No sound from DVD, but fine otherwise ??

I am trying to figure out what is wrong with my Dad's Dell Dimension 3000.
Music sound is fine from online sources, system events, etc. but when we go to play a DVD no sound at all will come out. Downloaded the drivers for Soundmax Integrated Audio but still no results.
Open to any and all ideas. Win XP is the OS

 

Codecs maybe? Have you tried to play the dvd using different software?

 

Hi I have tried more than one software, downloaded drivers, downloaded codecs,
but still no result. The DVD is connected (I think). It will show the opening menu for a dvd movie, play music, but won't do anything else.

Is there such a thing as a really good Win Media Player 11 substitute which comes with codecs, and everything needed?

 

I'd look through the manuals for your motherboard, dvd drive, and sound card, if you've got one.

 

Try VLC player from videolan.org, should play a DVD no problem.

If VLC player works then you know it is a codec problem for Win Media player.

 

Is it just a DVD, or is it anything that you try to play from that dvd drive? If it's anything that you try to play from that DVD drive, I'd check to make sure everything is plugged in correctly like plodr mentioned. I'm used to SATA myself, so whenever I come across an IDE, I have to make sure and remember to plug in the sound.

This is an old computer and the problem just recently came up, correct? If that's the case, then it obviously isn't a matter of having forgot to plug something in, but it could be that the hardware is just getting old and needs cleaning or replacing.

Hope this helps.

 

I appreciate everyone's advice. When I go back to my Dad's house i will check out what was recommended in the last few posts. I think it is only movies he can't play from the DVD drive. No manuals though. The DVD is a new LiteOn drive which is an external USB 2.0

 

Have you tried hooking this player up to a different computer?
Is there a seperate power source for this player or does it get its power through the USB port?

|Are you sure that your Dad's computer is compatable with USB 2.0?
The fact that it is playing some things, but not others, leads me to believe it may be connected to a USB 1.0
These run at much slower speeds and might not be able to handle a DVD movie.|


OK I just reread your original post and see that this is a Dimension 3000.
This computer comes with USB 2.0 ports.

You said you checked the DVD's driver and it is OK.
Right?

 

Thanks very much for the input. One thing I had not thought about was whether or not the drive has it's own power source. I will check that when I go back there this weekend. I did check for drivers too.

 

Oddly enough I just had this problem last night and what was wrong was that I didn't have the right software: the version of windows media player and real player I had installed wouldn't play dvds without some plug in. I simply downloaded a dvd playing program (VLC Media player to be specific http://www.videohelp.com/tools/VLC_media_player), popped the dvd in, and it all came through nicely.

 

Had a thought about this.
It is possible that the sound has been muted in that channel.
In your "Sound and Audio Properties">Audio
Right under where it says the name of your sound adapter is a button labelled "Volume" when you click it you should see a series of controls for your sound types.

Make sure that these are not muted.
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