Are codecs available for download from Lenovo?

Message

phil81uk · #1 Post by **phil81uk** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:23 am

Hello. When my T60 came with the factory install of Win XP it had all the codecs pre-installed and Media Player would play everything.

Do Lenovo have any codecs available for download, now that I have done a fresh install of Vista?

kf_man · #2 Post by **kf_man** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:34 am

I'm pretty sure that Lenovo doesn't provide codecs in their downloads. I've had good success so far with the "Vista Codec Package" on Windows XP. Don't be fooled by the name, it works equally well on both XP and Vista. Also, the person who is putting it together is aiming for a light package that can be custom installed (pick and choose codecs), unlike other codec packs out there.

Vista Codec Package

phil81uk · #3 Post by **phil81uk** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:36 am

How annoying. So if I do a fresh install of Windows, I have no way of installing the codecs which came with the factory install? Other than downloading the codecs from other sources outside of Lenovo/IBM?

kf_man · #4 Post by **kf_man** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:34 pm

I'm not even sure what codecs you are talking about. I never even noticed them when I was using the computer on the normal image. Further, I didn't see any installer for codecs specifically. The two main things Lenovo doesn't provide for download, only on the standard installation, are WinDVD and the Sonic tools. This is because of copyright laws and other vendor restrictions and can't be blamed on them directly. They can't allow you to download them and they don't include a CD, but the installers for both can be backed up off the hard drive before reformatting, I believe they were under one of the sub-folders there. My guess off hand is that Sonic included all the extra codecs since I've installed WinDVD 5 before and it didn't have any extra codecs included. The problem with Sonic is that it's basically a dead product since the company combined with Roxio. As of now the Sonic product included doesn't even work properly with Windows Media Player 11 installed.

billp117 · #5 Post by **billp117** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:21 am

Microsoft Vista will not run WinDVD that shipped with your ThinkPad. Vista requires WinDVD-8 which includes the compatible codec to view DVDs.

However, there are a few work-arounds...like you can download Nero's latest version software and it will include a Vista compatible codec. Or, you can go online and by a Vista compatible codec (around $14.95).

If you run the Windows Vista Advisor...it will tell you that WinDVD is not compatible. However, if you want to run WinDVD-8, there is a trial version that runs for about two weeks or so. It is a very cool program and does fully support Vista.

Just my two cents!!!

phil81uk · #6 Post by **phil81uk** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:33 am

Won't media player (as comes with Vista) play DVD's?

billp117 · #7 Post by **billp117** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:41 am

Nope...if you do a fresh installation of Vista...media player will not play DVD's. If you are running XP, the ThinkPad provided WinDVD will play DVD's just fine because Media Player uses the WinDVD codec.

Hope that explains the issue...regardless, you will need to download a compatible codec or a program that supports Vista and includes a DVD codec.

Regards, Bill

kulivontot · #8 Post by **kulivontot** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:56 am

Only Vista home premium will play dvd's natively. No windows version will play divx/xvid/other codecs natively.

cpascu01 · #9 Post by **cpascu01** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:09 am

Excuse my langauge, but that seems very [censored] backwards to me. I have the business edition and I read that in order to get my dvd player to work, I need to upgrade to Ultimate. That's just lousy on the part of Micro$oft.

kf_man · #10 Post by **kf_man** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:00 pm

Well, historically Microsoft never included DVD codecs with Windows, you needed to buy a 3rd party application. With the introduction of Vista, this is still true overall, but they did decide to include the DVD decoders in some versions (Home Premium and Ultimate, the two with Media Center). In my opinion it's not really a big deal and not enough to change versions over since you can always get and use a 3rd party DVD codec.

cpascu01 · #11 Post by **cpascu01** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:59 pm

The problem now of course is the limited options of dvd codecs for Vista at this moment. Even on Microsoft's own website, they don't have 3rd party codecs available for Vista.

kf_man · #12 Post by **kf_man** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:53 pm

Try the Vista Codec Package, I believe it can play DVDs although I'm not sure what codec it uses to enable that...

cpascu01 · #13 Post by **cpascu01** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:31 pm

kf_man wrote:Try the Vista Codec Package, I believe it can play DVDs although I'm not sure what codec it uses to enable that...

I did try it. It didn't work with WMP 11.

sr. Technician · #14 Post by **sr. Technician** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:55 pm

Havent tried it myself, but why dont you guys just use VLC?

VLC for video and winamp for music = bliss.

kf_man · #15 Post by **kf_man** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:26 pm

I've heard that DVDs do work if you use Media Player Classic, also available on that site...It's not quite the solution you asked for, but I only use Media Player Classic even on Windows XP.

joester · #16 Post by **joester** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:24 pm

I'm a VLC fan as well. You still need a DVD codec to run from what I've experienced.

Joe

cpascu01 · #17 Post by **cpascu01** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:13 pm

I would use VLC, but my issue is that it disables Aero.

kf_man · #18 Post by **kf_man** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:23 pm

If you read the first post of the site I posted you should be able to install the Vista Codec Package and the version of Media Player Classic hosted there and play DVDs with Aero enabled. Granted I haven't tried this in Vista yet, it has been reported to work.

phil81uk · #19 Post by **phil81uk** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:24 am

Hi, I just tested and I can play DVDs in Media Player. I have only DivX installed and no codecs, DVD players or anything. I am using a basic and fresh install of Vista Ultimate.

kf_man · #20 Post by **kf_man** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:45 am

I wasn't aware of it until this thread, but the two editions which have Media Center with them also have a built-in software DVD decoder. Since you have Ultimate, you are all set on that front.

zverg · #21 Post by **zverg** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:53 am

kf_man wrote:I wasn't aware of it until this thread, but the two editions which have Media Center with them also have a built-in software DVD decoder. Since you have Ultimate, you are all set on that front.

Yeah, Media Center seems to include any needed codecs. For everyone else, I definitely recommend giving VLC a try. I doubt I'll ever need to launch the Vista version of Windows Media Player.

kulivontot · #22 Post by **kulivontot** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:38 am

You don't necessarily need to upgrade to ultimate edition to get DVD playback. If you buy a 3rd party DVD player (Like intervideo windvd or Cyberlink PowerDVD) you can get support for DVD's within WMP. Seeing as how 99% of business PC's will NOT be used to play DVD movies, it makes little sense for Microsoft to pay a license fee on every copy of Vista Business sold. This is the same as the policy Microsoft has taken in the past. I agree that Microsoft should at least offer some kind of "DVD Playback pack" as an alternative to a fullblown upgrade to Vista Ultimate, but I'm willing to bet that they just license a third party codec for the one they include in windows anyway. $40, Windvd 8. Not that big of a deal.

arni · #23 Post by **arni** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:28 am

cpascu01 wrote:I would use VLC, but my issue is that it disables Aero.

Just set the video output to opengl and it won't turn off aero.

andy6387 · #24 Post by **andy6387** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:05 pm

http://www.cccp-project.net/

just install with compatibilty for windows xp and everything runs flawlessly. and best of all it's free and will play anything

barrywohl · #25 Post by **barrywohl** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 6:21 pm

Thanks to Andy6387, I'm watching DVD movies in "Classic Media Player" on my Z61p with Vista Business 32 bit.

This thread, and this board, made my Vista Express Upgrade much easier.

wpwood3 · #26 Post by **wpwood3** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:21 pm

I use the WinDVD codecs that came on my XP loaded T60. They work great in Vista. WMP11 works fine.

You need all of the files in this folder from your old XP preload:
C:\IBMTOOLS\APPS\DVDPlay

Simply copy them over to your new Vista Business install and run SETUP.

billp117 · #27 Post by **billp117** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:48 pm

Thanks for the tip...worked fine for me on my Z61t.

primedude · #28 Post by **primedude** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:05 am

I noticed that my Vista license sticker for Vista Business explicitly mentions that it includes the DVD playback codec. However, after doing a clean installation, the license key doesn't activate this capability. Does anyone know if there's a way to active the Vista-native playback codec, given that I've evidently paid for it?

billp117 · #29 Post by **billp117** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:59 am

I received the Express Upgrade for Vista...with Lenovo's name on the DVD. If you upgrade...which I did, you are told to remove the DVD software. That will remove the dvd codec.

Now, the real rub is Lenovo and Microsoft make you less than whole with the Express upgrade process, because in my opinion, since you must remove most of the software shipped with the ThinkPad, and you have a lot of "legacy" junk left on the computer. I can verify it does not run very well (non technical way of say it is screwed up and should have stayed with Windows XP). I am not bashing Microsoft or Windows Vista as I have it running on other brands of PC's...but the Lenovo upgrade process sucks. It take over three hours and you still are not finished since many more items need to be reinstalled or upgraded. Plan on at least eight hours to do it right...and then still cross your fingers.

I then used the same Express Upgrade dvd and installed Vista Business (32bit) without the upgrade...a clean install. Total time is about 20 minutes. Except for the NAV PAD, you are almost done. If you want all the IBM stuff...you still have a lot more work.

It is simple...Lenovo should have sent an upgrade or clean install migration path that included all the required drivers, software and third party items that is installed on a new machine. They have it now...it ships in every new Vista ThinkPad. That would eliminate all the problems of making Windows Vista Express Upgrade work on our machines. A simple "insert the dvd and follow the instructions" just will not get the job done, they need to take this suggestion.

Unless Lenovo starts shipping an Upgrade that actually replace all traces of Windows XP and makes the system work with all the legacy software included when you bought the notebook...there are going to be a lot of calls to Lenovo, and they won't like the answers. Refering to a link that has instuctions for 25-50 downloads after you install Vista...WOW...I can't believe it.

I had a T23 (which shipped with Windows 2000 by mistake). I was sent a Restore Disk from the dealer. It installed Windows XP Professional, all the software (including dvd software), all the drivers, a perfect solution for my problem. But, when I needed to restore the computer, the T23 put Windows 2000 back. Not a problem, I just put the IBM Windows XP disks back in and XP was made just like new. It formatted the hard drive, confirmed my hardware, and "presto"...the T23 was working perfect. I did not need to download dozens and additional Drivers and Software.

I am getting off my soapbox...but I am not totally happy with my Z61t and feel that I would have been better off waiting to order until Vista was installed by Lenovo...fully working. The Express Upgrade is a pain...all the way down to trying to peel off the Windows Vista Business license sticker without tearing it to pieces.

I am a very happy ThinkPad user. I have used them for over thirteen years. About five of them were supplied by my employer, and four were purchased out of my own pocket for personal use. I took a 701C to the base camp of Mt. Everest (Tibet side) on my motorcycle. I also upgraded it from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95...not a problem since IBM shipped an upgrade solution that included the required bios upgrade and drivers. It never quit working. I also carried my T23 on my Honda Sport Touring motorcycle and logged over 60,000 miles of road riding with the T23 riding in the saddle bag...it never quit working.

I am not sure Lenovo will step up to the plate and deliver a quality solution for Vista Express Upgrades.

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Are codecs available for download from Lenovo?

Are codecs available for download from Lenovo?

Use the old WinDVD

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