Blank screen when playing DVD movies on my notebook.

I am getting a blank screen on my notebook computer when I play DVD movies. I get sound ok, and if I point the cursor carefully on the title menu (which is blacked out) by watching when the cursor changes character, I can trigger menu commands. I have the same problem with any of several DVD player programs I have tried, so the problem would not seem to lie with the DVD player software. I tried updating the display drivers, but that made no difference. (I am using a Compaq Presario 1900T running Win98SE.) Can anyone offer any suggestions?

 

One suggestion is do you have a codec pack. You may have the sound being decompressed (decoded) allright but not the video files. This codec pack may help (don't let the Kazaa title concern you) either way it is good to have a decent codec pack installed;

http://majorgeeks.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_Full_d4844.html

 

Thank you, Bold Eagle. I'll try that.

 

I tried installing the CODEC pack you suggested, Bold Eagle. (Most of it was [Greek] geek to me, so I didn't mess with the default values.) It did help somewhat. Now I get a video image as well as sound when using the "Media Player Classic" program that came bundled with the Codec pack. But there is something wrong with the video; it is distorted somehow, sort of like looking through a shower door or other privacy glass. The colors and the images are there, but they form a blurry mosaic. I’m encouraged that I seem to be making progress, but I’m clearly [not clearly] home yet. Can you suggest anything else?

By the way, the Mediamatics DVDExpress player that came with the Compaq notebook is giving me this error message (both before and after installing the new Codec pack): “Something unexpected happened, perhaps content is incorrectly authored.” Is this information helpful at all in diagnosing the problem?

 

I'm at a bit off a loss to be honest.

How big is the file? A good qual file will be at least 4Gb!

Is it trusted and from a known source????

I think that know that it is working with "Media Player Classic" that you may have a movie of very low qual and or resolution and that is why you are seeing such poor qual.

 

The same thing happens with every DVD movie I try, including purchased and rented commercial DVDs. Same error messages too, so it isn't a particular movie or file.

 

Hate to have to refer you elsewhere but I'm at a loss here. The best refrence site I have for video related issues is VideoHelp.com;

http://www.videohelp.com/

Sorry I can't provide greater resolution but search this site and the forums and it is more than likely you'll find the answers there. Good luck.

 

Thanks, Bold Eagle. I'll give that a try.