Cant play dvds in windows media player?

[peter762033]

Hi whenever i try play a dvd in windows media player i get this message



What do i need to do so i can play dvds?

[redwudz]

That error makes no sense to me. But that's WMP. Do you have a MPEG-2 codec installed? XP doesn't come with it and neither does WMP, AFAIK. If you want to play DVDs, you need it.

I would recommend a software player like Power DVD or similar. It will work much better for DVDs. It has the MPEG-2 codec. Alternately, you could use the freeware VLC Media Player. It has it's own codecs, so it will play just about anything. To use it, just select 'Open Directory' and select your DVD drive and it will play the DVD. Very easy to use and many adjustments.

[peter762033]

I have another player(windvd)but i just want to make this work.It can play videos such as mpgs and avi's so would that codec make the dvds play?

[redwudz]

If you have WinDVD installed, you should have the MPEG-2 codec. I've never had to change my screen resolution or color quality to play anything on any player. Is this a commercial DVD? Maybe the problem is with the DVD.

Did you try selecting the VOBs directly on the DVD? Your player may not recognize the DVD stucture and you may have to point it to the actual video.

[peter762033]

no this doesnt play the dvds even if i selct the files, and it wont play any dvds i try?

[redwudz]

I just tried WMP 10 and it said I had to purchase a 'DVD Decoder' to play DVDs with the program. I deleted WMP 10. It apparently would not use the MPEG-2 codecs that play DVDs just fine with my other players.

I don't know if there is a free way around this, but I refuse to pay for a 'decoder' when I can use freeware players or a install a 'real' DVD player program like Power DVD or WinDVD that doesn't come with all the other junk WMP wants to install. (Sorry, just my Microsoft rant. )

Maybe someone else has a cure, but using a different player works for me.

[masterpug]

use mpc (media player classic) from the tools section of this site. free, solid, all the features
and ease you want...no need for windows media player 10,etc. just try it...in fact, make it the default player for all video media, including vobs!

[peter762033]

ok il stick with my other player

[Heywould3]

I know this is not going to be any help.. but i wanted to let you all know.. i am able to play DVDs with WMP10 both home brew and retail DVDs. the thing is i dont know why, sorry. but i thought that the fact that i can would give someone the idea to do tests to see why. i dont really have anything special insalled. real plus QT VLC winamp pro power dvd 6 xvid and divx players and codecs. a few encoders/converters for testing.

[masterpug]

it's the powerdvd you have installed that has the codec which allows wmp10 to play dvd's.

[jimmalenko]

Hi whenever i try play a dvd in windows media player i get this message



What do i need to do so i can play dvds?

I guess the first question I've got is this:

Did you try doing what it says to do ?

[Bjs]

Alway's do what the program suggest's first , then ask after if that dosent fix problem .

The other issue could be as simple as updating you video chipset driver's ... a common enough mistake .

As for media player , you will need to hunt this down , freedvdcodec ... was about all over the place but since seem's to have disappeared .

It's the default for media player on 2 system's here ... I am even surprised with win2000 and ifoedit playing dvd's ... of course with ac3_filters package installed ...

I alway's bagged the crap out of that os being almost near useless ... but seeing's how xp dont like ifoedit playing dvd's ... then my win2000 laptop is now permanently connected to the network for playback of dvd menu's I create for project's ...

Another trick .

Download the correct driver's for your video chipset , make sure they are the correct one's .

Restart pc , hit F8 key as it boot's through and past bios , enter safe mode , login under admin .
Go to start , setting's , control panel , system , hardware , device manager .

Click on + on display adapter's .
Click on listed device that show's up , and right click this item , and choose uninstall .

Rebbot pc as normal ... pc will say found hardware and install driver's ... normally it already know's where the original's where placed .

Say no .

Run the installer from the new driver's for chipset .
Reboot pc .

This should sort media player's problem out .

It surprise's me how common this happen's ... I am alway's on the phone to user's with this problem .

[jimmalenko]

Just FWIW, IFOEdit and XP play together fine on 2 PCs for me