Problems with PowerDVD 4

[Namrepus221]

OK I have the full retail version of PowerDVD 4 (Picked up from a computer show for about $20 and it is legit)

For somereason I can't play any of my DVD's. They only load so far and i get an error in POWERDVDX.DLL or <unknown> and the program shuts down.

Is it my PC or is it PowerDVD. Should I try WinDVD?


Any help would be greatly appreciated on how to remedy this.

[Prospero424]

Has it always done this? If not, have you tried reinstalling PowerDVD? It sounds like the PowerDVD dll file has become corrupted or is missing, reinstalling should help.
I like WinDVD alot, more options, better (in my opinion) decoder), but it is slower for most configurations than PowerDVD. It takes about 1 second for PowerDVD to load up on my machine, and almost 8 for WinDVD.

If it has always doen this since you first installed it or if you have already tried reinstalling it from disc, you might try downloading the latest version from the website, and installing that using the number on your disc.

Hope this helps,
Prospero

[Namrepus221]

When I installed the drive and got my copy of PowerDVD a week later (The Drive was a gift from my dad. he had one lying around) I put in a copy of Clerks: Uncensored (The animated Clerks TV show) and it worked ok.

I tried to play a copy of CKY 3 a few days ago and it came up with this weird error that says something isn't set up correctly and will shut down the window in 10 seconds. Thing is it won't shut down. So I download the newest patch and that stops that little pop up.

Well I've got my computer home (I've been at college for a month) and decided to upgrade the memory (I haven't been able to play any video file for almost 3 weeks)

And now this thing keeps poping up. And yes 've uninstalled and reinstalled PowerDVD 3 times already. and it's still giving me this error.

[Namrepus221]

I tried uninstalling it again and I've found some files are "locked". As in they can't be deleted. Files like PowerDVD.exe and teh DLL's can't be deleted cause hte system says they are still in use (as in running)

I don't know what's wrong but I'm going to try a reboot and try to delete tehm in safe mode

[Prospero424]

Let me know how it goes,

Prospero

[Namrepus221]

Well I've uninstalled and reinstalled.

There is an option to take the locked programms out via a reboot and that unlocked them and allowed them to be cleared.

Now here's the thing. I can't run a DVD without the patch (Patch ver 1181 I believe) as it gives an error about a DDRaw Overlay (As a matter of fact I can't play anythign now as I'm using a loaner monitor and can't run it because it's only 640 x 480). And if I run it with the patch it will give the error in pwrdvdx.dll (the acctual dll file name) or in <unknown> (Strangely the patch will allow it to play in 640 x 480)

Well I'll probably try to find a better version or switch to WinDVD. I'm getting very pissed off at Power DVD. But if WinDVD won't work what am I to do?

[Prospero424]

Well, if WinDVD won't work either, I'd say you've got bigger problems, but you can always try other software players that have DVD playing capability such as Zoom Player (excellent, free) or the Windows Media Player 9 beta, but you might need an MPEG2 codec such as Elecard MPEG2 (link available at this website under the Tolls section, look for the codec subsection). Before you go installing unnecessary codecs though, we should be able to get you going with the software you have.

If you are using Widnows XP, then I would suggest getting the PowerDVD XP version on the website, if your serial number on your CD won't work for this, then email me and I'll get you up and going with it somehow if you paid for the software, then problems like this are unnacceptable. Alot of people have been reporting problems with older PowerDVD versions under WinXP. I have a feeling WinDVD will work fine for you though if you have access to it.

I'm willing to bet, since some DVDs seem to be working fine for you, that this is a problem between the version (or installation) of PowerDVD you are using (what version is it anyway?) and your OS, drivers, or drive. You know the usual routine, are your drivers for your motherboard chipset (especially the IDE controller), and your video card up to date? Is DMA mode enabled for your DVD drive, and is it the primary master of the IDE channel it is on? (let me know if you don't know how to check this stuff, ALOT of people don't). Etc. These are all things you should take into consideration with a problem like this.

Good luck,

Prospero

[Namrepus221]

I'm using WIndows ME. I can't stand XP.

Well that was just one dvd I tried a few months ago. I don't know what might've happened to my system in that time. And I'm using PowerDVD 4 XP (I think) I don't know if it's default XP version or if that's the patch.

Once I get back to college (and my T1 line) i'm gonna get WinDVD and try that.


I just tried WinDVD. Damn thing won't work. I'm up a paddle with no creek.

[SkullBreaker]

Hey man,
I feel for you, I upgraded my laptop to Windows 2000 Pro and since then I haven't been able to get either Power DVD or Win DVD to work past the installation. With Power DVD, the setup runs fine but the diagnostic messes my pc up or something. After about 10 seconds of the diagnostic running my screen goes blue like my desktop color and there's no hard drive activity at all.

With Win DVD it tries to play whatever DVD is in the drive and then cuts out to that blue screen the color of my desktop.

I've tried three versions of Win DVD and two versions of Power DVD and it still ends up the same, nothing seems to work.

Piece of crap laptop, or is something in Win 2k need adjusting?

Who knows.

SB