DVD Drive

[mwerner]

Just bought a generic DVD drive for the old rig so I could play Oblivion. Increasingly, games are only coming out in DVD format, so the handwriting was on the wall.

Easy install, and the thing came with two software discs. The first was a generic player, that seemed to work fine. No frills sort of thing.
The other is the Nero player-recorder-organizer. As usual, there was an assortment of junk programs bundled with this; a media player, a photo organizer, that sort of thing. I think you could fill up a hard drive with free media players... At least, it groups the essential programs in one bunch, and makes it easy to avoid installing the junk.

However, when I got the thing installed I decided to play a DVD to see if it was in any way superior to the generic player I had already. First thing that pops up is an error message indicating that I can't play the commercially-recorded DVD without yet another piece of software; "Press here to purchase."
No thanks....

 

[Ken C.]

You need to have a DVD player codec to play your DVD. Windows Media Player uses that codec to recognize the DVD if that's how you payed it. If you don't get a codec you will not be able to watch your DVD's.

You need to get this....

http://www.cliprex.com/cliprex_video_software_-_products/free_dvd_video_software_products/cliprex_ds_dvd_player_-_free.html

 

[mwerner]

The funny thing is that I can watch DVDs just fine with the "generic" player (Power DVD), but the supposedly-better Nero item wants you to make an additional purchase.
I havn't tried burning anything yet, but I've got a ton of files I could store to free up HD space.

 

[rebeltf]

but the supposedly-better Nero item wants you to make an additional purchase

and there is the problem... man that tee's me off to no end.
Best to stick with one media player that you feel comfortable with , I use Winamp mostly but now that it's been co-opted by "the system" it's starting to get funky.