"Overlay Failed" Error After You Resume DVD Player When the Extended Desktop Is Turned On

If you pause a DVD player before it enters standby, when the player resumes from standby, you may receive an "Overlay failed" error message.

You may receive this error if the following sequence of events occurs:

1. The computer is a laptop and is connected to an external monitor.
2. You turn on the extended desktop function on the external monitor.
3. You start the DVD player, and then you pause the player.
4. The computer goes into a power-saving mode (such as standby).
5. While the computer is suspended, you disconnect the external monitor.
6. After the computer resumes, you start the DVD player.

Depending on the player that you are using, you may receive an "Overlay failed" or similar error message.

This behavior is caused by a limitation of Microsoft DirectDraw in Microsoft DirectX.

To work around this issue, quit and restart the player. Alternatively, you can stop the DVD player before it enters standby.

This issue will be addressed in later versions of DirectX.

If the sequence of events in the "Symptoms" section occurs, you may receive this error when an external monitor is removed from any system that is running Windows XP and using the multiple-monitors feature.