[bogged]

Hello. I've purchased a second hand dvd drive and installed it in my computer. I put a dvd in it and tried to watch the movie using win media player. It didn't recognise the format, and wouldn't play it.

My question is, is there a freeware/shareware program that I can use to let me watch the dvd's on my pc.

Please note..my computer knowledge is quite poor.

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Try VLC

http://www.filehippo.com/download_vlc/

[Retired Tech]

Try VLC

http://www.filehippo.com/download_vlc/

[bogged]

Thanks for your help Keith...
I downloaded the program, but it crashed during installation. It did leave the VLC media player icon on the desktop, but when I double click it I get this window.......FATAL ERROR, Error while loading DLL 'unicows.dll'! The application will terminate now.

I'm running win98se

[Retired Tech]

Click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools, system information, tools then run system file checker and replace any files it asks for from the 98 CD then reboot.

Run the VLC installation again

[bogged]

Keith, I did what you said and then redownloaded the program. It got the same fatal error while the files were installing. The blue bar gets about 3/4 of the way acrooss and then the fatal error appears.
I don't know if it will help but the last file it gets to install is Registering C:\program files\Videolan\vlc\axvlc.dll

Hope this helps
Bogged

[Retired Tech]

Can you see if this will install

http://www.filehippo...nload_bsplayer/

If not

Boot the PC and keep tapping F8 right after the beep until you get options, select command prompt only, give it a minute to arrive at the prompt with a flashing cursor then type scanreg.exe /fix then press enter, it will run through a few screens then say registry repaired. Press enter then press ctrl + alt + delete keys together to reboot.

Then try to install either player

[bogged]

Yes, the bsplayer did download successfully. Thankyou for your help Keith.

My problem now is, I put a shop bought dvd in and use the bsplayer to watch it, but get no picture or sound, just a black screen. The bsplayers clock/timer is ticking over showing it's playing.

Should I start a new topic with my new problem?

Thanks for your help getting me this far Keith. Much appreciated, Bogged.

[Retired Tech]

Can you check the default codecs are enabled, instructions here

http://www.free-code..._in_Windows.htm

If the disc still does not play, can you install the all in one codec pack

http://www.free-code...ck_All_in_1.htm

[bogged]

Thanks mate. I downloaded the codec pack as instructed. I got my hands on a burnt dvd and it plays fine using bsplayer.
But a shop bought dvd is very pixelated and the sound is jumpy.

I also found this geekstogo link http://www.freedomli...ic.php?p=170884 that seems to be an answer to getting the vlc player running on win98se. Should I give it a go to see if the vlc player is any better?

Please note that my computer is old and this might be the reason for the pixelation of shop bought dvd's.

Once again, thanks for helping me Keith.

Much appreciated,
Bogged.

[Retired Tech]

See if you can get VLC installed

If the computer does everything else you need, a standalone DVD player is probably cheaper than upgrading the PC