DVD and XP !!

[TimberWolf]

Help! I've installed Windows XP and now my DVD Rom doesn't work! It's a Toshiba DVD-ROM, Model SD-M1102. When I try to use it, I'm told there isn't any decoder software installed. It worked great until I upgraded to XP!!! Any help will be greatly appreciated...............Thanks

[RJ]

What do you mean by "it doesn't work" ? The way you describe it, it does work, but you don't have a decoder for DVD video installed.
You will need to install a DVD playback software, then DVD video will work, too.

RJ

[TimberWolf]

I mean it won't play DVD's!! I have/had all software installed when I was using windows 98 and it worked fine. After I installed Windows XP, it only recognizes the drive as a regular CD Rom drive, not as a DVD/ROM. XP deleted the decoder software and the DVD drivers, because neither of them show up on my system anymore.

[RJ]

So you upgraded to WinXP from an existing Win98 instead of doing a clean install ?
This always can cause problems. In your case I would just re-install the DVD playback software and it should work fine.
Also it doesn't mean anything that the DVD-ROM drive is only listed as CD-drive in Explorer, as the DVD-ROM will read DVDs because it is a DVD-ROM drive no matter what Windows thinks it is. My DVD-ROM is also named CD-ROM by Windows. Don't worry about that.

RJ

[TimberWolf]

I guess I should slow down and stop being "PO'd"......I did try to reinstall the original software that came with my system (for the DVD). XP still doesn't recognize it and tells me there are no driver/software updates for this DVD Drive. I have already been to Toshiba and they tell me there is nothing they can do, as it "should" work fine with XP. I appreciate your help and I will try again to reinstall the software/drivers. Thanks

[el_novato]

Most likely, the software and drivers aren't compatible with XP. I upgraded from 98SE to XP Pro. It warned me though, that the version of WinDVD I had on my system wasn't compatible with XP.

<a href=http://www.directdeals.com/Item_CD-POWERDVD5.aspx>Here's an OEM copy of Power DVD 5 for $12 shipped free.</a>

[RJ]

What drivers btw ? There are no drivers for optical drives. When Windows detects it then it works.

It's just the software. What DVD playback software are you using ?

RJ

[sdkfz]

What software are you using for the DVD playback? Win DVD Power DVD or.....?

I'd hit their site instad of Toshiba for the upgrade to XP. I use Win DVD and I know that when I did my install I had to upgrade the dvd playback via patch to get functionality - though that was a couple of years ago now.

[el_novato]

You're right RJ. No drivers....it's just the sofware...Doh!

TimberWolf, if you're using Win DVD...they won't upgrade for free. You have to buy a new copy.

[TimberWolf]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your help...........I'm heading to try and get new Win DVD drivers now. Thanks again to all. TimberWolf