Windows 7 "update" killed Blu-ray playback on Acer notebook

[worldtraveler]

When I was running Vista Ultimate x32 on my Acer Aspire 7720-6395 notebook, the Blu-ray playback ran fine. However, as soon as I "upgraded" to Windows 7 Ultimate, the Acer Blu-ray playback software running under Acer Arcade Deluxe was disabled.

I ran the Windows 7 upgrade advisor before I paid the $184 to Amazon.com for the "upgrade" to Windows 7 Ultimate, and nothing in the upgrade report indicated that Windows 7 would do anything adverse to my Acer 7720 notebook, much less kill Blu-ray playback.

The Acer OEM Optiarc BC5500A Blu-ray optical drive checks out as fully functional, with up to date driver, and will play DVDs and music CDs fine under Windows Media Center. Unfortunately, Windows Media Center emulates Apple in not playing Blu-ray disks.

I perform Windows updates regularly, as well as run Norton Internet Security, so I don't think that the killing of Blu-ray playback is an update or security problem.

When I inquired of Microsoft and Acer, Microsoft suggested that I address my problems with the Microsoft 7 "upgrade" killing Blu-ray playback to Acer, the manufacturer of my notebook, and Acer responded that my Acer 7720 notebook is out of warranty, so it's not their problem either.

So, I did a trial of a commercial Blu-ray add-on software, Cyberlink PowerDVD 11, but that did not work because PowerDVD 11 is apparently not as efficient as the Acer Blu-ray playback software under Acer Arcade Deluxe is, or was, before the "upgrade" to Windows 7 killed it. Cyberlink PowerDVD 11 apparently requires a more powerful CPU than the T5250 Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and/or a more powerful GPU than the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS GPU that came with the Acer 7720-6395 notebook.

Hence, it seems like the only options that the Windows 7 Ultimate "upgrade" gives me, after having invested $184 in it, are:

1. Throw away the investment in the Windows 7 "upgrade" and my notebook, and buy a new notebook;

2. Ask Microsoft for a refund on my Windows 7 Ultimate "upgrade" and try and reinstall and run Vista again;

3. Wait for Acer and Microsoft to work out the problems with the Acer Blu-ray playback software operating under Windows 7 (it seems that neither Microsoft nor Acer is interested in doing that, however);

4. Wait for Microsoft to include Blu-ray playback in the Windows Media Center (I can't imagine why they haven't done this already); or

5. Upgrade the CPU and/or GPU hardware on my Acer 7720-6395 notebook to components that would allow me to run PowerDVD 11.

I would very much appreciate advice on upgrading the Intel T5250 Core 2 Duo CPU and/or the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS GPU on my Acer 7720-6395 notebook. However, if anyone has any other solution oriented suggestions relevant to restoring Blu-ray playback on my Acer Aspire 7720-6395 notebook after the "upgrade" to Windows 7 Ultimate, I'd appreciate them as well.

Thank you.

 

[Rxx]

I have windows 7 too and the only thing that plays Blu-rays on it is PowerDVD. Course I have PowerDVD 8. Not sure if you can even buy that. Also reminds you buy their ever so cheap upgrades all the time. There should be some sort of freeware floating around that can play blu-ray.