VirtualDub Won't Let Monitor Power Off - Any Solution?

[Chakra]

Hi Everyone,

I've been using VirtualDub for some time and it has always had this problem on my system. A few days ago I downloaded the latest 'stable' version, hoping the problem would have been solved. No joy. Problem is as follows:

If I set V-Dub to start processing a batch job via XviD it works fine and I'm pleased with the results. But it seems that V-Dub always wants the monitor display to be powered on. I have a laptop so don't have a hardware 'off' button. Hence I rely on the Windows XP 'Monitor Power Off' setting to switch the monitor off if the system isn't getting manual user input. So, power goes off, V-Dub switches it on again. Endless cycle of this and am very fed up with it. So questions are:


1. Is there any technical requirement why V-Dub needs the monitor be 'on'?

2. If there is, what is the requirement?

3. If there isn't, how do I get this stop happening - does anyone know of a solution?

4. If there isn't a solution, does anyone know of an easy to use editor/dubber that is at least as capable as V-Dub, but that doesn't do this monitor must be on thing? Please, recommend if you do. I'd be very sorry to part company with V-Dub but I think I've had enough of this now.


Perhaps useful to add that I have from time to time seen instances when V-Dub doesn't do this. But they are very rare, don't last for long before the problem is back. I have never been able to really trace what (during those rare times) might be making the difference. In any case, it seems the pattern where doesn't power the monitor back on again might be at the start of a batch job. But once, in the batch, it progress to a 'next file' - problem will be back again.

Should also add that had same problem on WinXP SP2 and SP3.

P.S. I'm a newbie so please don't go way over the top of my head.

Thanks.

[jman98]

VirtualDub does not require that your monitor be on. I could run it on any of my PCs (none are laptops) and turn off the monitor and it would run fine. It seems to me that what is happening is that your laptop is going into power save mode and shutting down the CPU and disk drives and this is the real reason that VirtualDub is stopping. Your solution - leave your laptop connected to a power source and find a way to turn off the power savings features or buy a desktop to run it on. I have never seen any way on a laptop that you can only power off the monitor, so I am sure that what you are really and truly doing is basically suspending everything when you think you are only shutting down the monitor.

[Chakra]

Hi jman,

No that is definitely not what is happening.

I assure there are ways on a laptop to power off the monitor both manually and via Windows OS according to a time schedule.

Widows Way: Right-click on the desktop and go 'Properties\Screen Saver (tab)\Power... (button)\Power Schemes' and you'll see what I mean. Been a long time since I've had a desktop system - don't find a use for them any more, a reasonably good quality laptop easily outperforms a fair number of low- and even mid-end desktops - but from memory I do believe those types of settings are available even to desktop-system users.

Manual Way: My own laptop does have a 'power monitor off' key combination which works blissfully well with all other apps. Power off by that means and monitor only comes back on if a process outright makes a demand to the monitor, or by any input from user, or by a process opening a window etc.

The issue I am writing about is definitely not an issue concerning 'power saving' or in other way related to such issues.

Also V-Dub is not 'stopping', it keeps running - great, I want it to do that - it just seems to insist that the monitor must be lit up.

In any case, thanks for the thought, jman.

[gadgetguy]

I don't know what options your laptop has, but I have mine set up so that if I close the lid it only turns off the monitor. Not shut down, hibernate, or sleep mode, just turn off the monitor and everything else runs as normal. You may be able to do something similar with yours.

[jman98]

Your hypothesis (VirtualDub can't run without the monitor running) is flawed.
I provided a rational explanation for your problem which you dismiss. That's OK as it's not my problem anyway. I look forward to later posts proving you wrong.

By the way, your statement about how laptops outperform desktops is complete fantasy, so I can't say I'm surprised at all that you have a problem accepting reality. Again, good luck. Chasing down this fantasy path of blaming VirtualDub won't get you anywhere, but it's your time to waste.

[gadgetguy]

@jman98 - I don't think the hypothesis is that Vdub can't run without the monitor running. I think the hypothesis is that while Vdub is running the monitor will not shut itself down. The assumption that it's a flaw in VDub is debatable. My assumption is that part of VDub's process is interpreted as user input or some other activity that restarts the inactivity timer for the monitor shut down sequence. It's a simple incompatibility between the two processes, and certainly not a fatal one, just annoying to Chakra.

[Chakra]

Hi again,

My own laptop has a lid-close physically switch monitor off construction as well. I do know how to use it and do quite often. I'm actually quite familiar with how to use the top. I do use that sometimes but most of the time it isn't convenient as I have other process running where it can be useful to have the display light up on particular events occurring; which is why I prefer the OS power monitor off functionality. The only application that I've come across, so far, that produces problems with using that way is V-Dub.

As to my promoting an 'hypothesis' that V-dub can't run without the monitor running - I'm doing no such thing. If you read my post again you will notice that I'm actually asking if that is the case, not proposing that it is. Asking is not proposing an hypothesis. Though, to be sure, I am trying to make a hypothesis as to why this problem happens when V-Dub runs and (so far on my system) only when V-Dub runs.

Yes, you did provide a possible rational explanation for the source the problem - but that source is one constructed on assumptions of your own. Part of the assumption was taking it that I had the system configured in some way that it was trying to power down because the battery is about to drain out. Makes sense, that would be possible, if I was running V-Dub while running the laptop on batteries.

In truth though I would never consider trying to dub with the top running on batteries. Dubbing being very demanding on the system, I wouldn't get very far with it. Always while using V-Dub I'm running the top straight out of the National Grid. So somehow I think that your fantasy of my ignorance over being able to configure the top - and, of course, I'd have to be so stupid that for at least the last two years I've never even recognized that I've repeatedly tried to do dubbing without have the wit to plug the top to a juice-supply - added to your creative fancy (based on rational possibilities, I admit) about powering down because the battery is just about pack in is, yes, have to say it, something that I do dismiss. But, as you're fond of reason, I am too, I'm sure you'll understand why.

As for my statement about, "how laptops outperform desktops..." being complete fantasy, have to admit that looks like you off on a imaginative roll again. What I actually said was, "... a reasonably good quality laptop easily outperforms a fair number of low- and even mid-end desktops..." (Which is me having hauled out a direct quote from that message.) If you're having difficulty in accepting that, you can check the reality of this for yourself by actually reading the original. Do keep a grip on reason while you're doing so though or, as the first time - you'll mis-read it yet again. I wasn't at all suggesting that all laptops will outperform all desktops, patently that isn't the case.

To restate the problem. I run V-Dub and my monitor is repeatedly pulled out of power off. V-Dub is implicated in that. I've shut down every processes that I can on my system and then ran V-Dub - still it happens. There is no other app on my system that interacts with the monitor power off in this way. Reason points me to the, have to say it, very likely prospect that V-Dub either does this directly or because of the way it interacts with some other process(es) (though I don't have the expertise to know which). I am a newbie to dubbing, but not to thinking. Maybe you should give the latter a try some time, jman. I'd recommend it; when you manage to pull out of brown studies of your own design.

[Chakra]

Thank you gadget,

I wasn't assuming that V-Dub was directly responsible. As said it might well be the case that it's an interaction with something else. But I have not the kind of expertise to know where to start to look.

I do like V-Dub - very much. But if I can't get solution to this then I think I'll just have to throw the towel in on it. Which I'd rather not do, but...

I take it from the responses so far that what is happening on my system is not typical. Which suggests more likely it's an interaction with something else, not V-Dub directly.

[guns1inger]

I suspect (but don't have the right machine in front of me to verify) that vdub uses the hardware overlay by default for the preview window. Try turning off the preview window when dubbing and see if this helps. It could be that the overlat is keeping the gfx card awake, and therefore the monitor.

[gadgetguy]

As usual, guns1inger's suggestion makes sense. It may be as simple as that. But if that doesn't cure it then it might be helpful to know what make/model your laptop is. Some of the power saver features included in the software that ships with some manufacturers laptops are not as well written as they think it is, and often interferes with users goals.