Topic: DVD problem

[Clark Kent]

I haven't done much with my PC lately since I upgraded it to XP pro.  In any event, I'd like to use it to watch DVDs, since it has a nice sized 19" monitor and a surround sound speaker system.  However, I get the following error ever since upgrading  from ME:
Windows media Player Error
Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because a compatible DVD decoder is not installed on your computer.

This error appears in other movie viewers as well.  A search on the compaq website has not been much help.  Can someone please gimme a clue as to where I can get a compatible DVD decoder?

[manitoba1073]

i believ if u upgrade to media player 10 its built in

[Dash Jones]

Hmm, when you upgraded to XPpro, did you also upgrade your DVD drivers?

There's a good chance the drivers for your DVD were for Win9X, where as that would be incompatible with WinXP typically, which means you would need WinXP drivers for your DVD.  Now it's possible that XP Pro tried to install the drivers for your DVD player...as there should be some with WinXP Pro, in which case you might have a driver conflict going on.

Another possibility, and this is true of a DVD player I installed with Win XP, is that Win XP doesn't have the drivers for your DVD player for the system...hence it will work via your motherboard, but not be cooperative with your OS.  (Addendum:  It actually did see the DVD player though, it just registered it as a CD player...but I'd still say the first thing to check there would be to see if the right drivers are installed).

So, in short, check your drivers and see if they are working correctly.

[Clark Kent]

I tried to make this point already, but I guess I was not clear enough.  I've been to compaq and checked all the drivers I can find.  The problem still persists.

[Sirgod]

Did Compaq make your DVD rom, or another Company? also you might want to do a check for DIVX. They have an all in one Codec thingie, that will let you watch most DVD's. Shoot If need be, I can send you an extra copy of Power DVD. Both of my Cd burners are DVD Burners also on this machine, and I only needed the one copy to run them, so I have an extra copy and key that's never been used.

Stephen

[Dash Jones]

I didn't know Compaq made DVD players/writers.  The one I was discussing was made by HP, but was being installed on a Emachine.  I also had a Sony I installed on a Dell.

If you've checked all the drivers...does it register on your computer at all.  If it does, put in a CD.  If it plays it...it's the drivers.

If it doesn't play it, but the drive shows up...it's probably still the drivers, it's just that it's a driver conflict. In otherwords, even if you put on the new drivers, the old drivers are still there and bogging up the system in conflict with the new drivers.

There is ONE other possibility I'll admit as an addendum if it shows up but doesn't play...but you should get WinXP telling you this blatantly, and that is if you don't have a codec...but that one should be obvious if that's the cause as you'll get little notes from XP on that one.

Your DVD player  or drivers should come with the aooropriate decoder.

If it does not, follow stephen's suggestions.

[Clark Kent]

I don't know th brand of DVD rom, just that it's the stock that came with my machine- 5108us
I've gone through all of the drivers I could find for this computer for XP, and nothing worked.  Thedrive is recognized, and will read CDs without a problem, but it will nto play DVDs.
What exactly is DIVX?

[Sirgod]

I don't know th brand of DVD rom, just that it's the stock that came with my machine- 5108us
I've gone through all of the drivers I could find for this computer for XP, and nothing worked.  Thedrive is recognized, and will read CDs without a problem, but it will nto play DVDs.
What exactly is DIVX?

Here you go Brian, More then you ever wanted to know...

http://www.divx.com/

What It does, Is give you a Codec for DVD's movies, etc. Kinda a one catch all thingie.

Stephen

[Javora]

I still use Intervideo WinDVD, I could never get Media Player to work for playing DVD's.  Not that I've really tried though...

[toasty0]

I still use Intervideo WinDVD, I could never get Media Player to work for playing DVD's.  Not that I've really tried though...

I had problems with version 9 but so far 10 has played everything I've thrown at it. I still use DVDPro for screen captures though.

Jerry

[Clark Kent]

You gotta be F****** kidding me- everywhere I go for a decoder, they want $10 or more for the damn thing.  Why do I have to pay more money on something that came stock on my computer???
I hate PCs, this is why.

[toasty0]

You gotta be F****** kidding me- everywhere I go for a decoder, they want $10 or more for the damn thing.  Why do I have to pay more money on something that came stock on my computer???
I hate PCs, this is why.

Maybe you should cut down on your p0rn vid viewing?

[IndyShark]

Ihave the same problem. It really sucks. Here is what Dell told me to do. I didn't do it because I was afraid it woudl really screw my comuter up.


Dear Mr. Scott,

The issue which you are facing can occur because there are certain files
of the operating system which are corrupted. Windows XP has an option of
repairing the operating system. This option should be used when you have
determined that the operating system files are corrupt, but you do not
want to completely format the hard drive and reinstall the operating
system.

I would request you to go to the link below and do a repair reinstall of
Windows XP.

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1056993

Please do e-mail us for further assistance or information, we will be
more than glad to help you resolve the issue.

Thank you again for choosing Dell.

Respectfully,
Anil - Dell Rep # CB4745
Dell US Technical Support
http://support.dell.com

[Clark Kent]

You gotta be F****** kidding me- everywhere I go for a decoder, they want $10 or more for the damn thing.  Why do I have to pay more money on something that came stock on my computer???
I hate PCs, this is why.

Maybe you should cut down on your p0rn vid viewing?

What pron?? I'm trying to watch WOK for crying out loud!!!

[Dash Jones]

Thanks for the model #.

Second, you might be screwed.  Compaq DOES NOT provide drivers for your DVD on their site, after looking at the drivers which they provide...though they do provide display drivers apparantly (though I thought you said you put the computer together...if you put a new card in, their drivers probably aren't the drivers that are exactly compatible with your new card I'd imagine, but probably might work as generic drivers for your display and perhaps your card as well as their other drivers).

Unfortunately they don't specify what DVD player they have installed.  You might try to install a Codec (intermedia comes on some DVD's for free, and works with WinXP, unfortunately I can't remember which DVD's it was packaged in).

However, if it is the driver...you might call Compaq and find out what exactly the DVD player you have and what brand it is.  Otherwise, there is a small chance that somewhere on the drive, there is a small tag which tells you either the brand, or has a few numbers which you can look up on the internet to tell you the brand of your DVD player.  If that was stripped off, than it gets WAAAAY more technical on determining the brand.

However, one way, and BE CAREFUL is to go to your device manager via your system from your control panel and see what it has listed.  If it is a driver conflict than the appropriate DVD player will be listed and you'll know that you stand a chance that it could be a codec or driver conflict, in addition you'll probably know what DVD player type you have.  This WILL NOT WORK however if you've already installed other drivers over your own drivers, or in otherwords, installed new drivers already, without knowing the brand of your DVD player, in which case your screwed.

Now, if it says generic drivers, there are other ways, but I don't want to be typing all night on how you can determine what type of DVD player you have, when it could be easier just to call compaq, or better yet, buy a new DVD drive, install it, and use the drivers that come with it, along with the DVD codec program.

Oh, and good luck.

[Dash Jones]

PS:  The Compaq DVD player you refer to is not actually your DVD player, it is a piece of software.  It is possible that if you click on that software, it might play the DVD in that player...though I'm not sure as I've never actually used that software to play DVDs before.  Also if it was engineered for Win9X, it is also possible that this particular piece of software will not operate in conjunction of WinXP.  Sorry.  Welcome to the new wonderful world of XP where Execs in MS want you to pay more money to get things running because they made all the old programs unable to run anymore.

You can thank them later.

[Pestalence_XC]

Just download the K-Lite Mega Codec package. Look around as the official K-Lite site that first pops up on a search only displays the Old version.. the new version comes on a yellow message board, not a business type site...
It contains FF-Show and FF-Audio, AC3 Audio decoders, DiVx, Xvid, Mpeg4 (3 types), and a slew of other audio and video codecs.. and the best thing is that it is FREE.

Here is the URL to the package I am currently using.. this is in addition to the Codec's from Microsoft Windows Media site..

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm

[Clark Kent]

Just download the K-Lite Mega Codec package. Look around as the official K-Lite site that first pops up on a search only displays the Old version.. the new version comes on a yellow message board, not a business type site...
It contains DD-Show and FF-Audio, AC3 Audio decoders, DiVx, Xvid, Mpeg4 (3 types), and a slew of other audio and video codecs.. and the best thing is that it is FREE.

Here is the URL to the package I am currently using.. this is in addition to the Codec's from Microsoft Windows Media site..

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm

Thanks pest, i'm downloading now.  I'd hate to have to put money into a four year old problem machineWhatever happened to the good old days when you didn't have to pay extra for drivers?

[Dash Jones]

codecs are not drivers...just to be clear.

[Clark Kent]

OUtstanding, It's working now, first time in months.
Dash, what is a codec then?  I always thought it was just a software package that integrates a piece of hardware.