One DVD plays fine, the other doesn't.

Hi there, me again. Not sure if this belongs in hardware or software. Here's what's up:

I bought two DVDs from the same place @ the same time. Because I built my pc myself, I had a DVD drive but no decoder, so I downloaded VLC. One DVD will play fine, but not the other. The drive doesn't see it, windows xp won't see it. Well, there is that CD/arrow icon for a sec when the drive closes, but then nothing. No spinning.

Now I'm not normally a movie person. I have some vague notion that there are different DVD media -- plus, minus, something like that. But these are both factory-produced, in the US, from Amazon. (directly, not a "partner").

Is there something I should look for on the box that would indicate to me what the problem is? Or, if it's a codec thing, is there a free diagnostic that will tell me what codecs I need? I do have a couple of multimedia codec packs installed.

Thanks for your advice. I have been waiting ages to see this, it's "Ramones Raw".

 

have you tried the disc in another player to see if the disc might be bad? if one dvd will play, all the others should also. there are no more codecs that you need to play a dvd once you have them. the codecs won't help if the o/s can't see it anyway.

it would matter however if the dvd was a DVD+R and you only have a DVD-R drive. if you recently bought the drive, it should be dual format meaning it will play both "+" and "-" dvd's.

"ffdshow" is a good codec pack that allows most videos to play

here's a list of software that tells you what codecs you need tho. http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2007/06/19/determine-audio-video-codec-required-to-play-downloaded-movies/

 

Dear monkeytoys,

Thanks for such a thorough answer! My system says it's a + drive -- I always assumed that meant "DVD reader + writer". From what you said, I think it's safe to assume that it's a - disc. (assuming the situation you described also happens in reverse.)

I'll try another drive. Thanks; and thanks for the hella useful link, too.

 

If you have VLC, you don't have to bother with codecs for 99.9% of the videos you come across, and certainly not for DVDs. Honestly, I have NEVER seen VLC refuse to play a video, even corrupt or incomplete files!

I think I've seen this issue many a time myself. Your drive is at least TRYING to read, correct? Does the indicator light on the drive stay light while the disc is in?

I'm fairly certain this is an anti-piracy measure on the disc. Regional coding, and encryption aren't much of a challenge for a good ripping application, so they've had to resort to making the disc not play in PC DVD drives. I have the same symptoms on I'd estimate 2 out of every 5 discs, and I definitely have a +/- DVD drive.

I've managed to get around by running it in safe mode, and other times, inserting the disc after a fresh reboot. I have the feeling that it is tied to some windows service that isn't running in these circumstances.

 

if you have only a plus drive, that is probably the issue. most dvd's originally were the minus format. i'm not sure if minus is the most common now, since most newer drives are able to read and write both.