How to play DVD using Windows Media Player or RealOne?

[C. Corelle]

I don't have a DVD ROM, but can I play DVD on my computer using Windows Media Player or RealOne if I hook it up to a stand-alone DVD player?

[jdizzy40]

Simply answer, NO! you cannot. How do you intend to get the signal from the DVD player into the computer. If you had a Video card/TV tuner combo card you could, or just a TV Tuner. You could connect to the S-Video input, select s-video in the software and view your DVD through an external player. But why. DVD-Roms are dirt cheap, $44.00 for a Lite-On from Walmart!

[C. Corelle]

I do have a video card. The reason I want to do this is because I want to capture still images from DVD. Right now, I can go through a video editing program to capture DVD images, but I have to save the clips on file first. I want to just capture still images by pausing the video.

I'm looking for a temporary solution for the next couple of weeks or so. A DVD-ROM is definitely next on my list of things to buy!

[Greenspock]

To continue what jdizzy40 said... even if you had a DVD drive on your system... you would still need an MPG2-DVD codec (I mean this in a general term) to play with Media Player. Basically, you'd need a third party app like PowerDVD as well to play your movie. If you had this, then you could play movies with Media Player.

[jdizzy40]

Then more than likely all you have, and still maybe not is an s-video out port on your video card which won't do you any good. What kind of video card do you have? One that came with the computer or one you bought? Please advise. Bottom line you need capture capability to get the DVD players signal into the computer. Then a software app like mentioned above "Power DVD" which does have still capture capability.