Camcorder Files Do Not Play Correctly (175461)


The information in this article applies to:

  • MSPRESS Microsoft Excel 97 Step by Step ISBN 1-57231-314-5
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Excel 97 Step by Step, Advanced Topics ISBN 1-57231-564-4
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Exchange 5.0 Step by Step ISBN 1-57231-627-6
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Office 97 Integration Step by Step ISBN 1-57231-317-X
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Office 97 Professional 6-in-1 Step by Step ISBN 1-57231-703-5
  • MSPRESS Microsoft PowerPoint 97 Step by Step ISBN 1-57231-315-3
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Word 97 Step by Step ISBN 1-57231-313-7
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Word 97 Step by Step, Advanced Topics ISBN 1-57231-563-6
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Team Manager 97 Step by Step ISBN 1-57231-217-3
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Access 97 Step by Step ISBN 1-57231-316-1
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Word for Windows 95 Step by Step ISBN 1-55615-828-9
This article was previously published under Q175461

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to play one of the Microsoft Camcorder files from the Microsoft Press Web site, you may experience one or more of the following problems:

  • The movie appears in its own window with a dark gray or black screen.
  • Your entire screen appears to be black except for the pointer, the Stop window displayed by the Camcorder, and a thin strip at the bottom of the screen.

CAUSE

These problems occur when you play the movie on a computer with an incompatible video driver, such as the Cirrus Logic (CL-GD7548) or the NeoMagic video driver.

WORKAROUND

Movie Appears In Its Own Window with Black Screen

If the movie appears in its own window with a dark gray or black screen, following these steps:

  1. Click the Start button and click Run. In the Open box, type

    System.ini

    then click OK.
  2. On the Search menu, click Find. Type the following

    dvideo.dll

    and then click Find Next. Click Cancel. You should see

    VIDS.DRAW=DVIDEO.DLL

    In the [Drivers32] section.
  3. Insert a semicolon (;) at the beginning of this line to change this statement to a remark.
  4. On the File menu, click Save, and then click Exit.
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

161467 OFF97: Camcorder .Avi Plays With Gray or Black Screen

Entire Screen Is Black While Movie Plays

If while the movie is playing the entire screen appears to be black except for the pointer and a thin strip at the bottom of the screen, switch to a different video driver.

To switch to a different video driver, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Click Display and on the Settings tab click Advanced Properties.
  3. click to select Adapter, and then click Change.
  4. Click to select Show All Devices. In the Manufacturers list, click Standard Display Types. In the Models list, click Standard Display Adapter and then click OK.
  5. Click OK to close the windows that you have opened.
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

170636 OFF97: Camcorder Movies May Not Work with NeoMagic Video

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:1/19/2001
Keywords:kbprb KB175461
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.