watch dvd movies on computer

[jfmalone]

I have a Dell computer with a HL-DT-ST dvd+- RWGWA4164B burner that will not let me view dvd movies.
The computer is a Dimension 9150, with Windows XP.
Does anybody know why?

[budz]

do you have dvd player software installed on your dell pc? like powerdvd? you can download vlc media player which is free if you don't have any dvd software.

[jagabo]

XP doesn't include an MPEG 2 decoder for DVDs.

[jfmalone]

XP doesn't include an MPEG 2 decoder for DVDs.

budz
I have powerdvd and I should mention that some movies will play others will not.
jagabo
Is MPEG2 available as freeware?

[jagabo]

Many freeware players include their own MPEG 2 decoders: VLC, MPC, KMPlayer, etc.

Ffdshow includes both VFW and Directshow MPEG 2 decoders.

[gll99]

XP doesn't include an MPEG 2 decoder for DVDs.

budz
I have powerdvd and I should mention that some movies will play others will not.
jagabo
Is MPEG2 available as freeware?

If you have powerdvd then it's not a missing mpeg2 decoder. You should do as was suggested and try KMPlayer since it uses its own built-in decoders. If you still cannot play commercial dvd with that program then the problem may be Directx related. You can change the renderer to wmr9 in the video(Advanced) options to prove it.

It would be helpful if you were more specific than saying "won't play". Are you getting any messages and what exactly are the symptoms (ie... seems to lock up with a long read time) or some other problem. When you say "some would play and others not" were you always using PowerDVD or were you using another player?

[MOVIEGEEK]

Is the DVD from another country or is it scratched?

[jfmalone]

Is the DVD from another country or is it scratched?

gall99
When I say won't play I mean that the dvd player just has the light flashing as though the dvd is spinning but can't find the lead in, no messages appear either.
I always use PowerDvd and when a disc will play PowerDvd starts automatically.
MOVIEGEEK
All the dvds are region 4 without scratches and they all play on a different dvd player on another computer or stand alone player.
I am wondering if Dell has somehow modified thier dvd players to stop anybody copying dvds.

[jagabo]

Try this: Reboot the computer. Hold down a shift key and insert a DVD (this will keep windows from autoexecuting any software on the DVD), keep holding it down for a while. Open the drive in exporer by right clicking and selecting Open (don't double click). Do you see the folders and files?

[[_chef_]]

Region 4... are they really retail pressed DVDs?

[jfmalone]

]Region 4... are they really retail pressed DVDs?

jagabo
Your suggestion about holding the shift key worked, I could see the files in explorer and was also able to open PowerDvd and play the movie.
Thank you and all those who helped with my problem.