Free Software to play DVD's ?

BEN_UK · 1 Feb 2007 at 18:47

Hello,

I am trying to find a free program that will allow me to watch DVD's on my PC

I have got windows media player 10 but it wont play a DVD.

Any help would be great

Thanks

.Griff. · 1 Feb 2007 at 18:48

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Plays anything.

PinkPig · 1 Feb 2007 at 19:39

On a very similar subject, has anyone had any luck getting DVDs playing in Windows Media player in Windows Vista business?

I know that Home Premium and Ultimate have DVD codecs included - Business doesn't. I've installed several XP codecs and players that normally make it work - but although I can play DVDs in many other applications (currently using Nero Showtime), Media Player still either says "No compatible DVD codec installed", or asks me to change my display settings. Anyone found anything that does work? The Microsoft pages only say that "for users of versions other than Home Premium and Ultimate, you will be able to purchase codecs once Windows Vista has been released".

jmc777 · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:08

PinkPig said:
I know that Home Premium and Ultimate have DVD codecs included

I have Home Premium and it doesn't play DVDs. :confused:

MeatLoaf · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:16

Im on XP and my WMP11 plays DVDs

PinkPig · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:19

jmc777 said:
I have Home Premium and it doesn't play DVDs.

I'm surprised to hear that, I was under the impression that a DVD codec was included. Maybe it's just Ultimate then? I know that when I was using the beta, DVD playback was included, and I'm sure that's continued into the final release.

jmc777 · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:25

Maybe there is one included and I'm having another problem. WMP11 is telling me "Windows Media Player 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."

I have the latest driver installed, and my 9800 Pro AIW should be ok. Motherffffff............... :mad:

PinkPig · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:35

Hmmm, that's a big strange (and not like either of the messages I got).

At http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/dvdcodecs.aspx it claims that Home Premium and Ultimate have codecs included (though of course the page also seems out of date)

Will_3rd · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:39

WWS|Griff said:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Plays anything.

Another vote for VLC!

Retorted · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:43

WWS|Griff said:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Plays anything.

Can be a bit iffy with DVDs mind. Doesn't seem to like dealing with menus.

PinkPig · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:55

VLC isn't working! It gives a blank screen when trying to play DVDs.

Nero Home works, but doesn't "magically enable" Media Player like it did in XP.

GB-PVR - which is PVR software that requires MPEG2 codecs (freeview TV streams are very similar to DVD streams) - also gives a blank screen.

Other codecs and files seem to work fine.

(All of this is using Vista Business)

buachille · 1 Feb 2007 at 22:55

this is a good site for answering question like yours

MAllen · 1 Feb 2007 at 23:26

I use Classic Media Player and K-Lite's Mega Codec pack.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Mega_Codec_Pack.htm

Go for the "Lots Of Stuff" install. And also throw out that old QuickTime and RealPlayer. This will then replace the lot and handle the majority of video (including flash, real, quicktime, etc...) As well as DVD, MPEG, blah blah blah

jmc777 · 2 Feb 2007 at 15:09

jmc777 said:
Maybe there is one included and I'm having another problem. WMP11 is telling me "Windows Media Player 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."

Well, I reinstalled Vista thinking that maybe something I had installed had screwed up DVD playback, but I'm still getting the error message above. :mad:

.Griff. · 2 Feb 2007 at 15:18

Retorted said:
Can be a bit iffy with DVDs mind. Doesn't seem to like dealing with menus.

I've never had any problems with DVD menu's wether it's DVD's or VOB files.

OpenToSuggestions · 4 Feb 2007 at 01:11

VLC all the way!!

one of the few programs ive used that actually keeps the sound in sync with the picture!!!

Amp34 · 4 Feb 2007 at 01:13

FFDshow? I think that comes with a built in DVD codec, and i can vouch for it working in vista as thats what I use.

PinkPig · 4 Feb 2007 at 08:13

Amp34 said:
FFDshow? I think that comes with a built in DVD codec, and i can vouch for it working in vista as thats what I use.

Is it 100% certainly working for WMP DVD playback in Vista? (Ie.l you've got it working in Vista Business or Home Basic and you haven't installed anything else?) If so, which version of ffdshow?

Drizmod · 4 Feb 2007 at 08:45

jmc777 said:
Maybe there is one included and I'm having another problem. WMP11 is telling me "Windows Media Player 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."

I have the latest driver installed, and my 9800 Pro AIW should be ok. Motherffffff...............

I get the same message on vista 64 Ultimate. Installed FFDSHOW with 64 bit add on and it does play the DVD but with very jumbled up video. Tried VLC which only shows a white screen when playing any video. Finally tried the latest version of powerdvd which plays DVDs with no problems

jmc777 · 5 Feb 2007 at 01:05

The problem was caused by having 3rd-party firmware on my DVD-RW; I flashed back to the manufacturers firmware and DVDs play fine now.

(To help anyone searching with the error code find this post: C00D1163 )