Symptoms
When you try to extend the desktop to a secondary display while Windows Media Player is playing a video on the primary display, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
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Although the sound continues to play, the video may be missing.
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The video may stop, and when you try to start it again, you may receive an error message, or it may play sound without a video.
These symptoms may also occur when one of the following scenarios is true:
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You try to turn off the extended desktop on the secondary monitor while video is playing.
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You are using a third-party video playback program other than Windows Media Player.
Cause
This problem is caused by a limitation of Microsoft DirectDraw.
Workaround
To work around this issue, use one of the following methods:
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After you turn off or turn on the extended desktop to the secondary display, stop your video playback program and then start it again.
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Turn off or turn on the extended desktop before you start the video playback.
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Try to make the video play in full-screen mode.
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Move or rotate the monitor before you start the video playback.
Status
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
More Information
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.
