Deactivate video playback

[Gswiss]

Under xp-sp2, how can you deactivate the option of playing videos on a DVD reader while allowing the use of the reader for all its other uses such as reading files, installing programs, burning DVD’s, etc.

The fix should be applicable regardless of the Video playback program such as PowerDVD, etc.

[Krispy Kritter]

You can't that I'm aware. If it is possible, it would have to be specific to file extensions. The OS simply sees all files as data, the denotion of file type is made by extension. But I don't recall ever seeing a way to prevent the OS from reading specific file types from a device.

[yoda313]

If this is for a work related computer that you want to restrict video playing on you might want to try to restrict what software is playable on the computer.

I would try somehow to prevent windows media player or other player programs from being useable. I'm not sure how that would be done since wmp is so invasive in the windows os but if you could deactivate the media playing services than that would get you what you want.

I"m sure there is an administrators option of how to lock out certain programs from working I've just never tried.


EDIT - here's a wacky idea. If you are only after preventing dvd playback and not concerned about other formats simply remove any mpeg2 codecs on the computer. I would imagine that would effectively eliminate the ability to play them.

Of course you would have to limit access to the internet to prevent someone from simply downloading a player with internal codecs such as media player classic or vlc. However if you removed the codecs than that would effectively stop the playback of dvd video. You could use codec sniper to delete them.

[Gswiss]

Actually, it's the other way around. I bought a second hand company laptop where they managed to set up the dvd reader so that movies could not be shown on it, probably so that employees would not spend their time watching movies. I would like to watch video DVD's. With PowerDVD, vlc or what-not, the program hangs when I point to the DVD reader with a DVD loaded. No error message. On the other hand, a data cd or dvd can be read.

As for fiddling around with the registry in order to prevent use of various XP features, here's an interesting site :

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-22_11-5193303.html

[yoda313]

Well you can try reinstalling windows. Assuming you have a legit copy of course - then you can set it up the way you want.

Or you can grab a free copy of whatever type of linux you want to use. There are media players for linux that play dvds.

[Gswiss]

Reinstalling Windows was what I wanted to avoid but I'll probably have to resort to that.

Thank you for your comments.