DVD will not play DVD's

[Welshrarebit]

Hi.
Just completed my first build. Installed XP home ok.
The DVD player will play music cd's but windows media player will not play any DVD's.
I have visited the help file and i think a "DVD decoder" is required. Apparently win xp does not cpme with one.

The drives are an LG DVDrom
NEC 3520

As win xp is new to me (being familiar with win98)
Can someone help me.

Thanks

[ktkendall]

Yes you need software that can play DVDs. Like my dvd drive itself came with a program called power dvd, you just need to to install a similar program and you'll be all set. I also thought WMP's latest version was supposed to play dvds, but I guess not. I think there are even some free dvd players out there if you need one. I seem to remember a thread awhile back, so you can even start with a search for one right here on the forum.

Here is a the cheapest i could find:
http://www.softwareandstuff.com/SWW12247.html

[Panama Red]

Hmmm, I use Power DVD as my preferred DVD player like ktk. However, I just ran a test and my WMP will play them too. Have you run all the Windows Updates and installed WMP10? Also, check in your Folders>File types and make sure you have proper files association with WMP.

[glc]

WMP will not play DVD's till the right codecs are installed. Installing DVD player software such as PowerDVD installs the required codecs.

[Panama Red]

Well, that explains why mine works. Thanx, g.

[Welshrarebit]

Thanx for the info guys.

Its Windows XP Home i have installed. Now that i know it requires a software decoder such as Power DVD, i am sorted.

Thanx for your replies.