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Copy-Protection Error


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#1
o2mcgovem

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Hi, I'm having trouble playing DVDs. Recently, I decided to get rid of my telly, freeview box, stereo and dvd player and just use my laptop as a media centre. It's been great... I love being able to pause TV and stuff, but now my laptop refuses to play DVDs I have no way of watching them in my room (or wherever my laptop goes). It did used to work fine.

When I insert a store-bought DVD and select WMP from the AutoPlay selection, I get the following message:

Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because there is a problem with digital copy protection between your DVD drive, decoder, and video card. Try installing an updated driver for your video card.


I've tried playing different store-bought discs, they all display that message. Other programs just refuse to play them. I've also tried the discs on other players in the house... they play on standard DVD players, the family computer (running Windows XP) and our XBOX 360.

I've followed the advice in the message, I downloaded a new driver from Dell and installed the K-Lite Codec pack. But still I cannot play DVDs. The "Media Player Classic" program it installs won't play it either (it says "DVD: Copy-Protect fail" in the status bar). After scouring the internet for information I've found nothing that helps me. I did find a link on the Microsoft website, but I don't know what to make of it. I don't use screensavers and just have my monitor switch off after 5 minutes to save power... screensavers just waste energy.

I'm really confused, and annoyed. Please help. Does anybody have any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Michael :whistling:
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#2
Jacee

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Vista Home will not play DVD's in WMP. You mentioned Windows Classic Player....I have that on my Vista business laptop and it works great! Is this the same version you have?

MPC 6.4.9.0

Download here:
http://sourceforge.n...ackage_id=84358
Run in compatibility mode with XP SP2 (click on Properties to make sure)

Run as Administer.
Click "open DVD"... Put your DVD in and watch the movie

This is another media player that works with Vista Home:
VLC
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
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#3
Sublimelyoblivious

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That is odd. I have Vista and my laptop plays movies just fine. Is this problem specific to upgraded versions of Vista??
I also have an HP program called quickplay and although it is annoying, it plays Dvd's fine as well.
Perhaps an old version of Media Player?? I think there is a newer one out ....11 maybe?
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#4
o2mcgovem

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Hi, thanks for your responses... much appreciated. :whistling:

DVD playback works in that VLC player, but not in anything else. I really want to be able to play my DVDs in Media Center.

Well, according to Microsoft's website Home Premium and Ultimate are supposed to be able to play DVDs out-of-the-box. Dell didn't install a player at all on my laptop, Windows Media Player 11 is all that's installed. I really don't understand how it just stopped working... I can't even remember when it was either since I've been away a lot during the Summer.

Perhaps there was a update or something from Microsoft Update that broke it? It's the only thing I can think of.
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#5
milo_anderson

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I was having this same problem and found that installing the drivers from my monitor solved the problem. I thought it was kind of silly that a monitor that was working just fine would need drivers, but i think it has something to do with the dvd not being able to tell what it is outputting to. My guess is it doesn't want to be going to some sort of ripping software/device. It only wants to be sent to a monitor.
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#6
Leemf

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Here is a report about the copy right protection on WMP and other Media Players.
http://www.zdnet.com...nter-owners/114

Edited by Leemf, 02 January 2011 - 09:31 PM.

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