T60p, problem playing DVDs

[RonS]

Usually I'm trying to solve other people's computer problems, but this time I have one that I can't figure out.

I have two DVD/CDRW drives in my T60p. Windows Vista, ATI v5200, DVI. My DVD's are legitimate (not bootleg) Mostly from Costco.

When I try to play any DVD,

Windows media player reports:"Windows media play cannot play this DVD because there is a problem with the digital copy protection between your DVD drive, decoder, and video card. Try installing an updated driver for your video card."

Cucosoft DVD to iPhone:"Key exchange for DVD copy protection failed. Please try to eject and insert your DVD again"

Intervideo WinDVD reports:"Playback stopped. Copy protection signal is detected."

I've tried two DVD drives (set to Region 1) and both show the same problem. The only player software that works is VideoLan. But I want to rip a DVD to my iPhone, so I need to solve the underlying problem.

Any ideas?

[ZaZ]

AnyDVD will remove the copy protection.

[basketb]

You mention DVI. Are you trying to watch the DVD on an external monitor or at least have one attached? If so, maybe this thread has some insight for you: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=65619
My guess is that it is an HDCP issue and as the previous poster points out, AnyDVD should solve that problem for you.

[RonS]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not interested in circumventing or disabling copy protection, which is what AnyDVD does. I want to solve the underlying problem. What I'm trying to do is perfectly legal.

Anyone else have an idea?

[basketb]

... What I'm trying to do is perfectly legal.

Anyone else have an idea?

Sorry, no, trying to rip/copy a copy-protected DVD (even if you own the actual DVD, with or without AnyDVD) is not perfectly legal, thanks to the DMCA.

[RonS]

The court may be out on ripping to your iPod, but my primary goal here is to just play a DVD on my Thinkpad. That's perfectly legal.

[runbuh]

Could this be the answer to your problem (are you trying to play on an external monitor at the same time?):

http://www.wfu.edu/~yipcw/lenovo/t61/windvd/

[RonS]

runbuh, that's a good link. I'm not running with cloned/mirrored displays, but perhaps there's a bug in WinDVD that thinks I am, since I have four screens connected to my T60p.

This my first experience with DVD copy protection. I'll definitely think twice before I ever buy another DVD. Look like DCMA and I both lose.

[NathanA]

Hey RonS,

After reviewing that link and the other ThinkPads.com forum thread that was linked to earlier (did you read through that one, too, Ron? you didn't mention it/acknowledge it so I wondered if you had seen it...if not, go read it as it is rather interesting and informative), I have to ask the question: have you installed the WinDVD updates offered to you by Lenovo Software Update?

I saw the exact same thing in the READMEs of those updates that were mentioned in that link above, and so I have avoided upgrading myself. My guess is that if you have upgraded to B11.1194 (or perhaps even B11.1189...you can check the version number by right-clicking in the WinDVD video window and going to About), and you are running that on a machine with any external monitors attached to the ThinkPad via DVI, the stupid HDCP copy protection is kicking in.

I looked in my SWTOOLS\APPS folder on my T60p and found the install files for the original version of WinDVD 5 that came with my T60p (January 2007), in the DVDPlay folder; you, too, might check to see if that folder exists on your machine still, assuming you haven't gotten rid of the SWTOOLS folder. Uninstall WinDVD 5 completely, and then try reinstalling with that version and see if that doesn't fix your problem.

If you haven't got it still, I can help you out there; I'll send you a PM.

-- Nathan

[RonS]

I have an older pre-load version of WinDVD. I can install it, but can't run it since it's not compatible with Vista 64. Apparently, only the new (updated) version runs under Vista 64 (if you believe the documentation).

It sounds like my options are:

1. Run AnyDVD and just be done with it.
2. Undock my machine or disconnect the external DVI screens and use WinDVD or WMP to play the DVDs
3. Boot into 32-bit Windows XP and run an old copy of WinDVD.
4. Use VideoLan to play the DVDs.

In any event, I've learned that the whole DVD copy protection business is a complete failure. It doesn't prevent illegal copying, but it does prevent legal viewing.

[NathanA]

Apparently, only the new (updated) version runs under Vista 64 (if you believe the documentation).

Ahh, I see. Throw the Vista x64 wrench into the works, why don't you!

Have you tried the older version regardless?

Also, which version of 64-bit Vista are you running? If it is Home Premium or Ultimate (the two versions that include the Media Center functionality), then I believe that both of those versions of Vista actually come with a DirectShow DVD codec/filter, so you should be able to (in theory) pop a DVD in the player and fire up WMP without having to install WinDVD or another third-party player; DVD decoding/playback works "out of the box," so to speak. Perhaps if you have either of those two Vista editions, you might try not installing/removing WinDVD entirely and see if the built-in Vista MPEG-2 codec has the same stupid restriction as the latest WinDVD does (or not).

(If you have either of those two editions of Vista and you installed WinDVD, its DirectShow filters would, I'm sure, assert themselves as the default filters for MPEG-2 video and AC3 audio, so even if you tried to play the DVD back in WMP, it would be WinDVD's codecs that are in use and not the Vista-native ones, so you would continue to run into the WinDVD problem even within Media Player.)

In any event, I've learned that the whole DVD copy protection business is a complete failure. It doesn't prevent illegal copying, but it does prevent legal viewing.

Amen to that.

Good luck,

-- Nathan

[basketb]

...
In any event, I've learned that the whole DVD copy protection business is a complete failure. It doesn't prevent illegal copying, but it does prevent legal viewing.

Very good summary.