DVD software question [Archive]

zacspeed

04-01-2005, 09:04 PM

Hi all,
Sorry it's such a dumb noob question (but I have zero experience of DVD's).
A friend just gave me a DVD Rom for my PC, I threw it in & popped in a disc & Window$ media player told me that "a compatible DVD decoder is not installed on my computer".
What should I do next (I'd rather not use WMP if at all possible), What is the best software for me to watch DVD's. I won't be burning any (coz it ain't a writer!), Anything small that doesn't hog the old resources too much. I looked on download.com, but everything seems to have sh!t loads of spyware bundled with it.
Any advice/pointers would be gratefully received.
Z.

:unsure:

Snee

04-01-2005, 09:26 PM

Well, videolan (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) is a good basic player to start with, but for dvd's it wouldn't hurt to have something especially made for dvds, although videolan will probably play them.

A couple of years ago I might have recommended power-dvd but I don't really know today as I don't play dvds off my 'puter at this time.

And it probably wouldn't hurt you to grab some codecs as well for all manner of movie-files and suchlike, so have a look in the codec section as well.

{I}{K}{E}

04-01-2005, 09:45 PM

CyberLink PowerDVD is the best ;)

Guillaume

04-01-2005, 09:46 PM

Well, videolan (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) is a good basic player to start with, but for dvd's it wouldn't hurt to have something especially made for dvds, although videolan will probably play them.

It does play DVDs but doesn't support DTS sound, because of copyrights.
Still, VLC pwns everything! :01:

accat13

04-01-2005, 09:49 PM

I would recommend powerdvd xp 4.Its a little easier on the resources then the newer versions and I've never had a problem with it.Although since my philips dvp642 dvd player came along I haven't used power dvd much. :)

zacspeed

04-01-2005, 10:39 PM

Thanks guys, I'll investigate your suggestions.
:D

zacspeed

04-02-2005, 07:51 PM

Videolan seems to work the best (thanks SnnY :D), one more question I have now- When I insert a copied DVD, it plays fine. When I attempt to play an original disc, my system completly freezes up. Doesnt even let me open media player.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Z.