"sheppardwk" wrote in message
...
I used a store bought DVD, and tried to play it in the VLC Player. The DVD
started fine and played perfectly until about 4:10. At that time, the
screen
elongated again changing the aspect. About 90 seconds later, the screen
pixelated into blue, white and green kaleidescope, but the audio
continued.

This time instead of rebooting, I removed the digital video source from
the
monitor - waited about 30 seconds - and then reattached it to the monitor.

What? Do you mean it is a DVD drive mounted in your monitor?
Try and clarify.
When you say you removed "digital video source from the monitor"
Explain what that means.

The screen was back and the FLC Player was reduced in size. My other open
windows (Outlook email and windows explorer) were reduced as well. Other
than that, the desktop was perfect.

Do you have an XP disk or was XP preinstalled?
(This question is to determine if we can perform a repair install).


I went to the links that you provided and read the WMP frequently asked
questions. The codecs are for WMP 7 and greater. I'm currently using
11.0.5721.5230, so I did not download it.

This is obviously too complicated for you when it really is very simple!
"WMP7 and greater" means your WMP11, you should have downloaded
and installed, sigh....

The others appear to be for the
DivX player - it's the only one that works.

The issue is not a frozen PC, rather it is a video problem because the
audio
continues to work, and I just determined that the screen resumes if you
disconnect and reconnect the video cable.


You are going to download and install this program
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Follow the instructions, it will perform an audit of your PC.
We will then try and determine if it is a graphics driver issue.
And if any hotfixes are missing.
(You have SP3, a fool posted to thread about it, ignore him -
SP3 is an all important update)

I'm still willing to try anything to resolve this problem so please
continue
making recommendations/suggestions.


Rather than perform a cold shutdown, have you tried Task Manager
to end task?
You call up Task Manager in XP by holding down keys: Ctrl+Alt+Del
Read about here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323527
A guide
http://www.videojug.com/webvideo/win...ance-explained

Play a problematic DVD or video clip, when it gives you grief with
screen blanking but audio continuing, call up Task Manager
Click the Applications tab
End task on WMP.
report back
The next step is a process of elimination to try and discern if ending task
on other applications or processes solves the problem, if so, then
there is a conflict.

These may seem strange questions but are pertinant:
Is your keyboard fully functional and all keys function with none
stuck down?
Nothing is resting on the keyboard, such as a mouse?

Disconnecting "video cable", so it is a PC with an attached monitor,
and what type of cable - DVI or VGA?