Windows software (Windows Media Player, NetMeeting, MSN webcam) often uses a DirectShow Overlay for faster, smoother playback of the movie.

How to turn on the Overlay in Windows XP:

• Select "Display" from "Control Panel", open "Display Properties" dialog.
• Click "Settings" tab, and then click "Advanced" button.
• Click "Troubleshooting" tab.
• Disable all accelerations by dragging the "Hardware acceleration" option to the right (Move the slider control for hardware acceleration to Full).
• Click "OK" button.

How to turn on the Overlay in the Windows Media Player 10, 11:

• Open Windows Media player.
• Select "Tools" -> "Options..." from the menu.
• Click on "Performance" tab.
• Click on "Advanced..." button.
• Check "Use overlays" checkbox in the "Video Acceleration" group.
• Click on "OK" button.
• Click on "OK" button.

How to turn on the Overlay in the RealPlayer ver. 6.x, 8.x., 10.x:

• Open RealPlayer.
• Select "Tools" -> "Install/Configure Devices..." from the menu.
• In the left "Category" panel click "Hardware".
• In the right panel under "Video card compatibility", click to check "Use optimized video display".
• Click "OK" button.
• Close completely and re-start RealPlayer player.

How to turn on the Overlay in the Apple's QuickTime Player ver.5-6:

• Open QuickTime player.
• Select "Edit" -> "Preferences" -> "Quick Time Preferences" from the menu.
• In "QuickTime Settings" windows select "Video settings".
• Select "DirectX9" or "QuickTime Movie Controller".
• Close the "QuickTime Settings" windows.
• Re-start QuickTime Player.