Cannot play copy protected DVD on computer?

[rdwheeler]

I've run into a DVD that apparently cannot be played on a computer DVD player. It is the movie "Unknown" from IFCFilms (IFCFirstTake) and the label says it "is copy protected and may be played only on licensed players." Anyone know anything about this? have they gone and made DVDs that I can't watch on my home theater PC? Anyone know the name of the copy protection and/or a workaround?

[Baldrick]

What software dvd player? any error msg?
Can you see any files on the dvd if you browse using file explorer?

[jman98]

Unfortunately, you have found a film so obscure that nobody on the internet seems to have said anything about this. if you can't see any files using File Explorer under Windows, then they might have done something with bad sectors, installed a program that secretly loaded itself on your PC and is preventing you from seeing the DVD (Indian manufacturers use this method to protect VCDs) or they might even have a variation on an audio CD copy protection method where you can see a ring or gap between 2 areas on the disc and the outer area appears to be a data area and a PC will treat the disc as a data disc and ignore the other data in the other part of the disc which is where the music (or in your case movie) actually is.

[rdwheeler]

It's a brand-new movie. Checked it out from Blockbuster (it's one of their exclusive movies and they have a full display rack dedicated to it.) I've tried Power DVD 6.0, WMP 11, and DvdDecrypter. The players report "DVD drive empty". DvdDecrypter does see a file system but reports an IO error when trying to rip to and .ISO.

[rdwheeler]

Explorer sees no files.

[Baldrick]

Tried on another computer? If that wont help I would return it and ask for a working version for my htpc.

[Rich86]

Since your computer dvd drive and software player is generally considered to be a "licensed player" - this defective merchandise should be returned for a properly working product - or demand your money back. If everyone does that, watch how fast this nonsense stops.

[rdwheeler]

Happens on two PCs with two different copies of the movie. Go to Blockbuster and rent it and give it a try.

[ricoman]

Try the trial of AnyDVD from slysoft, that should work.

[rdwheeler]

Sorry, forgot to mention, but I have the latest AnyDVD running.

[ricoman]

Sorry, forgot to mention, but I have the latest AnyDVD running.

I'm surprised AnyDVD doesn't do the job. How about VLC: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

[Noahtuck]

So what ever happened ?

I just piscked this up from blockbuster, dropped it in and both WinDVD & PowerDVD, played it no problem whatsoever.....

[SLK001]

So what ever happened ?

I just piscked this up from blockbuster, dropped it in and both WinDVD & PowerDVD, played it no problem whatsoever.....

Yeah, I suspected a bad disk all along (especially since Explorer could see no files - a DVD still has to be compliant to the spec). However, if it had seen files, I would have suspected that the disk was set up to NOT play on a computer. I've run across quite a few of these. The fix for these DVDs is to just rip them to your HD.

[Noahtuck]

Well....

Happens on two PCs with two different copies of the movie. Go to Blockbuster and rent it and give it a try.

With odd's like that, someone need's to be buying lotto tickets

And if there were that many bad disc's in one place you would think BlockBuster would find out rather quickly

And what dvd movies have been made to not play on a pc ?

[jagabo]

Happens on two PCs with two different copies of the movie. Go to Blockbuster and rent it and give it a try.

Autorun installing anti-ripping software?

[Noahtuck]

The disc i have does not have anthing on it except the standard VIDEO_TS files.
It does not even have any type of new copy protection on it

[SLK001]

And what dvd movies have been made to not play on a pc ?

A lot of the MGM releases are set up this way. I know that Goldfinger was one (you get a Disk Not Configured to Play in this Format -or something like that- splash screen). I don't run across this any more because if I want to watch on my computer, I just rip the disk to my HD.

Here's a link where this is discussed:

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=836114#836114