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    Help playing DVD

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by bogusnj, Dec 25, 2008.

  1. bogusnj

    bogusnj Notebook Consultant

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    Just got a new laptop, when I put in a DVD I get this message

    Windows Media Player cannot play the DVD because a compatible DVD decoder is not installed on your computer.

    What does this mean and what do I need to install to play DVDs?

    Thanks
     
    bogusnj, Dec 25, 2008
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  2. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Seems you're missing the necessary codec to play the media. You can do three things.

    A. Download a program like g-spot to identify the codec needed to play the file then download that single codec.

    B. Download a codec pack such as CCCP and a media player such as Media Player Classic (may be included with CCCP). You'll be sure to play 99% of the medias out there with this method.

    C. My recommended and the easiest of the three. Download VLC Player and play the DVD with that. It'll most likely work.
     
    Arki, Dec 25, 2008
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  3. entropy.cz

    entropy.cz Notebook Evangelist

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    entropy.cz, Dec 25, 2008
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  4. bogusnj

    bogusnj Notebook Consultant

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    So I used the help and I now know that the problem is I have Vista Business and that I need a DVD encoder plug in. So microsoft wants me to pay 15 bucks for a CinePlayer DVD Decoder Pack. Of course, Im not going to do this since their is so much free software out there to solve this right?

    Now knowing that I need the encoder, will just downloading VLC player for free solve my problems and let me watch dvds. Or should I install something else.
     
    bogusnj, Dec 25, 2008
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  5. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Method B from my post above should allow you to play the file in Windows Media Player if you enjoy that player more than any other.
     
    Arki, Dec 25, 2008
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  6. bogusnj

    bogusnj Notebook Consultant

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    Ok, so i downloaded VLC to try to use that. For whatever reason, it did not work. After that I downloaded the CCCP thingy, and now I get this message

    Windows Media Player cannot play DVD video. You might need to adjust your Windows display settings. Open display settings in Control Panel, and then try lowering your screen resolution and color quality settings.

    I tried messing with the screen quality etc, did nothing. Is their some setting In CCCP I need to turn on or something to get this thing working?
     
    bogusnj, Dec 25, 2008
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  7. Silas Awaketh

    Silas Awaketh Notebook Deity

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    Uninstall all the crap that you've installed via this thread. Then download and install K-Lite codec pack. Come back here, and thank me. You're done. You can watch your DVD(s) now.



    .
     
    Silas Awaketh, Dec 25, 2008
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  8. bogusnj

    bogusnj Notebook Consultant

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    Installed K-Lite and everything is working fine. Thank you
     
    bogusnj, Dec 25, 2008
    #8