DVD problems

[OldManClayton]

I've got trouble. I took my IBM Thinkpad 600E to a store called laptop world and traded in my CD drive for a DVD drive. The guy at the store installed a DVD watching program and a decoder. Then a while later I had internet problems. While I was trying to uninstall internet explorer, I accidently deleted an important file. I reinstalled Windows and finally ported all my old settings to the new installation. One problem. The DVD didn't work anymore. I read at Activision's website that reinstalling windows can mess up DVD decoders. I thought I might same time and money by asking here. If anyone knows what exactly the DVD decoder problem is, what file it is, any registry changes, setup/installtions, etc. I need to do, It would be really helpful to know.
Thanks

[Laptop_wizard]

Hey Clayton, I had the exzact sameproblem on my 600E, The only way too fix this problem,is too completely format, and reinstall.
save any inportant informationtoo a disk.
Hope that help's.

[pkiff]

OldManClayton:

I find it very difficult to figure out what has happened based on your description. You don't identify your operating system or your DVD program. The first step when you run into a DVD decoding problem is normally to reinstall your DVD software player. Most DVD players come with a specific decoding codec that works with them and may or may not work with other software. Sometimes installing any other media playing software can mess up your DVD player by installing new codecs without warning you. Reinstalling your DVD software can sometimes fix these problems by giving the proper priority to the codecs that work with your player.

The only way too fix this problem,is too completely format, and reinstall.

Reformatting your entire machine should be a last resort that you turn to only after trying all other methods. Otherwise, you may end up with the same problem again after reformatting and reinstalling.

Phil.

[OldManClayton]

Thanks for the help guys, but when I reinstalled windows I didn't reformat on purpose because of all my data and setup, and I got rid of powerdvd after it worked because DVD's kept autoatically installing Activision. I no longer have the registered version of powerdvd because the guy at the store installed it. My operating system is win98 SE. If anyone knows how to fix my problem, please help!!!

[farna]

You will either have to go back to the store and have them reinstall Power DVD or install some other DVD viewing software. You shouldn't have to reformat the drive except as a last resort. Older versions of Power DVD (4.4 or earlier) seem to work better on these older machines than current versions. You can go to the IBM site and download the original DVD playing software (WinDVD??), but it's been said not to be that good.