Absent DVD playback software

Pawnless Endgame · 26 Aug 2009 at 14:54

I work in the DSA market, building and supporting entry-level PCs and Macs for disabled students (funded by LEAs), and have done for almost 7 years now.

Something odd is happening though and have been so since about Christmas time: I've had a few calls from students complaining about the lack of a DVD codec - usually an error message returned from Windows Media Player. After a few identical phone calls, it transpired that the big-name brands are no longer including a Power DVD disc with their machines. Surely though, if you buy a computer that is capable of burning discs and playing back DVDs, you get the appropriate software? Likewise, every optical drive that I've bought from OcUK always had the neccessary bundled software.

Manufacturers affected: Acer, HP, Toshiba.

Any idea why these dudes are slipping a little?

theheyes · 26 Aug 2009 at 15:48

Are these Windows XP machines? Not all machines come bundled with the software, particularly if you are buying business class desktops or laptops.

One solution is to download VLC media player which will play your DVDs.

PiKe · 26 Aug 2009 at 15:49

Doesn't ffdshow include an mpeg2 codec too?

siuko · 26 Aug 2009 at 15:51

I work at a school and we don't running anything but VLC player... even if the laptop / pc is provided with another dvd player.

It just works that much better and works for so many other video files too!!

Pawnless Endgame · 26 Aug 2009 at 15:57

Thanks for the answers guys :-)

Yes, as Theheyes has suggested, most machines I've dealt with are business machines, loaded with Vista Biz. I didn't realise that not all DVD-capable computers come with the codec.

No problemo for me at home though - my OcUK build has Power DVD for the codec and I use Media Player Classic (via K-Lite codec pack) to play everything for me. Quicktime, Real, WMP?... nah :-)