what's a DVD decoder?

[johnsees]

Well, this is so weird, I don't even know where to post this. My mother-in-law's computer can't play DVD's. She gets an error message that says, "a compatible DVD decoder is not installed in the computer." I've never heard of a computer that can't play DVD's. I looked in the tools and found a lot of entries for DVD decoders, but actually don't know what to do with them!
She has a AMD Athlon XP2000+, 1.67Ghz, 512 MB, running XP Pro SP2. The DVD drive is a Sony DRU530A.
Can someone tell me how to get this computer playing DVD's?
Thanks a lot.

[redwudz]

Windows OS doesn't include a MPEG-2 codec because of licensing. So, except for some Vista computers, none of them will play a MPEG-2 without a added codec. Most commonly the codec is part of a software player like PowerDVD or similar. Or you can add a MPEG-2 codec from our 'Tools' section to the left.

DVDs are somewhat different in that you need the MPEG-2 codec and a player that can read and use the DVD structure. VLC, KM Player, and the aforementioned PowerDVD or similar will all work for that.

So there is actually no 'DVD decoder', just MPEG-2 codecs and software DVD players.

[johnsees]

She has Win Media Player 11 and Real (something) which supposedly will play DVDs, but it doesn't. Shouldn't these things have the codecs?

[edDV]

She has Win Media Player 11 and Real (something) which supposedly will play DVDs, but it doesn't. Shouldn't these things have the codecs?

As said, the MPeg2 decoder is not part of Windows but is usually included in an OEM PC shipped with a DVD ROM or included on the install CD for aftermarket DVD ROM drives. The OEM and aftermarket DVD ROM suppliers also typically provide some sort of DVD software player.

Windows Media Player will usually detect and use a separately installed MPeg2 decoder and use it to play DVD.

Industry standard has been for the MPeg2 decoder and license to follow retail DVD-ROM drive consumer purchase. It you bought a bare OEM drive, you may not have gotten an MPeg2 decoder or DVD player on the CD, just a driver and scamware.

Vista Home Premium and Ultimate are the first Windows releases to include MPeg2 decoding and encoding in the OS package. That is why they are more expensive.


PS: If that machine has a DVD drive, find the install CD and reinstall. It probably includes the driver and an MPeg2 decoder. Otherwise, the driver is probably on the computer's restore disc and you know what that means. If you buy the retail PowerDVD or WinDVD, you will get an MPeg DVD decoder that way without OS reinstall.

[jagabo]

You'll need a CSS decrypter too (comes with any DVD player software).

[johnsees]

Okay, well, it's fixed.
Her drive was installed a few years ago by this "tech" who was supposed to be taking care of her computer for her, but he never installed the software that came with it. So all this time, she's been wishing she could play DVDs but didn't know what to do about it. I had her find the CD, and it had PowerDVD on it! So she's in business.

Thanks, folks.