Windows 7 HP 64 bit won't play dvds in WMC

Hi lou62,

Would like to know if you get an error message when you try playing the DVD with 'Windows Media Center'; if no error appears, what exactly happens? Does that trigger any kind of activity in the system (or the DVD drive)?

Also share the name/details of the optical drive (internal) installed in the system; may need to re-install its drivers or install a firmware, if available. You may find the following steps useful:

Click 'Start icon' > Type 'devmgmt.msc' (without quotations) in 'Search Programs and Files' text-box > Click the 'Search Result' (Device Manager page opens up) > Locate and Expand 'DVD/CD-ROM drives > Capture the 'details' of the 'item listed' > Also 'Right Click' the 'item' and select 'Properties' > Click 'Details' in the 'Properties Window' > Select 'Hardware Ids from the 'drop-down menu' > Capture the details and share

Do reply with the findings; would be glad to assist.

lou62 said:

that sounds like a big hassle, why would it matter if I use VLC (whatever that is) to play a video? I am able to play dvd's in WMC with an external drive; I can rip/burn/play cd's in WMC and WMP just fine in the same drive that used to play my dvd's. Any other intelligent suggestions?
Thanks
E

fakeasdf said:

I'm not telling you to use VLC instead of Media Center. I'm telling you to try and watch the DVD in VLC as a troubleshooting step.

If it won't play in VLC, then it isn't an issue with Media Center.
If it does play in VLC, then there is an issue with the MPEG-2 decoder (DVD is MPEG-2).

It's not a codec issue if you can play DVDs from your other drive. If you don't want to go through a simple troubleshooting step of trying it out in VLC then it sounds like you aren't willing to fix your problem.

Furthermore, it doesn't matter if your internal drive can read/write/rip from a cd. They usually have a dual diode laser, meaning one for your dvd and one for your cd. Or if its an even older player, it could even have two lasers.

You would save everyone on here a ton of trouble, and yourself, if you would prove the drive is able to play DVDs. The best way to do that is with VLC. It's a stupid 20 meg program that's free.