For instance, I think the Legacy Video Renderer mode can work only with a single monitor.
Most video card drivers can work around this issue nowadays (even Intel's latest craptastic drivers can, I think), but usually it is a non-default option.
xtacbyme... My solution to those problems is to not install crappy extra software that I don't need. I don't install any/all of that cruft on my HTPC. I'm very, very, very picky about what I install and what I allow to install extra add-ons on my system.
My rules:
1.
Never EVER install any application using the "easy install mode" of the installshield wizard (the only exception to this rule is MC).
2. When in doubt, uncheck it from the install wizard dialog. For example, do you NEED Nero to install the ShowTime player with all of it's craptastic codecs? Heck no! It is a DVD/CD Burning application. Stick to that, please. KTHANXBYE.
3. Isolation, isolation, isolation. My video editing workstation is my video editing workstation,
period. I generally don't even check my email on it. It is mission critical to my job, and I don't want ANYTHING on there that doesn't
need to be on there.
Some of the applications you listed don't (or shouldn't) install filters or codecs (DVD Rippers and Adobe Creative Suite). Some do, but I'm picky about which ones I use (and what pieces of them I allow to install). I generally don't "test out" software on my HTPC or any mission critical media machine. My "test out" machine is in the basement, and isn't generally used by other people. When I do test out software, I do it in a methodical manner, and it is uninstalled if I decide not to use it.
I find that most people who have all kinds of problems tend to be "software collectors". People who install a bunch of crap they never use (or very, very rarely use) just "so they have it". If you've kept three different high-end audio editing applications installed on your machine, but you've never done anything more complex than maybe trimming an MP3, then what are you doing with all that dreck installed on your machine all the time? Most high-end software packages come with high-end "ands, ifs, and buts". Someone who buys a $3000 software suite usually isn't too concerned with spending another $1200 on a dedicated PC just for that software (or just for a selected suite of applications, anyway).
I also noticed you mentioned klite. Are you using the "full" version of Klite? If so, that is a huge hunk of your problem right there. The Klite "minimal" packs are fine, but the "full" pack includes a huge number of things that no one would ever need (and a few things that are
known to conflict with each other). It is designed to be an easy way to get a bunch of files all at once, and then you are supposed pick and choose which of the included codecs and filters you
need, not just blindly install it all.
For what it's worth... Once your system is already all messed up, my recommendation is to follow the
CCCP Troubleshooting Guide to the letter, including uninstalling all of that dreck. Then rebuild, going slow, testing each time with each new addition.