How Can I Test Video Card For Overlay Function?

[njb52]

I recently purchased a Compro Videomate TVGold Plus card so that I can transfer some vhs tapes to digital files by capturing selected parts. I have been back and forth with their technical support dept. because I cannot get any video regardless of whether I have my VCR hooked up to the card or a TV antenna. The sound comes through loud and clear from the tape deck and also from the TV antenna. After trying many different things (reinstalling card to get a unique IRQ, emptying my system tray, updating drivers, testing my VCR on my TV set, etc.) they said that the card may be defective so I sent away for a replacement.

In their last correspondence they said:

"If you can watch TV normally, the most possibility I can think of is the VGA card.
Maybe the VGA card is too old to support Overlay function which has to be used for the TV video on monitor."

Is there a way that I can run some type of test (directX diag, Device manager, or something else) to see if this "overlay function" exists on my current graphics card?

Thanks in advance,
njb52

[flaninacupboard]

yeah, the directx tests should do a fullscreen overlay test.

[Faustus]

Play a DVD on your computer? Or some movie files in WMP. Alot of software uses overlays.

[njb52]

I tried the drextX diagnostc tests from the button s labeled:
Test Direct Draw
Test Direct 3D

...and they both tested fine. However, there was nothing that mentioned an overlay test. Can I assume that the fullscreen tests that were run were overlay function tests?


I cannot play a dvd because I do not have a DVD player on my machine, only a cd and cd-rw drive. Is there a test file that I can download somewhere to see if it plays ok and verifies that I have overlay function?

Thanks,
njb52

[flaninacupboard]

try a clip from here
http://www.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?template=international&country=&film=

if it plays jerkily and looks badly resized in fullscreen then overlays aren't working.

i'm not familiar with your capture card, but check out showshifter and virtualdub. if those apps work properly with your card then it may be buggy software...

[njb52]

Thanks flaninacupboard,
I downloaded the file and I can view it regular size and it fills the top of my screen when I hit the expand button (in the upper right corner). So I guess my overlay function is ok.

I appreciate the help, and hopefully when I get the replacement card it will work this time.

njb52