Another DVD Burner Question

[Lestat]

I just installed a Pioneer DVR-110D DVD burner in my computer.

I went to play a store bought DVD and Real Player said it needed to download additional software. I clicked Ok and then it said it could not find the software for my DVD player.

No software came with the player, so I went online and downloaded what I thought was a driver for my unit. It seemed to install fine, but this didn't fix my problem with trying to play a movie. I'm getting the same thing.

Does anyone know what the problem might be (other than I'm an idiot with these type of things?). I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks.

[FouTight]

Your question is a little vague.

Are you trying to play a DVD? if so, you will probably need to install a DVD decoder.

[MyMindIsGoing]

Dvd players do not need a driver in windows. I recomend this player: http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVD_Download.jsp

[Lestat]

I'm confused. I bought the DVD player you recommended to me about a week ago. It arrived yesterday and I slapped it into my computer.

If you recall, I was trying to play a Seinfeld DVD which was purchased from a store. My old CD player couldn't do that. I was under the impressions that this DVD player you recommended could. However, it won't play for some reason.

I didn't understand the link you just provided. Do I have to BUY something else to get my new DVD player to work?

[Lestat]

Yes. I'm trying to play a DVD which was purchased at the store. I can just put this into the DVD player I have hooked up to the TV. But it won't play on my computer.

How do I know which decoder I need and where do I find it? I appreciate the help.

[FouTight]

you will have to *obtain* a DVD decoder. The thing with DVD decoders is that they are not free, it sounds like you purchased an OEM drive, as retiail drives typically come with software.

All I can say is that you will have to find a DVD playing program, and it should work find after that. I know there are ways to get this without paying for it if you know where to look.

[MyMindIsGoing]

There is a free trial version there. Try that. And yes I did recomend that burner, it is good. It is not my fault you did not get any player with it. You got the hardware, not the software that you also need.

Last question I will answer here, thanx to everyones bad attitude. Bye bye.

[Lestat]

[ QUOTE ]
There is a free trial version there. Try that. And yes I did recomend that burner, it is good. It is not my fault you did not get any player with it. You got the hardware, not the software that you also need.

Here it is for "free":

Last question I will answer here, thanx to everyones bad attitude. Bye bye.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dude... I didn't mean any offense. No one said anything was your fault. I appreciated the reco. I just need help getting it to work. That's all.

[Lestat]

[ QUOTE ]
you will have to *obtain* a DVD decoder. The thing with DVD decoders is that they are not free, it sounds like you purchased an OEM drive, as retiail drives typically come with software.

All I can say is that you will have to find a DVD playing program, and it should work find after that. I know there are ways to get this without paying for it if you know where to look.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know. I bought it from NewEgg. It seems to me that it should've came with whatever it needs to work. Software, drivers, etc. Whatever..

If I have to pay for something else to get it to work I will. I just need to know where to get it. Where do I go to get this?

MindMindisGoing's mind must be going. I thought he was really knowledgable and cool for helping me out last week, but then he all of a sudden flaked out and got upset. He provided a link that's foreign and doesn't seem to work (at least I don't know how to work it).

Hey guys, sorry if my ignorance about computers is frustrating to some of you. But that's why I came to the Computer Technical HELP forum. To get help!

If I'm answering questions about a poker hand in the mid-limit forum and a guy's still got questions, I don't freak out on him and abandon him in the middle of things.

[FouTight]

Was the drive in a colored package or just a box? did it include any cables, screws, manuals, etc?

The thing with DVD is that it's all controlled by the DVD forum, and they don't let people release free players to put it simply. It's not like CD's or other many other media in that respect. Once you get a DVD player installed on your computer, that DVD software will be able to be used by most of your media players, so you can use whatever you want to view it, but you must get some DVD software on there first.

[Lestat]

Thanks.

Yes, it appears I purchased an OEM version (whatever that means), and I didn't get any software with it.

So I just downloaded and installed some trial version of WinDVD and it the DVD played. Someone told me to get Power something or another. When this trial expires maybe I will. Have you ever heard of that? Thanks for your help.

[FouTight]

I don't really know, not familiar with the DVD playing software, I don't use it much, can't help you with that.

OEM, as far as I know, stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. It's basically the parts that are sold to computer companys and not sold in stores. They don't include the extra parts or software, they are cheaper because of this.

[stabn]

Please do not link piracy sites, warez, etc on 2+2. I've removed the link from your post and I will try and finish the sticky i am working on by this weekend so that this will be clear to everyone in the future.

tx

stabn

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks.

Yes, it appears I purchased an OEM version (whatever that means), and I didn't get any software with it.

So I just downloaded and installed some trial version of WinDVD and it the DVD played. Someone told me to get Power something or another. When this trial expires maybe I will. Have you ever heard of that? Thanks for your help.

[/ QUOTE ]

I personally use WinDVD and would recommend it if the price isn't too bad (it came with my PC so i don't know how much it costs retail).

The power one you were recommended is probably cyberlink PowerDVD. You can get a free trial or order it here. (http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/download/download.html)

[Lestat]

If it's too technical don't feel you have to respond, but what ARE all these things? My computer played movies just fine before I even bought the DVD player. ?? Now all of a sudden I need all this software to play a movie just because it's on a DVD? I guess that's it, but it seems way more complicated than it has to be.

Again, I don't have a problem paying for anything. I'm not looking to pirate or do anything illegal. I just want the simplest way to play a friggin movie. Aaaghh! This WinDVD came with all kinds of other stuff that I don't even know what's for. There's a google search bar on my desktop and in my task bar now. I really don't want those there. I have no problem just going to the google website if I need to look something up.

As you can see, I'm really computer illiterate.

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]
If it's too technical don't feel you have to respond, but what ARE all these things? My computer played movies just fine before I even bought the DVD player. ?? Now all of a sudden I need all this software to play a movie just because it's on a DVD? I guess that's it, but it seems way more complicated than it has to be.

Again, I don't have a problem paying for anything. I'm not looking to pirate or do anything illegal. I just want the simplest way to play a friggin movie. Aaaghh! This WinDVD came with all kinds of other stuff that I don't even know what's for. There's a google search bar on my desktop and in my task bar now. I really don't want those there. I have no problem just going to the google website if I need to look something up.

As you can see, I'm really computer illiterate.

[/ QUOTE ]

Basically DVD's are encrypted and the format they are encrypted in is a little 40 bit proprietary sceme. The drive you bought can read a DVD but does not have a hardware decoder (to unecrypt the datastream). So you buy a program that is licensed by the owners of the DVD-CCA encryption sceme to unencode the data. (Going to lunch i'll finish this post later along w/ instructions on how to install WinDVD w/o all that extra [censored]).

Going on to WinDVD:

Wow this installer has no custom setup option, that's pretty bs. It does however have the option screen near the end of setup with two check boxes. They say Google Toolbar and Google Desktop Search. If you had unchecked them during setup they wouldn't be installed. Same with InterActual on the following screen. A decent rule of them is to always uncheck options for 3rd party programs or non required options (like subscribing you to mailing lists) with installing things like dvd players/codecs/real player. Now that you've installed those options if you want you can go to

Start | Run | appwiz.cpl
On the Change or remove Programs tab find InterVideo WinDVD 7 and click remove. Follow the options to completely remove it. Then it is your choice to either reinstall it unselecting the checkboxes mentioned above or try another dvd player.

Let me know if you need any additional help / information.

[Lestat]

Thanks a lot Stabn. A huge help. I'll let you know if I run into any problems. Have you ever heard of this Power thing that someone recommended to me? Do you think that might be better or are they all pretty much the same? Thanks again.

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks a lot Stabn. A huge help. I'll let you know if I run into any problems. Have you ever heard of this Power thing that someone recommended to me? Do you think that might be better or are they all pretty much the same? Thanks again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't tried the PowerDVD myself no. I did find the download for it which i linked earlier in the thread. If i get a chance i'll take a look at it later tonight and let you know what i think of it.

[astroglide]

i've always had better luck with powerdvd than windvd

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]
i've always had better luck with powerdvd than windvd

[/ QUOTE ]

What problems did you have with WinDVD?

[astroglide]

interface niggles are my biggest complaint (the fact that i'm accustomed to powerdvd is no doubt a part of this now), but i have had an update-requirement showstopper situation and i didn't like their processes regarding patches.

http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/download/patches_1_ENU.html is nice and clean - no login for the downloads, it's very clear which patches are for which builds, etc. dvd playback is fairly far from rocket science in terms of stability/compatibility now, so that should be de-emphasized as a REQUIREMENT, but it's certainly nice to know that you can get clean updates easily if the need arises.

[stabn]

That is definitely a nicer method of patching. Interface wise i haven't really had a problem with interdvd. I just checked out PowerDVD and the difference isn't really enough for me to switch but i would probably choose if it i had neither. The screen cap feature worked pretty smoothly and i think lestat would enjoy the fact that it doesn't install a bunch of extra crap by default.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/stabn/captured.jpg

[Lestat]

So then I take it you're recommending PowerDVD?

[tigerite]

There's a freeware all-in-one media player out there, I've forgotten its name though. I have it installed at home and will find that out for you later.

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]
So then I take it you're recommending PowerDVD?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. You probably don't need the deluxe version either and the standard version is the same price and WinDVD.

[Lestat]

Thanks! I would appreciate it. But again, I don't mind paying for a legitimate product, especially if it will prevent hassles or problems down the road. In fact, I'd RATHER pay for it if it prevents this.

[astroglide]

oem copies should be like $10 or less

[tigerite]

Sorry I forgot all about this - it's called VLC media player.