MPEG2 is a licensed codec, so generally you need to purchase a player or the codec to play back DVDs. If you read the Windows page that you linked to, it explains that some versions of Windows do not come with a DVD player capability.

IF the DVD is a standard DVD, it should play on standalone DVD players, but some players are sensitive to media type (-R vs. +R).

Dave T2

Thank you both for your responses. Clearly in one case I'll have to tell them to get the decoder. It still gets me that they can sell computer that won't play a standard DVD.

Here's the bottom line - If you talk with DVD duplicators they'll say their dvds will play in any machine - guaranteed. How do they do that?

Any new DVD player for computers comes with a software MPEG-2 decoder in its bundled player application.
If the consumer does not install the software, and it is not already installed on the machine in another program, the DVD will not play. It's that simple.

A commercially pressed DVD, such as DVD duplicators (those who are not just burning DVDs) are universally playable. It is burned DVDs that become a problem, because DVD+R and DVD-R are different in how the data is laid out and you are dealing with dyes rather than physical grooves, so to speak.

Dave T2

>"...I've have burned a lot of DVDs (DVD-R), but lately a couple of people I've
>made them for can't seem to play them on their computer or DVD players"

Check your brand/model of media -- The short recommendation is Verbatim.

The long answer is to check the related forums... CDFreaks/MyCE for example has info, reviews etc about burners & testing burners -- like players they can get tired. At sites related to or concerned with burning discs, there are often permanent threads about media brands & their quality. Videohelp.com has a database filled with user reports of drives & players & their media preferences -- yes, some hardware hates some media. Many swear by burning at 8X, maybe just as many swear that's superstition.

>""Windows Media Player cannot play the DVD because a compatible DVD
>decoder is not installed on your computer""

Short answer, have them download & use VLC [videolan.org].

Long answer, Windows XP doesn't include an mpg2 or ac3 decoder, & in Vista it might be restricted. Moot point however as WinMedia Player does a VERY poor job, if it does play them. PowerDVD 7 works great, makes it's DS filters available to Windows, & dirt cheap OEM discs/licenses can be bought on-line.Same with version 8, but there's some nags to upgrade that take a few minutes to remove, & it isn't quite as nice about supplying it's DS filters to Windows. I haven't seen 9 cheap, & viewers of your DVDs might balk at that. I've seen/had too many problems with WinDVD to suggest it. Suggestion: leave a little room on your disc & add the portable version of VLC [portableapps.com] -- it'll play rite from the disc, or the viewer can copy it to their hdd, no install required -- you can even set it up to Auto-play.

>"It still gets me that they can sell computer that won't play a standard DVD."

Depends on whether or not the person buying the PC wanted to pay for whatever software bundles.

>"Any new DVD player for computers comes with a software MPEG-2 decoder
>in its bundled player application."

Retail... buy a drive at the Egg or similar for ~$20 - $30 & it's OEM, no packaging let alone software.

>"A commercially pressed DVD, such as DVD duplicators (those who are not
>just burning DVDs) are universally playable"

Mainly helpful **IF** you are dealing with an older player, many burning apps will automatically change the disc type to report DVD ROM to the player -- another advantage pressed discs can have.