd's (UJDA745) firmware (from 1.02 to 1.06), updating the video driver and checked the windvd support pages but nothing has worked.

Any suggestions on what to try next?

[FTC]

Hi Butch,

I have ony seen the overlay not initializing properly when :

1. You have an overlay already working (i.e a dvd already playing..)
2. You attempt to 'view' the overlay on 2 monitors at the same time, i,e video out and TP.
3. Video driver OR DXVA (I think this is part of directx) not correctly installed.

Other than that, try to play with the overlay settings in the display driver advanced settings, and don't forget to check the intervideo settings for 'hardware accelerated' video.

[Butch Henderson]

Thanks - no other dvd is playing, only 1 monitor, video driver appears to be loaded properly, I've changed the hardware acceleration.

Only thing I can't do is get to the overlay setting in the advanced tab - tab is not there. I'm thinking that I need to load the ATI video again and see if it will give me the tab (that is if I can find it - I think the only cd I have is a recovery cd but will look). I'll check IBM/Lenovo's site to see if it's downloadable.

[Butch Henderson]

Problem solution - to operate properly it needs the video hardware acceleration all the way up. Unfortunately another program needs it 3 notches down to play video properly.

[zverg]

Problem solution - to operate properly it needs the video hardware acceleration all the way up. Unfortunately another program needs it 3 notches down to play video properly.

Aha.. I've always wondered over the years if there was ever a reason to put the slider down. What video program needs that? Maybe you can use something else for that need.

[Butch Henderson]

It's a program called Sanction by Verdict Systems and displaying video and a transcript in a courtroom is the main use of the laptop.

2 notches back enables it to play video, 3 notches enable it to capture an image of a frame in a jpg format. Maybe they'll get that fixed in one of the releases soon since I see another point release on their site.