cant play movies

I bought a new Dell laptop computer, it won't play a dvd movie, I have looked and it doesnt have any type of software or an app to play movies. what company in this day and age sells a computer without this type of software or app already installed. I had always promised myself not to buy a Dell because I had heard so many bad stories about them, didnt follow my own advice, so my question is does anyone know of a good free app to play dvd movies with. I have Windows 8.1 and the ones i have found so far said they are not compatable with 8.1. Thanks

 

Please fill in your system specs. Go to User CP near the top left and when you are done, don't forget to Save.

Have you tried right clicking on the DVD and choose Open With and see what choices it gives you?

 

ok tried installing VLC Media player, also tried Video VM player neither one would work, both would bring up the video ts and audio files but would not play the movie. what did I do wrong is it somethig with windows 8.1 or with apps themselves, I can download a video and burn a video I just can't watch a video

 

Ok downloaded K-Lite codec pack and still just wants to just bring up the file and wont play the movie and i am using a retail dvd, Guardians of the Galaxy, but still wont play the movie

 

I have both WMP and VLC Media Player V2.1.5 Rincewind and BOTH play DVD's without any problems.
I have K-Lite Mega Codec Pack V10.3.5.0 installed and I have no problems whatsoever in playing CD's/DVD's.
Look in my System specs to see OS.
Did you select what you wanted K-Lite to do? Neil.

 

Ok I got VLC media player to work but only with burned videos if I put in a retail video it just keeps playing the first preview on disc. I havent found an option for disc menu yet but will keep looking, but at least I can play burned discs that is a step farther than I was this morning, yeah!!!

 

Ok got it figured out, I just have to watch all of the previews and anything else on the begining of any retail DVD. I looked through all of the options and I can find nothing that will let me skip to the disc menu so I can live with that or I should say my sister can I am trying to get this set up so she can watch movies while she is in the hospital, she had some major surgery and will be in there for a while so she has lots of time to watch all the previews. Thanks for your help I have another issue with this computer but will wait till she gets out to address it Thanks again!!!

 

Do you know how to mark a thread as resolved? If not just above your original post and over to the right click on Thread Tools scroll down to the bottom of the menu list and click on the last entry.

 

Ok I wanted to say I had to redownload VLC media player before it worked. I do not know if I downloaded the wrong version the first time or if it downloaded incorectly but the second time it worked once I figured it out how to work the software. I was just going to ask how to mark this as resolved issue because I couldn't find where you did that from, thanks for the info!

 

Glad you got it working. Thank you for marking this thread as resolved.