DVD Decoder?

[mainiac]

I tried playing a dvd on my computer yesterday using windows media, but it said that I need a Dvd decoder. I am just wondering what a dvd decoder is and where can I get one?

[glc]

If you bought a retail boxed DVD drive, it came with Power DVD, Win DVD or other similar player. Installing this will put in the right codecs to play DVD's in WMP. The only other way to get the codecs is buy them - they can be downloaded but that's piracy. There are no freeware codecs that can do this.

[mainiac]

I have a dell power dvd disc that came with my old dell. Can I use this or do you think it may screw up my computer, since my computer isn't dell?

[glc]

It should actually work - depends on how old the version is.

[rjfvillarosa]

G. wouldn't that copy of Dell Power DVD not be tied into the firmware of the player in his old Dell machine?

[glc]

I don't think so. Whether it is or not, there's a good chance no matter what the codecs will install.

[mainiac]

thanks I will try it and see what happens.

[mainiac]

It turns out that the cd would not install because it recognized that my system isn't a dell computer. I used my old dell dvd rw drive and cd drive in my build, but I guess it didn't matter. I will probably have to end up buying a new optical drive. Thanks for all the help.