Resolved Clear.fi playmovie.exe program suddenly can't play dvds

On my Acer AX-1920-ER20P desktop (running windows 7) I've always had Clear.fi "˜playmovie.exe’ player/program (which came with the Acer computer) automatically play DVDs when I insert one into the drive. Suddenly, after a windows update, the program runs when I insert a DVD, but I get a black screen and there is no menu.

NOW, if I run the program then insert a DVD it recognizes it (shows the drive letter and the name of the DVD) *BUT* the Resume, Restart and Settings buttons are all 'greyed' out and can't be clicked. I used to be ABLE to click these buttons and then choose what I wanted to watch, not anymore. I tried downloading/installing the most recent version of Clear.fi from the Acer website (at "http://www.acer.com/clearfi/download/ ") but still have the same problem. I can view DVDs fine in other programs on the same PC. Why would Clear.fi just stop working properly? Another person also started having this problem around the same time (I posted on the Acer website as well as opened a ticket with them but no response so far, see: http://community.acer.com/t5/Softwa...-program-suddenly-can-t-play-dvds/td-p/194197).

FYI:
Someone else had this problem on a laptop a while back at link http://community.acer.com/t5/Notebooks-Netbooks/Clear-fi-No-picture/m-p/114023#M23219 but there was no solution posted.

 

I've only read the thread in your second link but I'd suggest changing your DVD Player software until/IF the software is updated to resolve the issues.

 

Well as stated in that 2nd link, I have changed it to Media Player Classic for now, but the problem with windows 7 is that it doesn't allow you to change to a specific program to auto-open the DVD *unless* it's in the list that *IT* generated somehow. I have a few other players I would prefer to use but windows only lets me change to Clear-fi, Windows Media Player or Media Player Classic. And as stated in that link Clear.fi isn't working, Windows Media Player doesn't launch automatically even if chosen, so Media Player Classic is the only only working right now. Now WHY windows only has those 3 and not any of the other programs I have installed as choices is anyone's guess. You USED to be able to hold down ALT and right click on the drive letter and choose any program you wanted to 'always open' the DVD with, but that is no longer possible.

I can find no other way to choose which program to auto open with except for the windows auto-open option as explained in that link I gave and again: that only gives the 3 programs as options.

This is called progress <sigh>.

This was never an issue before because Clear.fi auto-played flawlessly and looked good. Not anymore.

 

FOUND the solution!

Acer support sent me a link to the solution via email. It wasn't as drastic as reinstalling/resetting everything as there was a third option at the following link ( http://acer-au.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29924 )to ONLY reinstall certain applications/drivers.


Here is the info for that step (I chose to reinstall 'Acer Clear.fi' from the list and left 'Acer Clear.fi Client' alone. It asked to uninstall Clear.fi that was already there first, which I said 'Yes' to, then it reinstalled a fresh version):

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The third option is Reinstall Drivers or Applications. This will allow you to reinstall any application or driver that you may be having problems with that came installed on your computer without reinstalling Windows completely.

To reinstall a driver or application follow the below steps:

1. Click on the Start menu and click All Programs.

2. In the program list click the Acer folder, then click the Acer eRecovery Management icon.

3. Windows User Account Control may ask for your permission to run this program, click Yes.

4. From the Acer eRecovery Management window on the left click Restore, then click Reinstall Drivers or Applications.

5. Select Contents.

6. Choose the driver or application you wish to install.

7. On the right, click the Install link and follow the prompts.

8. The computer may restart when installation is complete. If it does not restart, manually shutdown and restart the computer