solution for no dvd decoder on Win Media Player?

Inspiron 2500 Laptop with dvd. I am sure we read dvds before, but now with WMP9, 10, and 11, we get the message no dvd decoder. What is that? Buy? hardware? Free download from Microsoft? Not big in using videos, dvds, etc. JUst a common typist, web surfer. Thanks.

 

hi and welcome to MG

You should try posting you question in the software forum, lotsa smart people roam there

I did have that problem before and to fix it i re-installed the dvd software i had.
But the people in software know a whole lot more then i do.. so they'll fix ya up nice :wave

 

Halfway down this page is frecodecinstaller. Give it a shot.
http://home.earthlink.net/~cresho/vd.htm

 

Just Playin:
I downloaded and installed the program you recommended. WMPopens and the dvd loads, but nothing plays. I've read the install instructions and the readme files, and I think I did it right. But still no play. What is the next step for me? TIA.

 

That was a CSS decoder. CSS is the copy protection on a DVD. It sounds like you needs codecs to play it, also. Try this: http://www.majorgeeks.com/Vista_Codec_Package_d5326.html

 

http://www.cliprex.com/

If you download this and install it, Windows Media Player should be able to play DVDs. It's worked on every computer I've installed it on.

 

download K-lite codec pack,and forget your problems forever.

 

Cliprex installs WhenUsave software, commonly considered to be spyware. Read your EULA carefully to see if there is an option to skip the WhenUsave installation. If not, beware.

The K-lite codec pack Goran.P suggested is also a good choice. http://www.majorgeeks.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_Full_d4844.html

 

You could also try:
GOM Player: http://www.gomplayer.com/download.html
VLC Player: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
VLC also comes in a 'portable' stand-alone version that doesn't require installation: http://portableapps.com/apps/music_video/vlc_portable
I have never come across a media file that either of these could not play; standard DVD's should be no problem

hd2k

 

K-Lite (3 sizes) works best of the three codec packs I have tried, don't forget to first uninstall any other codec packs you may have previously installed.
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