Client can't play DVD on PC

PeterWright wrote on 7/24/2009, 1:55 AM

A client cannot play a DVD in Media Player - she get's this message:

"Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because a compatable DVD decoder is not installed on your computer."

Any idea what she may be missing? The DVD is replicated, not burned, and they're normally compatible with most players.

Comments

John_Cline wrote on 7/24/2009, 2:20 AM

Windows Media Player does not come with an MPEG2 decoder. Usually an MPEG2 decoder is installed as a result of installing a third-party DVD player like Power DVD or Win DVD.

The bottom line is that there is nothing wrong with your DVD, she can't play your DVD (or any DVD) because she doesn't have DVD player software installed on her machine.

PeterWright wrote on 7/24/2009, 2:42 AM

That's what I suspected - thanks for the confirmation John.

rs170a wrote on 7/24/2009, 3:38 AM

Peter, if she installs either Media Player Classic or VLC media player (both free), she'll be be able to watch the DVD.

Mike

PerroneFord wrote on 7/24/2009, 7:01 AM

I recommend VLC. Darn fine program that plays a WIDE variety of video types.

PeterWright wrote on 7/24/2009, 8:11 AM

Thanks all - I've passed that advice to my client.

Peter

musicvid10 wrote on 7/24/2009, 8:29 AM

Two settings in VLC that must be set for best playback of DVDs:
Tools->Preferences->Video->Output->DirectX video output

It seems you must set a deinterlace method every time you play a DVD:
Right Click->Video->Deinterlace->bob (or whatever you prefer)