geeks please for DVD player

[gauchecritic]

Just bought an OEM DVD drive: Sony NEC ad5200a, but it keeps telling me I don't have the proper codecs for DVDs

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

It plays slide shows and music from CDs fine and I've tried several different DVDs I've been to microsoft I downloaded a codec checker and there are hundreds of codecs installed on my machine.

The puter recognised and installed the drivers as soon as I plugged the drive in.

SonyNEC doesn't have any software for download (which I assume comes with the retail version) and MGI, DIVx and Real won't play DVDs either, with the same message.

Help please.

 

[fifty5]

Just bought an OEM DVD drive: Sony NEC ad5200a, but it keeps telling me I don't have the proper codecs for DVDs

It plays slide shows and music from CDs fine and I've tried several different DVDs I've been to microsoft I downloaded a codec checker and there are hundreds of codecs installed on my machine.

The puter recognised and installed the drivers as soon as I plugged the drive in.

SonyNEC doesn't have any software for download (which I assume comes with the retail version) and MGI, DIVx and Real won't play DVDs either, with the same message.

Help please.

Hi Gauche,

Sorry I don't have the answer, but I may be able to help you refine the question.

First, it's nothing to do with the drive - which is why Sony don't help - it's to do with the format of the data on the disk.

Some use god-awful 'rights protection' formats that need proprietary player software - but they can be free to download...

Mostly, though, you just need dedicated DVD (video) player software. Google should be able to find some free stuff. That's what OEM means: "We ain't bundling player software, your just buying the hardware!"

The bottom line is that it IS codecs that are the real problem, but DVD video player software comes with those.

I'm surprised that RealPlayer doesn't work though (it does on my Windows laptop), try downloading their latest...

And good luck and hugs!

Eff

 

[TxRad]

InterVideo winDVD is a program that has just about every codec know to man or beast. It's even loaded on some DVD's. I haven't googled it but it works a on every computer I've loaded it on.

 

[LoquaciousLady]

Eff is right. The problem is software, specifically your DVD player software. Windows Media Player comes with a lot of different codecs but no DVD codecs. I have to admit, I've bought OEM drives before and never had one that didn't come with the codecs. Maybe I've just gotten lucky.

Anyway, the first thing to do is check if you got ANY CDs with your new drive. Even if it just says something like "Drivers" check the disc out.

If that doesn't help you're going to need to get your hands on those codecs another way. Theoretically you can download freeware DVD proggies that use their own codecs. I've heard mixed reviews, though, on how well those work.

Your best bet is going to be to get PowerDVD or another good, stable WMP plug-in with the proper codecs. This page has links from Microsoft's website to the WMP plug-ins that they endorse. Sadly, they'll cost you money. On average $15 or so. Personally I recommend PowerDVD. It's what we use on all of our computers including our HTPC. Never had a moment's problem with their codecs.

 

[fifty5]

Eff is right.

Music to my ears, LL! I think I'm good at sex too!

More seriously, remember that DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disk - the disk format supports many different data formats. Most commonly, that's movies (which I understand you want to play), but they can be used for lots of different stuff, from raw computer data files onwards. You need DVD video software...

 

[LoquaciousLady]

Music to my ears, LL! I think I'm good at sex too!

I refuse to comment on that one unless I have proof.

 

[fifty5]

I refuse to comment on that one unless I have proof.

So when and where?

Like which side of the pond? I'm in Yorkshire.

 

[shereads]

When you buy a DVD player, you should be able to play DVDs on it. That's how it should be. Codex, schmodex.

 

[Ootpic]

Gauchecritic

You should be able to get codecs and information at the Combined Community Codec Pack page, unless you have scruples against any organization which shares the same initials as the Союз Советских Социалистических Республик.

 

[fifty5]

When you buy a DVD player, you should be able to play DVDs on it. That's how it should be. Codex, schmodex.

Don't want to be negative, She, but life just ain't that simple, nohow - even if it should be.

Sorry,

 

[LoquaciousLady]

So when and where?

Like which side of the pond? I'm in Yorkshire.

My lifelong ambition is to go to your side of the pond, dearest.

When you buy a DVD player, you should be able to play DVDs on it. That's how it should be. Codex, schmodex.

Sadly, technology is rarely as simple as we would like it to be. And that's what makes it so glorious. Imagine how boring it would be if you didn't get to tinker with it.

 

[gauchecritic]

Thanks to all. You're right sher, it should work out of the box, they just want to screw us for more money. (don't really mind being screwed but not for money)

Ootpic. Brilliant. Took a bit of jiggling and having an Nvidia card doesn't help but that cccp worked a dream. (and there's not really anything to mind is there? cccp isn't equal to sssr.)

Союз Советских Социалистических Республик.

I know my cyrillic isn't what it ought to be so what is the first word? (assuming that the others are: sovietskee sozhaleestichesk respublic)

Yeah codecs schmodecs.

 

[Ootpic]

Developers are always improving the technology with new codecs in order to compress more information into smaller files, so eventually you will encounter another video file which doesn't work. That event will be your notice that it is time to update your codec pack.

The choice was to keep improving the product and put up with regular codec updates, or eschew improvements and never have to touch what came out of the box. You can see which course was chosen.

Unless, that is, you are are into porn. Often porn sites use a unique and secret codec to force viewers into joining in order to get a working codec.

Also, you will run into this gambit quite often if you download movies and other video files via peer2peer torrents.

SeedPeer is trying to help their users by providing a field on their lists where users can leave a warning so that others users will know that a torrent is bogus or dangerous BEFORE downloading. I imagine that eventually, all the sites that wish to remain popular will be forced to follow suite.


I believe it is Sojuz Sovietskikh Socialistitchieskikh Riespublik, nyet?

 

[gauchecritic]

yu and zhe I can never remember them.

 

[neonlyte]

Gauche, this might help

General problems with Optical drives
Are there any drivers to download?
The Sony NEC Optiarc CD / DVD writers are ATAPI-devices. There is no need for special drivers when using operating systems like Linux, MacOS or Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP and Vista, because the drivers are already embedded there.
If the DVD writing software does not recognize the drive as a CD / DVD writer or demands a driver, all you need to do is to update this software, please contact the manufacturer of your writing software for updates.
There are several different versions of Sony NEC Optiarc DVD writers available for sale. There are bulk versions (cheaper, with no extras), retail versions and bundled versions (with manual and CD, more expensive) with CD / DVD writing software and all accessories.
It is up to the customer to decide which version to buy. The writing software only comes with the more expensive versions. If you did not purchase a bundled version, you have to buy the writing software from a computer dealer in addition. The following versions of writing software are supported by our DVD writers in the ND-series:
DVD-RAM works at least with Nero InCD version 4.3.20.1. Under Windows XP, DVD-RAM media can also be written without any driver and writing software. In this case, please follow instructions on Microsoft knowledge database www.microsoft.com [article 283588 and 826510]
Also required is playback software to view DVD audio and movies. This does not come with the bulk versions of our drives. You can buy playback software at your local dealer in addition. The Sony NEC Optiarc devices were tested successfully with following ones:
- Power DVD (http://www.gocyberlink.com)
- Win DVD (http://www.intervideo.com)
- Cineplayer (http://www.cineplayer.com)
- Nero ShowTime (http://www.nero.com)
[For Support & Service and also updates their manufacturer is responsible]
Please note: In most cases it is not enough to use only windows media player or some kind of freeware player because they do not include the necessary media CODECs.
DOS drivers can be found here. http://www.sonynec-optiarc.co.uk/en/support-service/faqs2/links/treiber

 

[gauchecritic]

Cheers Neon. so basically if you want it to work first time you've got to pay.

It's not the driver that was a problem. XP recognised the drive straight up and plug 'n' played it. It was codecs that were missing.

All sorted now though. Thank you.

I've just managed to waste two hours not writing by playing GTA San Andreas with the new drive.

 

[shereads]

(don't really mind being screwed but not for money)

This is open to interpretation.

 

[kendo1]

There are a few programs you can try that are free - remember, I'm Scottish.

http://www.videolan.org/

The lan player plays almost everything, and if it doesn't try:

http://www.divx.com/?lang=en&cid=divxcommfolder_en

The divX player is really good. One of their links is to stage6 movies, it's bundled in with the player. Quality and download speed are superb, and the range of TV programs/films - all free.

 

[shereads]

What's Blu-Ray? Is it going to make our DVD libraries obsolete?

 

[gauchecritic]

What's Blu-Ray? Is it going to make our DVD libraries obsolete?

Blu-ray is for HD.

HD players need HD TVs so it will be some years yet, but theoretically a dvd player is a dvd player which is a cd player.

Personally I think the advances in memory will wipe out cds altogether and everything will be on chips. (the newest hard drives are chips instead of platters)

(why is all the electronic naming related to food?)

 

[neonlyte]

(why is all the electronic naming related to food?)

Eating is the only other thing techno-geeks do?

 

[Ootpic]

BTW, don’t buy any bargain priced Toshiba High Definition DVD Players.

Sony's Blu-Ray Wins Video Format Contest
By Art Chimes
Feb. 22, 2008

The high definition television disk format war effectively ended this week when Toshiba announced it was pulling the plug on its HD DVD format, leaving the market to Blu-Ray, the competing format developed by Sony. The move is expected to jump-start sales of high-definition disks and players, at least until the next big thing comes along.

Format wars have been part of technological innovation at least since the 19th century, when Edison and Westinghouse battled over standards for electric power transmission.

More recently, a generation ago, Beta and VHS competed for the home video market. PC Magazine editor in chief Lance Ulanoff says there are parallels between that format war, which Sony lost, and the high definition format war, which Sony won.


Link to Full Article

Actually, the video format wars go back further than this reporter dreams.

Edison's motion picture process had sprocket holes beside the image, while the Pathé process (to get around Edison's patent) had sprocket holes between the images.

To find the beginnings, you must go back to 1840 at least, and the competition between the Daguerreotype process marketed by Louis Daguerre (actually invented by Nicéphore Niépce) and the calotype process invented and marketed by William Fox Talbot.

Fox's process eventually won on the strength that his process permitted striking multiple positive images from a single negative exposure, while in Daguerre's process each exposure resulted in one unique artifact.