dvd±rw dl????

[ewoknight]

Im not very knowledgeable when it comes to computers or anything really related to them. My Vaio laptop has a DVD±RW DL drive...and i cant seem to play dvds...like the chronicles of riddick...so does the DVD±RW DL not play dvds or does it only play certain types of dvds??? Any help is appreciated, thank you.

[Baldrick]

Yes, it should play dvds. Is it a commercial dvd?
What software player are you using? Windows media player doesn't support dvds directly, you need a mpeg2/dvd decoder or use free player like Media Player CLassic, VLC Media Player or KMPlayer.

[Bjs]

Welcome ewoknight

Answer : http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/dvdcodecs.aspx

There are other decoders in tools section .

Lastly : vista codec pack from http://www.jtow.net/users/triess/

[ewoknight]

thank you both. yeah it is just a commercial dvd (bought at like walmart) so i think it is, ill try vlc or maybe nero movie player, thank you again.

*update* The drive doesnt even detect the dvd...so i cant open the dvd using vlc player...it seems like the drive doesnt seem to recognize dvds??

[jman98]

Your drive SHOULD work. Reasons why it isn't working include:

1) The drive is defective. DVD drives do wear out and if the laptop is old, it could be this.
2) The DVD is defective (you'd need to play it somewhere else to verify this).
3) You actually have an HD-DVD not a DVD disc and that's why it's not working.

Your DVD drive on the laptop should play any commercial DVD with no problems, assuming the drive is working correctly. You need to get another DVD and see if your laptop will play it or not as you need to determine what the problem is - your disc or the drive.

[ewoknight]

I have tried dvds that i know have worked in other laptops, the laptop is new, about a month old, i cant find the drive on my computer either though (where the harddrive and other media devices can be found under my computer) and it still doesnt recognize them...it seems like the dvd drive doesnt work? I can play games in it...and music...but dvds dont seem to show up.

*this is the laptop i have* Vaio VGN-N365E
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/laptop/m/42314316/details/