Help me play .avi files on my TV properly

[javeryh]

OK, here's the set up -

1. I connect my computer to my television using the 15-pin connector (it's a laptop running to a plasma HDTV).
2. I connect the audio cable to my receiver.
3. I play .avi files using Windows Media Player and a plug-in.

The picture comes on but the aspect ratio is messed up. It looks fine on the computer (playing in the WMP window) but then it gets stretched to fill my television screen (from side to side). The .avi file has a 16x9 aspect ratio and my TV is 16x9 but something is getting messed up - there are black bars on the top and bottom of the screen but the sides are stretched to either end so everyone looks short and fat.

Any ideas? Is there a setting I'm missing in WMP that will output the file in the original aspect ratio for my TV?

[Aberforth]

I think you should open the movie in a movie editor program like Virtual Dub to see if those black bars are part of the movie.

If they aren't try using a divx player like Sasami2k or just anything but WMP.

If they are, they you'll just have to re-encode the movie to remove them (I'm not sure if you can do it in Virtual Dub).

[Immortal fWd]

You have a 360, why not stream it? I do it with my .avi files all the time, it works great!

[rodeojones903]

It may have something to do with the resolution on the plasma. I really only mess with LCDs, but if I remember correctly they usually run in 1024X768 which is a 4:3 resolution. If you set your computer to that resolution it will have to stretch to fill the whole screen.

[F8X]

It looks like you are having your laptop mirror its own screen onto your 16:9 monitor. You should try instead to extend your desktop instead and just drag the media over. This way when you also do this you can set a different screen ratio for each monitor(laptop, HDTV).

(Also)
Check you plasma monitor, It may have some detail about you needing to pick 1366x768 over 1024X768

If that does not help post a pic, I might be able to help out more if I can see it.

[javeryh]

Hmmm... thanks for the ideas.

rodeo: I don't know the exact resolution of my TV - all I do is keep hitting the input button until I cycle through to "PC" (which is only available if the computer is plugged in).

F8X: Extending my desktop is a very interesting idea - I'll try that tonight. My TV is mirroring my laptop screen because my wallpaper is also stretched (and interestingly enough, none of my desktop icons appear on the TV - also when I play something in WMP the HUD completely disappears on the TV even though it is visible on the laptop monitor)

ImmortalWd: I tried setting up TVersity but I'm retarded. I can't even stream music to my Xbox - ever since my refurb came back this feature isn't working. Maybe I need to sync it up with my computer?

Aberforth: Thanks but that sounds like something that's way over my head. I'm stretching my computer skills to the limit by just getting the .avi files to play...

[crystalklear64]

If you're using windows media player, try going into the options and turning off hardware acceleration.