Issues running apps with Dual Monitor Set Up

alliemdb

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I've recently updated from Windows 7 to Windows 8 on my Dell XPS 15 laptop. I normally run a dual monitor setup with my 33" monitor and I am quite fond of watching netflix on the secondary monitor while gaming/doing school work/blogging/reading news/etc... however I'm noticing two things that I would like help with:

1) there is no way to run Netflix on the non primary monitor.

2) there is no way to allow the netflix app to keep playing while running another program (non app). It just exits out.

Are there app settings to get around either or both of these? Some help, please!

Thanks!

alliemdb
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
can you describe your monitor? is it VGA? is it HDCP compliant? the Windows Store Netflix app requires that the graphics card driver AND the monitor be HDCP-compliant. VGA is considered an "unsafe" connection (unsafe in that the contents can be copied) and most VGA monitors are not HDCP-compliant. And none of the old VGA monitors are considered HDCP-compliant. Part of the reason why VGA monitors are extinct in this new DRM world.

in fact, this HDCP compliancy is breaking a lot of systems that have older VGA monitors where the streaming content is encrypted and fail to start. If you have DVI or HDMI displays, they are most likely HDCP compliant and you see less people having issues with Windows Store apps with these monitors.

I have a 3 monitor system. 2 of them are DVI and the other is VGA. I can choose any to be the primary display and have Netflix on any of the other monitors. However, on the VGA monitor, the Windows Store Netflix app will not run any material. The app will run and I can choose the show. But when it gets near 100%, it stops at the security checkpoint and errors out. With a web browser or with Windows Media Center, the VGA restriction is less (likely because copying the content is less than desirable from these sources) and they will allow the content to play.

Windows Media Center is the best way to play Netflix on a VGA monitor. Especially if you have a nice Windows Media Center remote. You can browse Netflix like a TV.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
It's Sceptre made and HDCP compliant (I'm using a HMDI cable to connect it my laptop). In theory, I think from you said, I should be able to run them. So..how do I get the netflix app to display netflix on the secondary monitor?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I've tried similar and I believe that the apps will only run in what has been designated as the primary monitor. So if you want to run Netflix on the large, secondary, monitor, you will need to go into the settings and see if it's possible to change the monitor priority.

The other option is to run VLC Media player, which I believe is much better and more stable than WMC. Here's some comment about VLC and Netflix: Streaming Live Video With VLC Media Player | Netflix.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Phone 6, Windows CE 5, Windows Vista x32, Windows 7 x32/x64, Windows 8 x64
I figured this out I think...I didn't have to set it as the primary monitor. You just go down into the bottom left corner to bring up start like you would with one monitor and the menu should come up. All of the apps will work per usual while you work within any program that isn't an app and wasn't placed on the second monitor.

However, netflix is yelling about a internet connection problem now (error code: W8157-80004004), but after it "loads" to 100% on the secondary monitor (this error doesn't come up and it plays fine when on the first screen). Any fixes on this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
that's the exact error message when I try to run it on my VGA monitor. works fine when I run on the other 2 monitors.

in this picture, the left monitor is set as the secondary display while the middle monitor is set as the primary display. the third monitor (VGA) is set as the start screen/metro monitor:

xlb7zl.jpg
netflix error (error message you have)

in this picture, the left monitor is set as the primary display. the middle monitor is set as the start screen/metro monitor and the third monitor is set as the third display:

1hs74p.jpg
netflix success
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
In this case, why bother with the Netflix app at all? Open a browser and stream it full screen on any monitor you wish. Apps/Start Screen with multiple monitors are annoying as they don't work how they should. Funny how some people in this forum think multi display is unimportant and the minority of computing - but this constantly comes up.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
the reason you use the Windows Store app over the browser is the Windows Store Netflix app gives you better PQ streaming (HD and DD 5.1 ) compared to other ways. The news from CES 2013 is that you can also get 1080p and 3D streaming on Win8 metro app.

if all you care about is just watching the content, then any method is fine. But a lot of AV guys like to use their surround sound system and get the full HD treatment.

the content providers do not want you to be able to easily capture the content on an unprotected path. it's an annoyance of DRM but it's the way digital media is now. they know people aren't going to record from their browsers. and the HDMI recorders will not copy it if the DRM flags are up.

if you're not getting it to work over DVI/HDMI, then there's a break in the path. so it's either the video driver that's the problem, some device in the middle of the path (like a recorder), or the monitor. one of those things is not HDCP compliant.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
the reason you use the Windows Store app over the browser is the Windows Store Netflix app gives you better PQ streaming (HD and DD 5.1 ) compared to other ways. The news from CES 2013 is that you can also get 1080p and 3D streaming on Win8 metro app.

I stream HD through the browser just fine, not sure what issue you're having. The newest thing just announced is the 1080p SuperHD which is the thing that is only for the Windows 8 app as well as certain supported devices. However, ISPs have to be configured to stream the SuperHD content. As of right now, there are probably next to none supporting it, as it's only been just announced. So using this as a reason to choose the app over your browser is silly. Maybe a few months from now sure, but even then just how much content do you think will be 1080p?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
you can't get 5.1 Netflix audio through the browser. it's only stereo.

The OP was about watching Netflix whilst "gaming/doing school work/blogging/reading news/etc", I doubt in that scenario it matters as I said in my first post. Although I guess he'd have to confirm if he is that fussy about his secondary task.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
like I say, different tools for different jobs. sure, you can use a hammer for everything. but different people use different apps for different scenarios. I set up Netflix for all scenarios. I run it in the browser some time, in the Windows Store app some time, in WMC sometime, on my Android sometime, on my iPad 2 sometime, and on my WD TV some time.

his issue is more likely an HDCP handshake issue. a guy in another AV forum suggested unplugging and replugging the HDMI cable. this will force the handshake to reinitialize. so if that can get the DRM protected path needed for his setup. This is a common problem seen in the AV world with audio receivers and TVs. If the handshake doesn't happen, you don't get any output.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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