c400 will not decode dvd videos when docking into c/dockII

Joemoore,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Is the following error what you are getting?
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Troubleshooting "Create Overlay failed" error message:

Problem:
When you start WinDVD, the following error message may appear:
Create Overlay failed. Please lower your screen resolution or color depth and try again.

Solution:
1.Verify the Video Settings are Correct for your display adapter.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
The Control Panel window appears.
Double-click Display.
The Display Properties window appears.
Click the Settings tab.
Under Screen area, click and drag to move the slider to the native resolution for your LCD display.
NOTE: For additional information regarding the correct native resolution for the LCD, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: FA1047221 "What are the different portable LCD and flat panel monitor screen resolutions?"
NOTE: Some DVD decoders do not support a resolution above 800X600 or 1024X768.
Under Colors, click to select High Color (16 Bit).
If the Color is already set to 16-Bit, then try 32-Bit instead.
Click Apply.

2.Set Hardware Acceleration to Full
--Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Operating System
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
The Control Panel window appears.
Double-click Display.
The Display Properties window appears.
Click the Settings tab.
Click the Advanced button.
Click the Troubleshooting tab.
Under Hardware Acceleration, click and drag to move the slider to Full.
Click OK.
Click OK again.

--Windows 98
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
The Control Panel window appears.
Double-click the System icon.
The System Properties window appears.
Click the Performance tab.
Click the Graphics button.
The Advanced Graphics Settings window appears.
Click and drag to move the slider to Full.
Click OK.

3.Disable Microsoft NetMeeting® if you are using it.
Microsoft NetMeeting will disable Direct3D functionality if it is running.
If the NetMeeting icon is in the system tray, verify that Remote Desktop Sharing is not enabled.
To do this, perform the following steps:
Right-click the NetMeeting icon in the system tray.
Left-click Turn off Remote Desktop Sharing.
Attempt to launch WinDVD again.
--If the error still occurs, proceed to the next step.
Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications (or to Internet Tools on some systems), and then click NetMeeting.
Cick the Tools menu and then click Options.
Click the Video tab, and in the Sending and receiving video section, click to uncheck Automatically receive video at the start of each call.
Click OK to apply the settings.
Click the Tools menu and then click Options.
Click the Video tab, and in the Sending and receiving video section, click to check Automatically receive video at the start of each call.
Click OK to apply the settings.
Click OK to exit the NetMeeting software.

Note: Any "Remove Desktop or Remote Management" software may cause a problem with the DVD decoder software.
Another example of such software is Funk Proxy, which is used for remote diagnostics of users as well as remote desktop for users.
Laplink Gold with a version lower than version 11.5, has also been reported to cause this error message.

4.Install the latest video drivers and bios updates for your system.
5.Remove and reinstall your DVD decoding software.
6.Download and install the latest patches for your DVD decoding software.
Patches for WinDVD or PowerDVD can be downloaded from the Dell downloads page.
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Hi karell,

Thanks for the reply.  I have actually received the error message you mentioned.  I either get the message that dvd decoders are not installed, or that I should change the resolution etc.  I have all the remote features turned off. 

I think it is important to note: when UNDOCKED - everything works.  It is when the laptop is DOCKED that I have the problem.  Clearly the docking station is creating the issue.  Also, I am not using WinDVD, I am using Windows Media Player 9, and I am using WIndows XP as an operating system.

Thanks,

Joe,

I found the following on the Microsoft KB that may help.
"Overlay Failed" Error After You Resume DVD Player When the Extended Desktop Is Turned On.

Did the suggestion above resolve the problem?  I am willing to bet it did not, as I have a similar problem with my C600.  When the unit is undocked I can keep a standard resoution (1024x768 @ 85 hz), but when I use one of my docking stations, it ALWAYS changes the resolution to 60hz.  (Universal dock enabled.)  I realize that the ATI "displays" tab is driving the resolution and ignoring the normal frequency setting under the standard "monitor" tab, but I can not seem to find a setting to keep the 85 hz for both docked and undocked use.  Worse, at one point I could manually change the frequency when docked to 85hz by switching around the "primary" vs "secondary" display settings, but now it seems stuck at 60hz...

Ideas?