Third-Party Software DVD Decoder Does Not Work After You Extending the Desktop to a Secondary Monitor (320624)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

This article was previously published under Q320624

SYMPTOMS

After you extend the desktop to a secondary monitor, third-party DVD decoder programs (such as InterVideo WinDVD), may generate an error message, and may be unable to start. For example, when you try to start WinDVD, you may receive the following error message:

Create Overlay failed. Please lower your screen resolution or color depth and try again.

Note that this symptom remains after you change the color depth or screen resolution, and other third-party DVD decoder programs may generate different error messages.

CAUSE

This problem is caused by a limitation of Microsoft DirectDraw in Windows 2000.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, restart your computer, or do not extend the desktop beyond the primary monitor.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

This problem was corrected in Windows XP.

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	10/29/2003
Keywords:	kb3rdparty kbdisplay kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB320624