is my dvd drive dying?

[exc]

yesterday, i got this message in windows media player when playing the Inglourious Basterds DVD:

"Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because there is a problem with digital copy protection between your DVD drive, decoder, and video card. Try installing an updated driver for your video card."

so i upgraded my samsung SH-S162L's firmware, and the DVD worked. 5 minutes ago, i put the DVD in again and i got the same message.

what do you guys think? is my dvd drive dying? no changes to the system were made after upgrading the firmware... nothing.

 

[mckillwashere]

Have you tried any 3rd party dvd players?
Do you have any dvd decrypting software installed or a screen capture program running?
Have you tried to update your video driver?

 

[Tews]

Have you tried a different Media Player, like VLC player??

 

[exc]

Have you tried any 3rd party dvd players?
Do you have any dvd decrypting software installed or a screen capture program running?
Have you tried to update your video driver?

Have you tried a different Media Player, like VLC player??

i don't have any decryping software or screen capture programs. i do have a codec pack: combined community codecs. all drivers and firmware on my setup are updated. i will try vlc media player and report back aftewards.

 

[MacGyvr]

That message actually has to do more with your video card/drivers than your DVD drive. Make sure you have the latest official drivers for your video card.

 

[Windows i7 920]

What are your full system specs? All I can gather is your OS. Also, you should definitely make sure your computer is malware-free. Malware can cause all sorts of issues and this one is very similar to what happened to my old eMachines w3400 (in the end the crappy motherboard died). Malware could easily be corrupting your drivers, as was the case for me a few years ago.

 

[exc]

That message actually has to do more with your video card/drivers than your DVD drive. Make sure you have the latest official drivers for your video card.

all drivers/firmware have always been updated. i still get the same message.

What are your full system specs? All I can gather is your OS. Also, you should definitely make sure your computer is malware-free. Malware can cause all sorts of issues and this one is very similar to what happened to my old eMachines w3400 (in the end the crappy motherboard died). Malware could easily be corrupting your drivers, as was the case for me a few years ago.

i'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with malware as this is a less-than-1-month-old system. also, i don't do anything fishy like download warez or visit weird websites. also, after doing a clean install of windows 7, i put kaspersky internet security on it immediately.

VLC media player works, albeit slower than windows media player, but acceptable. still, the error remains in windows media player, and i also cant get it to work in media player classic home cinemia and windows media center (the biggest problem as this is an HTPC).

at least i know that my drive works and that this is a software (probably codec) issue. what do you guys think?

specs:

windows 7 x64
acer h233h monitor
nvidia 8800gs
abit ip35 pro motherboard
onboard realtek hd sound card
samsung SH-S162L DVD drive

 

[mckillwashere]

It may be an actually may be an issue with your windows media player.

 

[Bill]

It may be an actually may be an issue with your windows media player.

It might be, Windows Media Player has always given me difficulties with playing back DVDs of any sorts. VLC is much better since it has all the proper codes you need.

You can also try the klite mega codec pack and then try the playback with Windows Media Player again.

Codec Guide: K-Lite Codec Pack - Windows 7 codecs

-Bill