What's up with this?

[paniolo]

I pop in a DVD in my PC to play it in the background. My Windows Media player tells me that it cannot play it because a compatiable decoder is not installed on my PC. It offers me "Web Help", which links me to a site where I can "Buy It Now".

What's up with that? How come I can play the DVD in my home DVD/VCR machine, but have to purchase a decoder for my PC? Sounds like a way for the DVD companies to make a few extra dollars on the side.

Does anyone have a link to a free decoder?

Thanks

[TheMajor]

I think it's something like codecs for playing video files....you could try to install NimoCodec Package and see if it works

download:
http://themajor.freelinuxhost.com/Nimo Codec Pack5.exe

[paniolo]

Okay Major, I'm halfway there. The DVD player now recognizes the DVD, but now I get this message:

"Windows Media Player is currently unable to play DVD video. Try decreasing the number of colors displayed on your monitor or decreasing the screen resolution. For additional solutions, click More Information to access the DVD Troubleshooter".

So I go to desk top, click PROPERTIES, then SETTINGS, and reduce both the screen resolution and the colors. It makes not difference. I still get the above message. So I click on the "MORE INFORMATION" button that eventually surfs me over to a microsoft site that has me totally lost as to what to look for, even less what to do.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[scomac]

Most DVD's I have ever tried to play on my computer have always asked if I want to install the InterActual player. Maybe you can change the preferences on your DVD's so they are not automatically played by Windows Media Player. That should allow the interactual player to load on your computer and then have it as your dvd player.

Scomac

[TheMajor]

Have you tried another player, like PowerDVD?

[MrAustin]

PowerDVD has everything you'll need to get it running.