DVD decoder Q

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doktrred · #1 Post by **doktrred** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:17 am

I just bought a refurbished T30 for my wife. It has a "fresh" copy of XP pro on it. I was checking to make sure everything worked alright, and tried to play a movie DVD. Windows media player v.9 started but then got a message that it couldn't play the DVD coz it couldn't find a compatible DVD decoder. I know nothing about laptops, or DVD roms for that matter. Is it common for media player to not have the components to be able to play a dvd? Should I download this decoder or is it hardware? Which one? Any help would be appreciated.
Please type solwly coz I'm new to this DVD stuff.
Other info: P4M, 512 RAM, CDRW/DVDrom
Thanks,
Mike

Website · #2 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:33 am

Personally, if you want a free codec package to play DVD, I would choose this one:

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_L ... c_Pack.htm

There are lots of options to tweak it, for working with older PCs/laptops as well.

Another option is picking up a copy of PowerDVD, which is a great program. You might be able to pick up a copy pretty cheap on eBay.

Guest · #3 Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:16 pm

Thanks,
Actually now that you mentioned it a collegue of mine handed me a PowerDVD 5 disc that he said had come with a new DVD drive he got. He uses Nero maybe? If I install this, I would set it as the default media viewer, rather than Windows media viewer, right? And I guess it should be compatible with the Drive on my T30?
Sorry for the basic questions, but the terminology gets confusing

Website · #4 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 3:08 pm

His PowerDVD disc should work, unless it is one of the versions that came with a drive. Sometimes, those versions "look" for the hardware that it was purchased with. If it doesn't find it, it might not install.

I would use PowerDVD over Windows Media Player any day.

doktrred · #5 Post by **doktrred** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 3:52 pm

Would it hurt to try it? If it won't install, would it likely screw anything else up?

Website · #6 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:03 pm

It won't hurt anything. Either it will install or it won't.

doktrred · #7 Post by **doktrred** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:16 pm

Thanks
Mike

Temetka · #8 Post by **Temetka** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:26 am

That codec website is pretty cool. Thanks for posting the link.

doktrred · #9 Post by **doktrred** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:48 am

Power DVD install went smooth as buttah! Braveheart looked marvalus!
THanks tfflivemb2.
Mike

skygodtj · #10 Post by **skygodtj** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:09 pm

If you did a fresh install of XP, you should have been prompted to do all the patches and fixes, including upgrading MP9 to MediaPlayer 10, which will play DVD's.

Click on the Windows Update icon on the Start menu and up in the right corner, search for Media Player 10. Download, install and you'll have another DVD player along with PDVD.

TJ

Website · #11 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:17 pm

I have yet to have a fresh install of XP, including with WMP10, play a DVD "out of the box". Windows Media Player doesn't come with the Codecs. Infact, I believe they refer you to another site to download the proper codecs.

skygodtj · #12 Post by **skygodtj** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:59 pm

hmmmm... thats interesting, XP advertises it plays DVDs on the install screens. I did have to look for a decoder for my desktop to play dvd's but the T23 played without it... I did have PDVD installed tho, so it may used its decoder.

TJ

Website · #13 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:56 pm

Yeah, WMP will use the PDVD codecs if they are installed....most of the time. I have a 600E that plays DVDs with PowerDVD, K-Lite, WMP 6, but NOT 10. 10 would only play the audio

karmaflux · #14 Post by **karmaflux** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:48 pm

For what it's worth, DefilerPak can do this too. http://hellninjacommando.com/defilerpak/

It's a relatively small download, and it lets you play just about everything under the sun.

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