1152 x 864 32 bit. Inno3d 7600 GS 512mb
I uninstalled the 0.85 version and installed a 0.86 VLC player ...
it had the same problem, but this time, there was no workaround, whenever you played the same file, it would close the first one and play the second one with still the dark pic ... I couldnt find an option that said "open files in new window" or something like that.
I started messing with something called "extended GUI", in the video menu, I just clicked am "enable" tick box, and everything went clear. when I close VLC, that tick box is not clicked anymore but the videos are clear already.
I'm just happy the vids are watchable - I just can't confirm if that's the best pic quality because I can't open a second vid window.