PC Can't Play Movies

Maybe check the setting in you video card?

Sounds like maybe some kind of software/driver conflict.

Make sure you have all the correct and latest drivers to run all the hardware.

(I personally do not like WMP at all, as it is highly unstable in certain conditions)

Did your CD-RW/DVD drive come with software?

I am not aware of any software that came with it, unless it was plug and play - It is a home build pc which I did myself.

Bonyd111,

I tried to connect my computer to my TV using S-Video and could only get the boot-up display and Windows didn't display at all.

Now I have a modern TV that uses connections other than S-Video and works great from the computer. I didn't investigate S-video any further so this should be interesting.

Jon

Hi Bondy111. I think your problem is Codecs. Just download K-lite Codecs or something similar for WMP11 and that should fix the problem.

I have some codecs, I think they were called community codec pack, or something to that effect. Do you have any experience of them?

Hi Bondy111. No, sorry. What you can do is search the web for Media player 11 codecs and plugins. There are various available you can download for free. I have personally used K-lite and I am happy with them.

On my previous pc, I didn't need to install any codecs etc. I am running the same OS etc as it. Why do I need it on this one?

Hi Bondy111. Are you running the exact same hardware?

Your hardware is the key. They need different drivers and support in order to work. What works on one will not work on the other. Even if they were exactly the same, it may not even work as some Bios chips are newer.

No. All the hard ware is new. That is probably why.

Conrads is probably right. It sounds like you need the codecs which is software (programs) that decodes the video on your disks so that you can play them. I haven't used the one he mentions as I normally use one called Power DVD. There are others available also. Quite often they are included with the DVD players and if not you can buy them fairly cheap from ebay or online merchants.

Is there an issue due to PAL, NTSC, or SECAM?

Jon

The only real problem with PAL, NTSC or Secam is :- The setting of your DVD player. The DVD player is usually set to region codes, 1,2,3,4,5. Now I speak under correction but I think America is region 1(NTSC), South Africa is region 2 (PAL) etc...

The program you play the DVD with (with codecs) will play any region movie as long as your DVD drive supports that region. That is for original disks. I have seen copied disks with region "open". Therefore your DVD drive does not have to be set to a region code in order to play it.

Be carefull setting the region code of the DVD drive in your PC. I think you can only set it 5 times then it is locked to the last setting. Then it becomes complicated. You have to flash the drive in order to clear the setting counter before you can set the region code again. And not all drives have available flash programs you can use.

Conrads,

Sounds right to me.

Jon

I am not sure whether there is a format issue. All my dvds are PAL. How would I find which format the dvd drive is?

When the dvd is trying to play on the telly, the colour mucked up, and all the media player like applications crashed.

If it is of any relevance, the UK is PAL (SA may be too) and, my telly is french format (don't know what that is) and on my video card, it is set to display in the french format, otherwise there is no colour.

Hi Bondy111. I assume you are using XP. Go to start, control panel, system, hardware, device manager. Click the + next to DVD/CD Rom drives to open the tree. Right click on the DVD drive and choose properties. On the top are various tabs. Click the DVD region tab and see what it is set to.

On your disks you are trying to play it should say what the region code is and then that should match the DVD rom setting.

It is already set to region 2. My dvds are also region 2.

That's great, at least it is one less thing to worry about.

Hi Bondy111. France region 2, France Metropolitan region 4, France Guiana region 4, France Polynesia region 4, France Southern and Antarctic Lands region 2.

If you have issues with playing multiple regions try

http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html

it has worked great for me. Remember DVD playing software is different from codecs. Think of codecs as an add on that enhances the capabilities of the original dvd playing software. A fresh uninstall and re-install of dvd playing software and updating video drivers and sound drivers to the latest versions usually cures this type of problem.

Do you actually have software installed to play DVDs?

There is plenty of free DVD player software around......

There is normally a CD that came with the DVD and software is on that more time than not, unless you were a cheapskate (like me!) and bought a DVD player with no extras (cables or software)......

If you need free software I will find a safe place for you to download from if you need help in that area.....just ask!

Hi there have you tried downloading Divx player it may solve your problems.

Hello Bondy,

Hope you are well?

Sorry you cannot get your DVD to play.

Un-install any player you use at the moment. Then try downloading a completely new version of any player you want to use.

Remember there is lots of players including Microsoft? How about Quicktime?

Have a really close look at the DVD packaging and you will probably find the recommended player and/or codec?

Please tell me what the DVD is and the publisher. I can then check out more details for you.

I downloaded the codec pack, and WMP does not now crash, but the speaking is too quiet, and if I turn it up, the music is way too loud (on the movie). I downloaded power dvd trial version, and periodically it re-wound a bit. Is this a common problem with it?

Mmmm. This sounds all to much like a problem I had. I got some Avi files from a friend. When played on the PC the sound was really crap. Talking way soft and music loud as can be. I think, it is because the Avi does not contain all the sound files (stereo, DTS, 5.1) and although my PC has 5.1 sound it does not support DTS. When I took the same Avi and burned it on a disk (made a DVD movie with Nero) and played it in my home DVD player all was well. Sound was perfect on home DVD. Does it sound similar? Is the sound soft with both WMP and with Power DVD??

The sound is fine on power dvd. I also have 5.1 surround sound. Avi files which are saved to my hard drive (back up ones) have perfect sound using media player.

Cool Bondy, I take it you are sorted now? Shout if you need more help.

Cheers. I still haven't worked out why the sound doesn't go quite right when playing DVDs on media player though =/ Maybe it is just one of those things.

Hello Bondy,

Sounds like you are getting there bit by bit?

Can you tell me what players you have used please?

You may have to use a player which is not Microsoft standard?

I may be saying the 'obvious' but, have you configured the sound side of whatever player you have? I had problems with my sound on Microsoft and found one of the sliders had the box ticked to stop any sound out. Cannot recall what it is called now but it is a little box on the bottom of the slider layout. You can have each slider so no sound comes through, and that is how I mistakenly configured the sound system.

Good luck.

I have tried Windows Media player, AVS dvd player, windows media player classic (or whatever it is called), and power dvd.

Some things to try.

Right click the speaker icon in the righthand side of the toolbar. Choose adjust audio properties. In the "audio" tab, make sure your default device is your correct sound driver. Choose "sound playback, volume", and make sure nothing is marked. Choose "sound playback, advanced", and make sure you have 5.1 selected. In the same block in the "performance" tab, make sure the sliders are "full" and "best".

Also, right click my computer and choose properties, go to "hardware", "device manager", click the + next to DVD/CD rom drives, right click the DVD drive and choose properties. In the "properties" tab, make sure "enable digital CD audio" is marked. Set CD volume to highest.

I hope something here helps you more.

I believe you have XP, if yes, go down to the bottom RH corner and click on the Loudspeaker. Make sure that all the controls are at the top and none are turned off completely, eg, no "Ticks" in the little boxes....see here:-

This may be part of the problem you are now having.

I hope this helps.........

Only the mic was on mute, and that did not change the speech. I can adjust the bass and treble, and I have been fiddling, now it is at minimum bass and almost full treble.

Try using "Media Player Classic Home Cinema" it has most codecs and can also play real media files. I have no problem playing DVD's.

You may also have a conflict between codecs. If MPC does not play, try un installing the codec packs and try again.

http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/

One cool feture is you can set it to shut down, sleep or close when finished playing. Great if you watch movies in bed.

VLC also plays most formats.

Your link says it does not work

I would very very very strongly encourage you to use VLC.

LINK

It is free, plays practically everything and has no spy-adware. It also records

I have used it for years and have had no dramas I can recollect. Despite some nasty threats from multi-national companies over time, they still stick it up the tall poppies, as what they have created is not illegal. Avoid WMP at all costs...too much spy crap and propriety issues.

With VLC, the speaking is also too quiet, and the music over-rules it.

Is this happening on any of the DVDs you try and play, or on only one......?

On all. I have about 5 on my desk, all with the same problem. All are region 2

Then it appears to be a PC problem.

What DVD player software do you have installed? (if you have already answered this fully, I apologize for repeating the question!)

Windows media player, AVS DVD player (Works on my laptop), Power DVD, Windows classic media player

If that happens ("With VLC, the speaking is also too quiet, and the music over-rules it") with VLC, normally the equaliser needs to be turned off (rarely the case) or the sound device/channel in the audio tab set to 2-4 speaker rather than 5:1 channel or the like. That's just by memory...I think one of the highest settings for the sound requires the hardware and if you don't have that, then what you descride really does happen.

I start with the highest sound device setting and work my way down the list from there.

HeCO,

Your explanation seems to make a lot of sense! I had also wrongly set myAudio tp 5.1. And did not have a sound card to match and it would not play. When set back to 2.1, or the coputer speakers it worked fine.

It is a 6 ch. sound card. I tried all the different settings - quadraphonic, 2 ch stereo etc, and that makes no difference

Hello Bondy,

Just a suggestion....................... how about starting again and do things sequentially.

1) Check the sound card inside the computer, is 'seated' properly.

2) Start configuring the sound card to you custom choice.

3) Download a new player.

4) configure it to your preferences.

5) Download or check for drivers on your sound card

6) Download or check for drivers for the player.

7) Double check all wires to and from the computer including trying the different sockets on the sound card to see what happens.

=

8) A silly thing perhaps but, make sure you are using the 'correct' player when you load a disk. You will do no harm and it may just be that if another person has loaded the DVD it may be in the wrong slot?

=

9) One thing.......I found my sound was very low and only came from one speaker. When I checked, where I had been moving stuff around the 'JACK' from the sound card to the computer was not pushed in fully, and I was only just making contact!

=

10) Have you tried other 'on-board' players like 'Quicktime'?

=

I have several sound systems.

One is the default one on the MB.

Two is the sound card by ATI.

Three is the 'Audigy' sound card.

=

It is real easy to be adjusting one lot of settings when they have nothing to do with the current sound out of the computer! If your current sound is not right, move the 'JACK Plugs' into a different JACK on the sound car or completely rearrange them to go into the Mother-Board sound side of thing.

=

Do you get a picture from a DVD OK?

Is the DVD a shop bought one or recorded by you or someone else? Because the will or could use different codecs and or drivers.

Try that or tell me what you have done please?

Has anything you done actually helped the sound and how?

It is seated properly inside my case. (It also does not have trouble playing videos saved to my hdd) It is configured to my custom choice. What player would you recommend? All the wires are in properly, there is only one DVD slot. Quicktime says it is not a file that it understands. I only have the one sound output - The onboard motherboard sound is disabled in BIOS and device manager. The picture is fine. It is a shop bought dvd. Power dvd worked fine, but I am only on the trial of it, and would like WMP to be able to play it.

You wrote:-

Power dvd worked fine, but I am only on the trial of it, and would like WMP to be able to play it.

This would imply that everything is OK hardware wise.....maybe you need to deinstall it first as you do not want to buy it (de install all DVD player software).

Re install one product only, maybe one you have not yet tried.....

I must admit I have little idea on how to progress further after that, I hope there are some better brains around......

Hello Andy,

As (I think) Andy Germany suggested, have to unloaded the DVD player software and reloaded an up to date set?

Everything on the computer works?

Do the 'alert' sounds work? They are most likely run by the MB.

Everything works on the computer. The alert sounds such as the beep on turn on, works. Listening to music is also fine. The software is up to date.

Hello Bondy,

=

Sounds like you have a properly working computer apart from you not being able to play this one DVD?

=

Can you right-click on the properties of this DVD? If so it may tell you the codec and then you can search and download it. But first may sure the codec works with Microsoft player or the actual slot DVD player.

With Microsoft you can go to microsoft.com and enter the codec. It will tell you if this is a codec for use with the gear you have. It may also refer to another player which the codec will work on.

Or there could be a known problem with this codec?

]You are just going to either not bother with the DVD you have, do not play it, or you can do the searches I mention above.

Microsoft.com has a whole lot of info' which has helped me before. But you often have to find the correct page to search on.

If you list any codec you want or need for this DVD film we can search for it also?

I cannot right click to find the codec. Also, I have a pile of dvds on my desk, all of which have the same problem.

Hello Bondy,

Ok so you have a whole lot that will not play properly. All with the same FAULT?

Have you found anything that may look like some written code which may start with some letters and end in figures? That code be the code that, is itself in 'code' on the packaging or Disc?

=

Have you searched Microsoft for problem with playing DVD's? If you do it may tell you of one or likely more than one codec which may help.

You could check to see if all the DVD's are published by the same people or are on the same colour or type of plastic DVD. I mean the 'stock' they use to record the films on?

For instance, are all the DVD's sony? If so try a different DVD other than a sony one. If it works you know it is likely to be sony or at least the DVD 'stock' made by whomever?.............Which is at fault. They can still be played but you really should dedicate your next hour or so to looking at microsoft and typing in any likely words which may be the codec?

=

You know when you record on a dvd or CD you use various codecs. Well the same goes for the film makers. You could try getting as basic as typing the name of the film, date, time if needed, and any other details you may think would help, into Google. And or microsoft.com.

That is what I would do. It may take a couple of days but, if you want to view the films it is worth it right?

Good luck.

You can post anything which you think may help OK? There may well be a site or 'blog' where this has been reported or discussed at the moment? Other than CR4 I mean!

Most the dvds are dual layer, except one (I think) - It doesn't say, but with that one, the audio is fine in media player, and the picture freezes every second (ish) I will go on microsoft tonight.

Hi Bondy,

Just a short note this time.............

I do not know much about 'Dual Layer players'. I would imagine you would need special software or a different type of laser on your player? You investigate yourself and I will check today or tomorrow. But now you know they are dual layer it would be better to look for that rather than looking for Microsoft, at least to begin with.=

I just had a thought...............The dual and or single layer DVD's may be protected by 'DRM' (Digital Rights Management), which is a fancy way of saying encoding by the film companies.??????????

Almost all DVDs you buy with films already on them are DUAL layer, its the only way to get the maximum storage from a (Dual layer) DVD. Only short films do not need this at DVD quality anyway.....(I used to burn full length films at a lower quality, to get a whole film onto a single layer DVD. The difference was minimal to the eye....

I have never seen a DVD drive for a PC that could not read both layers without any extra hardware or software.

If there ever was one, it was a very rare beast indeed or it had a hardware failure that stopped it focussing for the second layer, also possible....!

Some early PC DVD burners could only burn one layer, so do not confuse this effect with the effect while reading, they are not one and the same. These burners could still read both layers of s DL DVD.....

I hope this helps......

Hello Andy,

I have never tried to play a DVD film on my computer so all the advice I give is what I would do if I had done.

I think it is down to DRM

or codecs of the actual burning of the film apart from DRM. It is most odd though?

Take care

Some do say copy protected. Could that stop them playing?

No, it only (should!) stop copying.....

Hi Bondy,

Well it may not. But I am trying to think and walk at the same time. Not easy for a bloke!

Have you had any luck with any searches? I am all 'searched out' today. But will look for other stuff for you then.

Keep looking and searching and keep in touch.

=

I have to admit you have me a little quizzled ! Take care.

Hi Bondy. Is the disk you are trying to play an original? If original, then in media player 11, when the movie starts it should have a main menu. In the main menu you can choose the soundtrack. DTS, 5.1, stereo. If it is not original then it will only have one or two options if you are lucky, thus causing a problem. You say that when you play your backups, they play fine. So that points to the actuall disk you are trying to play. Either the soundtrack choice is wrong or it does not contain the soundtrack needed to play properly on your system.

When playing the disk in media player 11, go to play, audio and language tracks. There should be some options to choose from. If you cannot see the media player menu bar at the top, press Ctrl+M. If you see only one option to choose from then the DVD does not have the correct soundtrack.

Yes, they are original disks. I looked under the audio and language tracks, and changed from default to English GB. The sound is still not right.

, Now I am stuck. Will put my thinking cap on and let you know if I can come up with something else. Sorry, out of order.

Hey gang,

Great info even if Bondy has not yet solved it.

If I change a hard drive or do something else of that sort I always run into the codecs problem.

Matter of fact I just installed VLC on advice from this thread so now I will run a movie, perhaps Bunuel's That Obscure Object of Desire on my brand new 24" flat screen.

Anybody know the lowest level (That means cheapest) video card to feed from this PC to a 54" rear projector (RCA) I bought for a song? It has an s-video jack.

For some reason I have never read up on codecs. Anybody know a good read on the subject.

I always just try to hack my way through but you all have just helped educate me and I hope the same for Bondy.

What do I have to do to print this entire thread without running reams of paper with all the stuff in between?

Once again, you all really know this subject? Thanks.

j.

Hello Jack,

How are you?

Yes it is a shame that Bondy's still found no answer. I feel it lies in codec of some sort, and also know from past troubles, it takes an awful lot of searching if you search Microsoft, which I would advise anyone to do. They write the codecs for a lot of stuff we do after all. They also have a great 'Knowledge Base', which give unrivalled info' on any problems certain, different programmes, can cause. Although it can take an age to find what you want, when found it is well worth it.

I have not seen or heard of what the VLC is like. It may be the answer to Bondy's problem, though perhaps not the full complete answer.

Jack, do you have any of the cheaper video cards that you may have taken from an old computer?

Do you have a basic or not so basic video card, or a video section on your MB? I have in mind connecting the TV to the computer, or the computer to the Projector and then to the TV.

It may be that the TV already has the video card section in it that may not require another one? I do not know if that is even done? But it has to be worth connecting the computer, projector, and TV just to test, right? I will look shortly at what the ratio of TV Pixels to computer video card 'pixels' are, and so what card you will need as a basic item.

I am not up to date with Projectors, sorry, can you tell me the Projector you have please?

I will also get back ASAP to notify you of codes books. Are you interested in codec Sites? Many codecs alter from time to time especially on open source stuff. =

With regard to printing the whole page, every post you mean?

To help can you tell me what computer you have please?

Please read the PM I will send before writing anything Jack, OK? I will be jotting a note from PM to PM. Not a very long book.

But for the time being I know you can sometimes copy the centre part of the print only, with no 'side references and boxes on either side? I am assuming you want the posts and who wrote them?

If you want to delete the lines between and the postcript just before the line of each post and just after, then you may need to copy then edit before you print? Is it only the post 'body' you want to print? Or do you want to keep the poster as well?

But I will find that out.

Yeah babybear.

I want the posts as one file without the garbage.

I know I can copy and paste to a text file. That's a lot of work.

I want to know if I can get the whole schmere with one or two key taps.

The 54" RCA rear screen I have will take s-video. I already feed it movies from a DVD player via s-video. I want to be able to feed it from the PC as well.

I just wanted a recommendation for a cheap card that will output s-video and/or RGB.

j.

Hello Jack,

I have some ideas which may help you print stuff, but until you try I will not know OK?

If you click to print the Print Preference Box appears

It has various things you can click and I think if you click some, then other choices open and so on.

These are to for instance adjust the 'scale'. Default is 100%. If you can read at half that it will half the print run.

You can make the following choices that may help:

Do not print background

Do not print headers and footers.

Adjust the print "grey scale" I think it is called until it is light enough to read but not too dark, if that makes sense?

=

If you look at the new posts today, you will find this one with only three posts.

Power Cables for PWM AC Drives

sanjaywan7

Participant

Join Date: Jul 2009

Posts: 1

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Try and print on both sides if possible to save on paper.

Please let me know how you get on?

And I apologise in advance if you do not want to save on paper etc. Good luck......

My Graphics card is not expensive, and outputs S-Video. You can also change what country format the output is. Mine is a ATI 3450 HD. Here is the link:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152936/

It is 512mb, and won't break the bank at £22.51. All I would say is the frame rate is a bit too slow to be able to play the newer games such as GTA 4. Its a great little card though, with VGA, DVI and S-Video connectors. You could even get a splitter so your DVD player could still be plugged in:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/S-VIDEO-1-MALE-TO-2-FEMALE-Y-SPLITTER-CABLE-ADAPTER_W0QQitemZ330344782356QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item4cea155a14&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:2136|293:1|294:50

Just make sure only the DVD player, OR the computer is sending the picture through, otherwise it will go screwy.

Good Luck

Hello Bondy,

You say you tried VLC? Did you also check to see for updates, drivers and codecs for it?

Did you search 'VLC' and see what if any troubles you may have with it not running properly with any other programmes you have?

I searched 'VLC' last night and there is lots of detail on lots of sites.

Good luck my friend.

I tried VLC, but to no avail

Hello Bondy,

I am just wondering how 'old' you Mother Board is and if it may need some updates?

It was bought in april.

Then check for a BIOS update, new boards often go thru several upgrades in the following 12 months.....

Hello Andy,

=

I would advise Bondy to try at least. I am guessing now but I think I found the MB site from putting the CD which came with it in to play?

As you say, I can confirm the BIOS update which is sometimes needed. My board was 'new' but, on searching I found it was 7 months old. And after some 'hiccups' a bios update sorted things just fine.

I had the CD or DVD and a pretty detailed book on all of the MB's the same as mine. (Don't ask the make as I have a new MB now). They varied a lot. But after studying the book, I was able to do what was needed to update the BIOS. I actually found it easier to read through the book than to try and search the Disk which came with it. Can't recall what I did now and do not have the book, sorry. I found it a little complicated but I was new to computing. That was in 2005 I think

Keep looking and it might help if you went to the MB site to see if the is any difficulties between your MB and any of the other bits in the computer?

It is really a case of searching until you do find 'that'

something which is causing your problems

Everything else is good on the computer - The motherboard is fine with everything else.

Hello Bondy,

Have you tried Real Player?

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Not sure what it is like now but, I had to download several updates, both 'software' and and codecs to the Original one I had before it would work.

(That is often the case though, whatever the player).

If you have not tried it, do try it to see what happens. You can't loose anything? I had to unload all the players I had before downloading Real Player. But any current advice will be posted on the Real Player site anyway?

===============================================

===============================================

RealPlayer | Free Media Player Download

Do more with your media player: RealPlayer SP is free and easy to use, ...

And it's perfect for playing and sharing video with your friends and followers on ...

www.real.com/realplayer - Cached - Similar -

=

I hadn't thought about Realplayer. I was using it last week as well. That seems to work fine. Cheers :D

Hi Bondy,

I have fingers crossed!

I actually meant to say Real Player when I mentioned Quick Time, I think it was?

You said you were using it last week? Did you use it on your computer?

Perhaps Real Player is owned by Sony who owns a lot of the film rights, which may explain why it might work, because of the Sony codecs already in the software?

It is only a guess but it could be?

Yes, I was using it on my computer to play some FLV files.

Hello Bondy,

are you OK?

You say you were playing FLV, that's Flash video right. They do several File converters if this App' works OK?

Did I make it seem I was not ok?

Yes, it is flash video, Who do file converters? For converters I use Pazera and Dvdvideosoft.

Your latest posting implies to me that your PC is OK, but your DVD drive is not!!

What are the chances of swapping it out for a short time and trying another "known good" one????

I have no other DVD drives. If it works with Power dvd and realplayer would it not just be a codec issue?

Most likely, I had forgotten that that worked, sorry.....

Don't worry - This thread is getting so long

Hello Bondy,

Have a nice break! With the "OK" I was just asking. ;=) No problems.

I was not aware you had any convertors and, the FLV, and a FLV Convertor may not convert to enable it to be used as a DVD Player? Unless the DVD is in the Flash codec type?

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http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-gb&q=FLV&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

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Unless you have since tried it I think the 'answer' might be the Real Player, and I say that assuming you had no trouble with it playing both single, double or multi Layer DVD's?

I would have thought the actual DVD Player, (the 'slot' you mentioned earlier) would have needed to convert the codec to send it onto the Real Player or whatever you decide, and can get to work on your computer?........... I feel pretty sure it is down to codecs, but, the Initial DVD Player you put the disk into must be able to read single and double layer DVD's though?

Your computer is quite new and I would not have thought it would not have had any problems playing or, using any appropriate codecs for whatever Player you use. But those codec and or other Firmware updates should be done as part of the installation of the "slot" DVD player, and before anything else has been loaded. From past experience it is important to update each and every piece of software, 'Player', or whatever, as you load them onto your new machine, and it may not work if you do not do this incrementally.

I know that I had to have these: Windows Video Player, Real Player, Quicktime, and an AVI codec set to be able to play most stuff which everyday computing needs you to play for general use......

........... There did not seem to be a 'single Player plays all' answer. For instance I think it is 'Quicktime' which is designed for Apple use?

Below is a search I did for players for window XP. You may have said exactly what 'Windows' version you have but I can't recall, sorry.............................. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-gb&ei=dxBuSqGeB46sjAekwfCmCw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=books+of+players+for+windows+XP&spell=1

Can I say that do not be worrying about the length of the thread. We are here tp find an answer and I for one am not counting the 'posts', OK?

Good luck Bondy!

Hello Bondy,

Can you tell me if you have had any other problems with error reports or similar? I have nothing in mind but, it is just something else to tick to say "I have checked that", you know?

No. I have had no problems with error reports etc. The only thing that springs to mind, is Power DVD will not register. I don't think that will have any effect though.

Hi Bondy,

If you have the CD to Power DVD, it may well be worth removing the Power DVD then see if it makes any difference? And as you are having troubles I would start by having just one player or software set for a player like Power DVD...............

=

With just a single player there can be no interference from another players software?

Bondy

Just searched for and installed a free DVD player called Gom Media Player at

http://www.gomlab.com/eng/ seems ok plays my DVDs ok why don`t you give it a spin.

I'm off for 2 weeks so I won't be able to reply. I will keep looking for a solution when I get back, but if you think of anything - I will pick it up eventually

I recommend VLC on any PC connected to the internet.

http://www.videolan.org/

VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, ...) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It can also be used as a server to stream in unicast or multicast in IPv4 or IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network. It doesn't need any external codec or program to work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VideoLAN is a software project, run by volunteers, backed-up by a non-profit organisation, which produces free and open source software for multimedia, released under the GNU General Public License.
Learn more about the VideoLAN project.

Our main software is the cross-platform VLC media player.

We are also the home of x264 and many other projects, like DVBlast or libDVDcss.

Hello markar,

I have not used it but on searching for this thread found a whole lot of stuff on VLC. It is, as you say a highly competent multimedia player with a good choice of codecs.

Take care.........

Thanks for the help everyone, I will stick to realplayer, and just hope everything goes well with it; I will be back to this post otherwise. :)

Hello Bondy,

Hope it all turns out all right!

Take care.

You are going to really hate me for saying this... I tried playing a dvd, since my break, and now nothing will play on Realplayer. It comes up saying The DVD cannot be played. Key exchange for DVD copy protection failed. I have tried multiple dvds. I left one in the drive over the 2 week period, and that won't play either. It was all turned off at the wall etc.

Hello Bondy,

No problems. The discription you give seems to 'prove' you need to update or re-download the software that gets past the 'copy protect' system.

I suggest you do this from the player site. And also write to the DVD publishers to see if they have an answer. They will have a faqs section which will have details about this.[p]

Details of the dvd player and your graphics card may help. Please let me know.

Can you tell me the player and the dvd you want to use or are using?[p]

The dvd player is a Liteon 52x32x52x16 CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive Internal IDE Black Bare Drive - OEM The graphics card is an ASUS HD 3450 512MB DDR2 passive heatsink cooler VGA DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card

Trying to play dvds such as scary movie 4 and Hot Fuzz

Hi Bondy,

Did you search any sites to see about updates to the drm?