To play DVD decoder needed, what?

[Advisor]

I have 2 desktops and 2 laptops. The 2 laptops and 1 desktop have XP the other desktop has Win2000.

When I put in a video DVD (all video DVDs) in the 2 laptops with XP it plays fine, when I put the DVD in the two desktops, it says a decoder is needed to play them. What gives? What decoder? Is there a free decoder I can download? I own Nero but I never installed it. Is this the decoder? I installed Windows Media Player 10 on the desktop with XP and that didn't solve the problem.

[Midknyte]

http://videolan.org/vlc/

nero is NOT a dvd decoder. neither is WMP10 by itself.

[rmanet]

Look on the two machines for another program that plays DVD's - MidKnyte's right - you can follow the link (cool never saw that and I looked around for awhile) 'til I found the InterVideo CD's that I had - always seem to get one with a dvd player when I buy one.

That's the program that gave you the decoders - WM10 just grabs all media - music and movie, etc. file associations by default when it installs and plays them. In your case it's done that but doesn't have everything it needs to play DVDs.

[Midknyte]

You can use Powerdvd or Windvd, but I like the simplicity of VLC. VLC will also play MP3s and VCDs and it is FREE.

[rmanet]

can't beat FREE :)

[Rocketmech]

Also for free .... Mediaplayer Classic (http://sourceforge.net/projects/guliverkli/)

[Midknyte]

MPC is pretty good too. It comes as a package with Real Alternative or Quicktime Alternative anyways.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_quicktime_alternative/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_real_alternative/

[Advisor]

I installed VLC and MediaPlayer and my DVDs now play. I have to open either of the aforementioned decoders to play the DVD. When I put in a DVD, the DVD tries to start but can't because the system can't find the decoder. How do I get the decoder to automatically play the DVD rather than having to manually open the decoder and start playing the DVD?

[Midknyte]

why don't you just set the autorun to use VLC or MPC?

[Advisor]

Midknyte, I don't know how to do it. I know what autorun is. I went to the two programs and looked for an autorun option to set. I went to "my computer" and right clicked the DVD icon to look for autorun option. I went to OS Help and couldn't find anything. Help me here.

[bruceb]

Open Windows File Explorer, select Tools, Folder Options .. then see this image
and select or add whatever types of files are on the DVD's you want to play .. then just select which Application you want to Open them with .. my image for example
shows MPEG as opening with WINDVD .. you can also change what application will
open a particular file extension .. if you do that, write down what it was before you
changed it, in case you need to change it back again

[Advisor]

Bruceb;
I went to Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, File Types and saw what you were talking about. I looked at the files on the DVD and there were 3 different extensions, .bup, .ifo, .vob. I then hit new (3 times) and entered the file extensions (3 times, bup, ifo, vob). Each time I used the change icon to assign to open these 3 file extensions using VLC media player. I then went to My Computer and hit the DVD drive icon and again it said decoder needed. If I open VLC and then go to DVD drive, it will play. Am I doing something wrong? Do I need to reboot the computer?

[Midknyte]

when you installed VLC, did you choose the option for "file type associations"?

run the installer again. choose language - click next - click I agree
in the scroll menu, check "file associations". you can choose only video if you want, but it can also play audio files like mp3s
click next - click install

[bruceb]

You did not need to add those extensions .. just select the MPEG & set it to open wit VLC Media Player ... also see this link for VLC Media Player ... download the User Guide
I think you may need to change something in the Settings Tab of that program

[Midknyte]

I figured it would just be easier to run the VLC setup again since it only take a minute to do.

[Advisor]

I still have the same problem. First the Windows message and second what I did.

"There is no Windows 2000 compatible DVD decoder installed on this system. A DVD decoder device or decoder software is required to play movies."

I reinstalled VLC and checked the file extensions box. It was not checked before. Before I proceeded I then went through all the video and audio extensions to make sure they were all checked and they were. I then continued with the installation. I overwrote the files rather than uninstalling and installing.

I also checked to make sure under file types MPEG files were there and set to open with VLC Media Player, they were there and they were set to open with VLC.

I then rebooted the computer and rechecked everything. Everything ok.

I know you all are trying and you have gotten me further than I could have on my own. All suggestions were absolutely sound and needed to be done. Now what?

[bruceb]

Install a copy of WINDVD ... it will work for sure (but it is not free)

[Midknyte]

try updating your video drivers. other than that, something sounds messed up with your system files. try a repair install of win2k

[Advisor]

Update on my problem: I instaled VLC on my friend's OS XP Desktop and it works perfectly. Opens automatically when you put the DVD in. My OS 2000 Desktop doesn't open automatically. I can put up with that. Somewhere down the road I'll try to fix 2000 or reinstall. Thanks.