Free DVD Decoder?

I really don't feel like ordering all the DVD software from Dell that is required to play DVDs.
I thought I found a goo program, but it turns out that during install it wants to put all kinds of toolbars and adware on my computer, that is just unacceptable.

So I'm wondering if there is any free downloadable software that will allow me to read DVDs in WMP, and burn/copy them to my computer.
If not, I'll just call Dell.

 

There are some, but I don't know the exact name of them or anything. My concern about using the free ones is that I'm not 100% sure of them being compatible with Media Direct.

 

You could try VLC media player, but since you wanted it in WMP, it might not be for you.

 

The noted VLC is very good. I use it myself.

 

You should have received Power DVD with your Dell. Most movies now come with Interlink for free, although I personally do not like it.

I vote for VLC also.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

 

Do not install Interlink, it is spyware, also known as copy protection.

Aside from that there is one big problem. The DVD codec is not open source, it is own by someone. I don't remember who owns it, but they charge to use the liscense, that is why Linux does not play DVD's out of the box. So you have two choices: a free one that has toolbars and all kinds of other junk including adware and spyware usually, or pay for one.

 

VLC plays dvds fine and its not spyware or anything like that. When I watch family guy i prefer that over powerDVD as I can select the smoothest deinterlace method - something i cant do in powerdvd.

 

THANKS for the heads up. I didn't install it, myself. I don't personally like the quality of the movies from Interlink interface, but it was a free option....

 

VLC is amazing, plays almost every format I've come across, doesn't use a lot of resources, and is a simple, powerful program.

I'm using it right now to watch Star Trek Enterprise

 

The codec is MPEG2 on DVDs, and it is licensed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG).

From the VLC FAQ:
"
What about personal/commercial usage?

Some of the codecs distributed with VLC are patented and require you to pay royalties to their licensors. These are mostly the MPEG style codecs.

With many products the producer pays the license body (in this case MPEG LA) so the user (commercial or personal) does not have to take care of this. VLC (and ffmpeg and libmpeg2 which it uses in most of these cases) cannot do this because they are Free and Open Source implementations of these codecs. The software is not sold and therefore the end-user becomes responsible for complying to the licensing and royalty requirements. You will need to contact the licensor on how to comply to these licenses.

This goes for playing a DVD with VLC for your personal joy ($2.50 one time payment to MPEG LA) as well as for using VLC for streaming a live event in MPEG-4 over the Internet.
"

Therefore, the VLC software is free, but if you use it to watch DVDs, you are supposed to pay MPEG $2.50 for the right to use thier decoders.

 

Well I already have VLC, I use it for other stuff. I don't have a problem using it for viewing DVDs, I would just like to know if there is a *free* program that will allow me to utilize the DVD burner I paid extra money for without bothering to call up Dell and wait two weeks for them to send me software I technically already paid for.

I want to copy the contents of a DVD to my HDD and I want to burn DVDs using a free program...is there such a program?

 

CDBurnerXP is free and works well for the basics. It can't burn a DVD-Video, but I don't think the Sonic Dell will send you will either. Nero is the best burning software in my opinion. You can get a cheap OEM copy on eBay for $10 or less. Good Luck.

 

Klite codec pack comes with a dvd decoder but you have to check that option during install, its not part of the default. get the full one

 

Same boat here CvcDrk.

Nero seems to be a favorite at MANY sites.

DVD Shrink IS Free and will get the files from the DVD to your HD very easily, even for beginners.

Nero looks like it will integrate easily with DVD Shrink to get the files then BURNED to a blank DVD. (or DVD to DVD if you choose).

Nero has a 30 day trial version, so you can check it out for free at download.com.

Lastly, I am a total beginner, I like DVD Shrink, but haven't installed the Nero file I downloaded yet.

I can tell you that all the DVD stuff that came with my new Dell Laptop is CRAP ! I think it came with 3 or 4 different DVD software apps and they are all CRAP ! So glad I requested all the CDs from DELL while waiting for my Laptop, so I can have a box full of MyDVD Lite CRAP, Word Perfect, Sonic Crap, MyDVD Plus CRAP, Power CRAP DVD, and Dell's DVD CRAP Cineplayer.

 

Another option is to use the 'Search this Forum' option, and you might just find the answer to your question about playing DVD in WMP. The title of your thread is a good search term for that.