video problems in IBM A31 Laptop

[mikehende]

this laptop has 2 dvd drives, in each drive, I am getting the same results, using WMP, I am only getting audio and no video, using Powerdvd the video is showing but choppy, any ideas please?

[mikehende]

Can it be possible that BOTH optical drives has defective dvd heads?

[SingSing]

this laptop has 2 dvd drives.

Two drives ? is one or both of them external drive?

[mikehende]

no, both are internal drives

[tomlee59]

Can it be possible that BOTH optical drives has defective dvd heads?

There's no "video head" in a DVD drive. There's just a laser, and it makes no distinction between audio and video bits -- it's all just data. So if you're able to get audio to work, the DVD drive is successfully pulling bits off of the disc.

Your problem lies elsewhere (software, natch).

[mikehende]

Don't know what else to try, reloaded the OS, everything else is fine.

[tomlee59]

"Choppy playback" is a common complaint, but it can have many causes, not all of which are fixed by an OS re-install.

Things to try:

1) A different disc (e.g., a factory-pressed one). Crappy media frequently causes trouble in drives, so if it's a home-burned disc, check the manufacturer of the disc. The "valu-pak" spindles sold at superstores and office supply outlets tend to be junk.

2) A different player. Try, for example, VLC. Or Media Player Classic. Almost anything is less bloated than WMP.

3) Stop handling the discs after doing an oil change.

It can also be that the vid you're trying to watch is just simply too complex for your computer's stats. If it's a high-res H264 clip, even your P4 could choke.

[mikehende]

Thanks, the videos are playing fine with Media Player Classic but not with either Wmp or Powerdvd, can you explaining why please?

[tomlee59]

I can't say that I know the exact reason, but here's my guess: MPC is very light; no eye candy, no checking back with the mothership over the net for whatever, etc. WMP is infamous for wasting CPU cycles on that kind of nonsense, leaving fewer of those precious cycles to do what you really care about: playing the movie.

Or it could be something else.

[mikehende]

either way, at least both dvd drives are functioning well now, thank you very much!!

[tomlee59]

Glad to hear that you have found a workable solution. Enjoy!