DVD Decoder Help

[Munkay]

I recently reformatted and put Win2kPro on my laptop. When I put a DVD into my computer, it tells me I need a decoder. By googling I've figured this out so far:

What is a DVD decoder?
A DVD decoder is required in order to play DVD video on a computer system. A decoder performs three basic functions:

  1. It unlocks the CSS copy protection applied to the video files on a DVD movie disc;
  2. It decodes the MPEG2 formatting applied to video content;
  3. It displays the video through a viewer program installed in Windows.

While viewer programs are easy to create and release, and are generally available at no charge (including our own PCFriendly and InterActual Player 2.0 software), developing and certifying a DVD decoder requires that additional licensing and royalty fees be paid to the various patentholders of DVD technology. This is why DVD decoders are not available as "free" software.

This makes a lot of sense. When I recieved this laptop I purchased it from my fathers company, which had stripped WinXp off of it and replaced it with Win2k Server edition to demo LanDesk. When I got it, I reformatted with Win2k Pro.

I'm not a huge movie watcher, so I didn't realize the issue of the DVD decoder until a month ago, when my laptop needed immediate repair. I just reformatted fresh with Win2k Pro yesterday, and would love to get the DVD player working.


How do I do this? I do not want to pay any money for a DVD decoding program. Searching IBM's website has made my headspin.

Before I pick up the phone and deal with customer service, I was wondering if any Lurkers can help me out. Or at least point me in the right direction.

My laptop is a IBM Thinkpad T30. The DVD drive was just replaced when it was repaired, I am uncertain of the brand. Win2k recognizes it as a Matsh.ita DVD-Rom SR-8177.

The problem may just be me not searching hard enough on the IBM webpage, in which case I accept looking foolish, and slowly shirk away... :blush:

Cheers,

Munk

Edit: The swearfilter didn't like the name of my dvd drive. :lol:

[Dozer]

Well, I'm not sure exactly what your problem is, so I'll just link you to this:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsme...tion1#question1


If you don't have a DVD Decoder whatsoever, I think this codec pack (which somehow got associated with Kazaa Lite) should fix the problem:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Li...c_Pack.htm

[Taem]

This program will look at a audio and/or video file and determine what codec is needed to play the file AND if your computer has it:

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/&nbsp; <----INFO ON GSPOT CODEC INFO
http://www.headbands.com/gspot/download.html&nbsp; <----ACTUAL DOWNLOAD

This web-site will tell you where to get the codec you need to play your file:

http://moviecodec.com/

[Wyrm]

When they talk about a decoder, they mean a separate program like Cyberlink Power DVD or Intervideo WinDVD. You can download free trial versions at their websites. I don't know what happens when the trials expire, but you can probably just leave them installed and not use them, using Media Player instead. Most video cards and sound cards come with one of them bundled, or you can get the basic versions of them for cheap (less than $10).

If you were watching DVDs on your laptop before you switched OSs, then you already have one, you just need to go through the software package that came with it and dig around a little to find it.

It's rather humorous that Windows Media Player still doesn't have it's own built in decoder.