Cannot play off the shelf DVD's on my pc dvdRW

This problem has been an odd one. Firstly, on my old pc, which i built myself, my DVD rewriter worked perfectly, burning and reading all discs I made, but it would not recognise or play off the shelf DVD's (movies etc..). This was not a region issue, that was set correctly.

It annoyed me, but as I was building a new machine i let it go. I then built the new machine, all new parts - a 100% change of hardware, new liteON dvd burner etc.. and installed vista ultimate. I had suspected that my problem on the old setup was the lack of a DVD decoder - but as ultimate includes one, i thought my problem would be solved... but alas.. i have EXACTLY the same problem now... i cannot play off the shelf DVD's - same problem across 2 home built distinct systems and 2 different sets of hardware and software... what am i doing wrong?

i have installed VLC, media player classic (both with their own dvd decrypters) and again have cheked and rechecked the region and driver and firmware (all up to date and no newer versions available) ... so i should be playing these discs with no problem... but im not... again to clarify, i can play dvd data discs, and burn dvd and dvd data no problem... i just cannot play them in the native DVD format either burned or off the shelf!


please help, this is driving me insane!

 

Hi and welcome to the BBS,
Seems like an interesting problem . Hardware or software?

Usually it is best to check the hardware first, but since it seems to have been the same problem on a completely different, previous computer it may be due to software you have carried over.

Take away the different hardware and you would just be left with the supply of power. Any mains power problems?

You could try running the drive in another computer. That would tell you if the drive is still working correctly...if so, you may need to concentrate on the software.

Software, have you carried over any software that may be an influence? Some burning programs can include a "virtual CD (DVD?) drive ". Check through the drives in Device Manager.

You can run a trial of PowerDVD if you would like to try another player (decoder):
http://www.download.com/CyberLink-PowerDVD/3000-2139_4-10352449.html?tag=lst-1

Can you see the files on a video DVD by using Windows Explorer? [A problem with Autoplay?]

Just some areas I would investigate. You will need to find some area of "overlap" if it is the same problem as in original system.

Matt

 

I'd go with Matt, Power DVD has never failed on me, if you happen to have Nero, the new version also plays DVD.
maybe missing codecs.
Are you using the 80 wire ribbon, or are you running a lead (sound) from Burner to mobo don't set your burner to Digital in the properties. Just a couple of thoughts if that is all set then it looks to be a software problem as your Burner works ok in any other way.
If you get it working report back this is a interesting one.
hawk22

 

i tried powerDVD today, and it didnt work

i will clarify, i have had exactly the same problem crossing over 2 distinct set ups - my old pc was running xp and my new one, vista ultimate. All the parts for this new CD are 100% new, EVERYTHING.. power supply and all. all the software is therefore the vista version so is new to me also... yet the same odd problem remains

im no novice, but this is really leading to a frustration.

the mains supply is fine.

i cant see the dvd on windows explorer no, what happens is it spins a little, makes a bit of a grumbling noise then whatever software program im using (or the dvd drive icon in windows explorer) tells me i have no disc in the drive (but i do have on ... a DVD!!??)

this drive works perfectly otherwise, and again its identical to the problem with the different drive on the different pc... in fact i actually moved house between the pc change ... good god what is causing this!

my only estimation is this is software based. I built both my own systems, and there has to be something i overlooked when pairing the dvdrw with the OS

im sorry friend, i have no idea to what yo are referring there! there is no internal lead connecting the drive to any sound port on my mobo - i have never seen the need for that (maybe thats my problem......?)

 

That is ok then, but have you then set your properties to Digital in the Device Manager and also set to the correct Region. Can you play Audio CD's ok, if you have sound then you are on Digital, have you checked the drivers in the Device Manager.
Like you say, there is something that you have missed.
Your Jumper Setting on the drive, what do you have it set at, my new Pioneer preferred cabel select and 80 wire ribbon as I was using PATA, is the drive SATA or PATA and correctly connected to the mobo. I have put together several PC's but never had this problem also I have had situations when the burner would not read media, no yellow marks in the Device Manager no IRQ conflicts change cabling.
hawk22

 

also what DMA setting are you on.

 

its a sata drive, and the region is set correctly - i had detailed that in the OP. as for DMA, i have never tinkered with it in my 10 years of using windows

my drive is SATA - and if im correct, there are no jumper settings necessary for sata connections. I have even changed the sata cable, no difference

audio is fine, everything plays great, cd's, data cd's, data DVD's etc... but just not retail off the shelf dvds which the machine spits back out as if there was no disc in the tray

there are no 'yellow marks' in the device manager, vista (and xp before it) tells me that my dvd drive and all other software is up to date and working perfectly.. this one is a real needle in a haystack

So far, everything that has been mentioned i have already tried prior to this thread's making.... i really would love to get to the bottom of this!

 

Well, not much left. After inserting the DVD can you see the files going through Run you should have 2 Files Audio_TS & Video_TS.
Only thing that I would do now is find a Friend or Family member that has a PC with a working player and try a exchange yours in his and see if its works and his in yours, that way at least you can determine if it is the PC or the player, and if need be buy a new one I have 2 PC's and both have 2 Burners installed they are pretty cheap now.
hawk22

 

You might want to consider trying a utility like DVD43 to see if its related to a copy protection problem with off the shelf DVD's.

 

tried that.. no banana!

 

It's like Rockster said. It's more than likely a copy protection issue. I have some DVDs that will play on my computer (older ones) and I have some that won't play (newer ones). There is software available that will let you view them but most of those programs haven't been updated in ages so they won't work with the newest copy protection schemes. The movie industry has pretty much shut them down.

Search Google. You might find something that will allow you to play some of them.

 

why wont some play and some do then? i dont understand that at all - whats to copy protect from a pc dvd player?

have you any reccomendations?

ive actually tried some older DVDs and you are right, they work, but newer ones dont.

 

The major studios constantly change their encryption techniques to defeat end users from copying / burning DVD movies. Unfortunately this can cause some playback problems with any DVD player / commercial DVD. With a house full of kids, we rent new release movies on a weekly basis. My almost six year old DVD ROM reader (original firmware ) will stumble on 1 or 2 a year. I just move it to my new Samsung CD/DVD/RW and it plays fine. You may have a weak/defective liteON optical. Have you / could you move this optical to another computer to test? My only suggestion now is to start with clean basics. Uninstall ALL third party burning / player software (be sure you have original install disc / program). Reboot, clean the registry. Now use Vista "Safely Remove Hardware option" and then physically uninstall all optical(s). Reboot, may want to do another registry check / clean. Shut down, install liteON only, reboot and let Vista install new hardware. Reboot. Hopefully Vista Ultimate/WMP 11 will start to cooperate.

 

Please try AnyDVD from http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html

Its updated regularly, in fact the last update was just a couple days ago.

 

thanks for the help everyone, i posted this on several forums and this was the only one where i got anything near a decent reply, never mind the plentiful contributions people made here

i have a partial solution now, some DVDs play with powerDVD, but some dont. Ill swap out the drive next chance i get

can anyone reccomend a good all round burner/player that will handle whatever i put in it, dual layer included for a reasonable price? i dont think my next drive will be a liteon!

 

My Samsung is the best when it comes to get past security.
But I mostly use the ASUS I have the 18 14 but there is a newer model 20 something dual layer plus LightScribe as a bonus if you like to use it.
If it makes you feel any better I had been searching in other Forums regarding your problem and you are not alone and mostly the culprit was a LightOn.

 

i think ill definitely try a samsung in the future then

many thanks!