Error Msg "Failed to create a display device"

I saved a divX file that I wanted to play later. I watched part of the movie when the player was embeded in IE7. No problems. I double click the file and the stand alone player (7) is activated. The error msg comes up "Failed to create a display device". I wonder why it works in one situation and not in the other. Anybody have any thoughts on this? Is it a driver problem. I have a Trident video accelerator on my older Toshiba Satellite Laptop. Am I SOL because of older hardware?