Media players are locking up my machine

[Keighles]

Please help!
I first noticed my problem trying to show a friend a new DVD I had made. Using Power DVD I loaded the disc, selected drive, and clicked on the play button. Nothing happend. Went to task manager, CPU @ 100%.
Ended process. Tried other software with same results. Installed new Codec. Reinstalled software. Finally formatted drive, with fresh Winxp sp2. Installed Norton, Power DVD. Still have same problem.

A friend explained to me all of the problems on his machine, were caused by Norton. He no longer uses it. I also read about the same topic that Norton was causing this problem. I tried to uninstall all of Norton but still have the Recycler folder and System Volume Information folder....I cant seem to delete them even in safe mode.
Is that my problem? I have run out of ideas.

[redwudz]

Check your Task Manager. If you can identify any Norton Processes, end them. It won't be permanent, but once they are stopped, you may be able to delete them. Check your Startup folder and see if it's in there also.

Most antivirus programs resist being deleted to protect you from trojans and viruses. You might also check the Norton site to see if they have a delete or uninstall program. Also if your uninstall problem has happened a few times, do a Google search for 'uninstall Norton' or 'delete Norton problems' or similar and someone may have a simple cure.

Two good freeware antivirus programs are Avast and AVG.

You didn't say if only that DVD or all DVDs have this problem. If the file or DVD is corrupted and Windows explorer can't read it, you will get the 100% CPU and lockup. If all DVDs do it, then Norton is more of a suspect.

[Keighles]

I did try other media. DVD-R, and Retail DVD's, even an.avi file on my hard drive. Older versons of PowerDVD, Nero 6.7 Showtime, Interactual Player, and Windows Media. All Players open and run fine, when you try to play a video, the media player locks up the CPU. The only way to stop it, is to end the process in the task manager.

I couldn't identify any Norton processes in the task manager. I did however turn the "Symantic Network Drivers Service" off in the msconfig menu, under the service tab. Also was able to format the partition that the Norton "Recycler" folder was in.

I am now running McAfee.

I haven't given up yet, still searching for a uninstall help with NSW2005.
If that is in fact, the sorce of my issue.

[redwudz]

Hmm... I begin to think Norton may not be the problem, but if not - what?

Go ahead and try to finish ripping Norton out. If you run out of ideas, pull some of your RAM modules and try again. There is a possibility you have a bad module. If you have a known good one from another computer, pull them all and substitute. RAM causes weird problems at times.

I notice you mention Interactual player Dump it. It tries to take over your default players. I treat it like a virus. Sorry, I have had it mess up my system when removed in the past.

To mostly rule out a codec conflict, try VLC Media Player, as it uses it's own codecs. Though, if you reformatted, you should be clean. That's what makes me think of RAM problems.

[Keighles]

HA HA! Success!

After pulling memory, and switching them around. Got me thinking hardware. I haven't watched a DVD, on my PC since before I installed my new video card last month. A Nvidia Geforce 6600. I switched back to my old one
Geforce 4200.

Media players are working fine.

Thanks for all your help, I was sure I was dealing with a software issue.

Weird though... everything else worked fine, I just got a new game last week and have been playing it since.

[redwudz]

Good deal.

Check the Nvidia site for newer drivers. Likely some conflict.

The worst problem with troubleshooting a system is you usually destroy the whole OS before you find it's a hardware problem. I've erased HDs and wiped out my OS only to find it's a hardware conflict, sometimes minor. I guess that's how we learn.