Windows 7: Unable to play DVDs?

aBoppa · 20 Jan 2010

Is it true that I need 3rd party software installed in order to play DVDs via the Windows Media Player. I seems to me that when I tried this I got a message to that effect. So, I have to purchase something like WinDVD or PowerDVD before I can watch a DVD movie???? $200 for Win7 and I got to spend more bucks to enhance the Media Player???? I must be dreaming!!

Minotar · 20 Jan 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by aBoppa

Is it true that I need 3rd party software installed in order to play DVDs via the Windows Media Player. I seems to me that when I tried this I got a message to that effect. So, I have to purchase something like WinDVD or PowerDVD before I can watch a DVD movie???? $200 for Win7 and I got to spend more bucks to enhance the Media Player???? I must be dreaming!!

No,Windows Media Player will play DVD's on its own.

Can you post a screenshot of the message using the snipping tool?

jimbo45 · 20 Jan 2010

Hi there
WMP sometimes has problems with "Encrypted" DVD's.

Just download VLC - Its free and plays nearly every codec known. Small as well (no Bloat) and I think the next version will also play Blu Ray DVD's (or will shortly).

(Works on Linux too --great little player. Also Audio CD's and streams including FLAC amongst others)

VLC media player - Open Source Multimedia Framework and Player

Cheers
jimbo

Venths · 20 Jan 2010

Hello,

Yes, as the above poster said, WMP sometimes may not be able to play encrypted DVD's. However, its a rare instance.

Additionally, you can install this K-Lite Mega Codec Pack. This will allow you to play any kind of media files using WMP. Please select the default media player as WMP during the installation. Here is the download link:

Download K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.61 - FileHippo.com

Further, you could find all freewares from this websites collectively.

♠ Cheers ♠

sReKcAh · 20 Jan 2010

i have the problem too.but not all dvd type.only certain.

hattrik21 · 20 Jan 2010

I'll toss in another vote for VLC. I've been using it for the last 2 years and it works great for DVD's.

valtonray · 20 Jan 2010

i agree go with VLC, it's a great media player that can play post formats and is light on resources. i've also heard great things about KMPlayer - Download but i've never tried it myself. after all if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Shark007 · 20 Jan 2010

try this, may seem weird, works for others though . . .

turn off 'Navigation Sounds' in Media Center.

Wordsworth · 20 Jan 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by aBoppa

Is it true that I need 3rd party software installed in order to play DVDs via the Windows Media Player. I seems to me that when I tried this I got a message to that effect. So, I have to purchase something like WinDVD or PowerDVD before I can watch a DVD movie???? $200 for Win7 and I got to spend more bucks to enhance the Media Player???? I must be dreaming!!

I see you have a homebuilt PC but I don't see the make and model of your DVD drive in your PC specs. The problem could be an old drive or drive that needs a firmware update.

I recently rebuilt my PC but kept an old Toshiba DVD-ROM in the case and when I installed Win 7 neither WMP or WMC would play a DVD. WMP gave the message "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." WMC would give a message about the DVD being the wrong region code but the DVDs I was trying to play were for Region 1, the correct region.

I couldn't find any firmware update for the Toshiba (bought in 1999) and since I was looking to buy a DVD burner (having never had one) I bought a new HP burner and both WMP and WMC now play DVDs.

CoolioG · 20 Jan 2010

I like HP's DVD playing software. It's very nice looking.