Can't figure this out: WinXP will not recognize PAL discs

[3030vision]

I have a number of DVDs that will not be recognized by Windows XP SP2. One of them specifically says on the box that it's all region (from England). A few others i bought in Asia. They play on my girlfriend's Apple iBook, and they play on my PAL/NTSC DVD player. What's going on??

I understand that software DVD players should be able to decode PAL or NTSC. Has anyone else seen or experience this problem? I've tried a number of region-free hacks to attempt to eliminate that as an issue. The only thing I'm left with is the issue is PAL related. But that's wierd, no?

Btw, does Windows exhibit the same behavior when a disc with the incorrect region is put in a drive? I mean, does it not recognize the disc, or does it just give a region error/warning.

Thanks in advance. I can't seem to figure this out. I'm using a LITE-ON SOHW-1693S DVD drive/burner.

[thevoelk]

I doubt it's PAL. Have you ripped the disc to your hard drive and see if the individual files play? I've gotten some discs from Asia that Windows wouldn't recognize, but they were recognized in a different drive.

[edDV]

Out of the box Windows XP SP2 has no support for any MPeg2 playback. The MPeg2 decoder is usually supplied by the computer or DVD-ROM/writer manufacturer (on the setup CD).

The reason is MPeg2 decoders require a royalty payment and MS didn't want to burden the OS cost with this and other royalties.

Windows media player will use a 3rd party DVD decoders when installed. Same goes for encoders where applicable.

[3030vision]

I doubt it's PAL. Have you ripped the disc to your hard drive and see if the individual files play? I've gotten some discs from Asia that Windows wouldn't recognize, but they were recognized in a different drive.

I can't rip the DVD to the HDD 'cause the system acts as if there is no disc in the drive. If i could get that far or see the files it would be a different issue.

I did see someone post about discs not being recognized that were not finalized properly, but some of these are proper packaged DVDs.

Note: Windows does fine with regular region 1 NTSC discs. Very strange.

Thanks!

[jimmalenko]

I'll hazard a guess and say that it's not Windows causing the problem .... it's your DVD drive. Take a look at the Region Free Tools in the tools section, and maybe even look into patching the firmware of your DVD drive so that it is region free. http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_all.php contains a lot of firmwares.

[3030vision]

I'll hazard a guess and say that it's not Windows causing the problem .... it's your DVD drive. Take a look at the Region Free Tools in the tools section, and maybe even look into patching the firmware of your DVD drive so that it is region free. http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_all.php contains a lot of firmwares.

I already removed the region coding from the DVD drive. Drive Region Info now reports the drive has no region protection. I also tried a few software solutions to go along with the hardware solution, but i had no luck there either. I assume the software solutions are best with the drive region coding removed.

The drive is relatively new as well. The wierdest thing is the DVDs that aren't recognized all seem to be PAL. It doesn't make sense to me.