HOW-TO enable video overlay with TV-OUT

[kingsize]

I'm not particularly au-fait with Linux (newb) so the method is crude, but does the job ok.

Problem:

Geforce MX->Ti range cannot use overlay on Both screens. Most people use a monitor of some kind to set up their PC, X defaults to calling the VDU device 0 and the TV device 1. This generates problems when using the TV to watch DVD's with most Linux DVD players. Xine for example complains about not having YU support and XVideo not being installed. xvinfo moans about "no extention installed".

Requirements:
nvidia drivers
XFree version 4.x or later
Some balls

Method: :type:
1) Back up your original /etc/X11 XF86Config file
2) Connect your PC to the TV only
3) Edit your XF86Config file so that under "Section Device" it looks something like this:

# Clocks 25.2 28.3
Identifier "Standard VGA"
Driver "vga"
VendorName "Unknown"
BoardName "Unknown"
Option "NvAGP" "1"
Option "DigitalVibrance" "114" <- Optional
Option "TwinView" "1"
Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30-50"
Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "Clone"
Option "TVStandard" "PAL-I"
Option "TVOutFormat" "COMPOSITE"
Option "MetaModes" "1024x768,640x480; 800x600,800x600; 640x480,640x480; ,800x600"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "crt,tv"
EndSection

Section "Device"
#VideoRam 32768
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
Identifier "defaultvid"
Driver "nvidia"
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce"
VideoRam 65536
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "defaultvid"
Monitor "My Monitor"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "640x480" "800x600" "1024x768" "1280x1024"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Warning: This may corrupt your particular X settings, so you may have to restore your original config by deleting this script and renaming your XF86config.backup

1024x768 TV-out mode works, depending on which chip is on your hardware.

4) Restart

Now to see if it has worked you can use your dvd player diagnostics eg in xine # xine-check
Or use
# xvinfo

5) If this fails to work, you can re-create my exact steps by deliberatlely corrupting the config file first, then using the modifications listed

(crazy)

[Thunderbird]

When using twinview, XVideo is a bit crippled. Your videocard only supports video overlay on one output, in twinview that has problems. (no matter if you use clone, rightof or other combinations)

The only way to get overlay is to use the "seperate X screen approach" as described in Appendix R of the driver readme. The screen which you make "0" in the device section will have overlay support. Really clone is the worst way for watching video on a tv using linux.