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pwn3rer
01-01-2010, 05:01 PM
Hi all

My sister is at Uni at the minute, and the internet there is limited to 0.5mb - which sucks. So basically, if she wants to watch something on Iplayer, it'll take 6 hours to load, which isn't practical.
She can easily rent DVDs to watch, however, her computer won't play them. I haven't seen the message myself, however I imagine it's some sort of DRM issue. She has Windows XP, and is sticking with that, for the minute.
When the dvd is entered it just says "windows media player cannot play this blah blah... do you want us to find software which can?", she says "yes", and it comes up with some windows recommended software for £13.
However, I fear this won't do the job. So I am on the look for a number of free programs to view DVDs, and, if all else fails, Payware programs too. I have already tried the obvious - VideoLan, but that doesn't work either (apparently).

Anything would be nice, I am just going to burn them all to a disk and send them to her.

I also notice that on Windows Vista and 7, this is never an issue, and I imagine it is contanstly streaming information on your viewing back to M$. And the DVD is probably verified through the net, whereas the software on XP is not capable of doing this.
So, it is most likely an OS thing, as opposed to a media player thing.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

snakedoc
01-01-2010, 05:03 PM
Try something like Sharky's Codec pack. It should enable DVD playback through MP. Or grab VLC.

Helior
01-01-2010, 05:05 PM
VLC is the always simplest option, it plays almost everthing without issue!

pwn3rer
01-01-2010, 05:26 PM
I have already tried the obvious - VideoLan, but that doesn't work either


:rolleye:

Will check out the codec pack >> thanks :D

snakedoc
01-01-2010, 05:32 PM
With the pack, you may need to open the DVD and double click on a vob file, there will be a few, try one till it plays. At least this is my memory of using XP in this way, it was a long time ago.

A Ginger Sheep
01-01-2010, 05:45 PM
VLC ftw here mate.

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

snakedoc
01-01-2010, 05:47 PM
Some people just do not read the thread do they? Reading the posts FTW here.

pwn3rer
01-01-2010, 05:49 PM
I have already tried the obvious - VideoLan, but that doesn't work either

:td:

@snakedoc >> no mate! twice now :D

Will give the pack a go, thing is, if it doesnt work, then she doesnt know what to do! where you and I would think of trying clicking on some other things, she wouldnt, if you know what I mean (i.e. women!).

system7
01-01-2010, 05:52 PM
FWIW, XP doesn't include DVD codecs. People traditionally buy PowerDVD for it.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Software/VideoAndAudio/

Ubuntu does install free DVD codecs at the prompt. :thumbs:

Mungo
01-01-2010, 07:09 PM
I Used K-Lite Cdec pack on my sisters laptop

Donwload (http://download.cnet.com/K-Lite-Mega-Codec-Pack/3000-13632_4-10794603.html)

pwn3rer
01-01-2010, 07:21 PM
Thanks guys! I think the software is probably easiest, for her sake, but I have downloaded all those suggested and just written them to a DVD for her, just incase.
Because, tbh, downloading about 23mb takes about 20 minutes, that's how **** it is for her! I hate to think what the gamers do with pings like that! whey!