Can no longer play commercial DVDs on my Microsoft Media Player.

Microsoft XP. Used to play commercial DVDs, eg movies on Microsoft Media Player. Doesn't now. Instead I get a message that I need a compatible DVD decoder
My sister has XP & can download CD music tracks for Movie Maker. When I try with the same CDs that she uses, I get a track protected message that prevents this. .Happens with all my CDs
Please advise. Many thanks. G Jones

Anonymous Nov 23, 2008

Tried previously to download decoder from ROXIO (?) £9.99 Failed to do so Will try Power.

Don't know if I have Sony Root Kit. Will google it anyway & disable in case I do have it.

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Anonymous

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Posted on Nov 23, 2008

Anonymous

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If you are trying to play commercial DVDs, you need a dvd decoder program for XP (Power DVD or something similar).

Not sure about the CD problem but you may have installed something that is blocking the tracks from ripping to your hard drive. Some music CD's actually install software on your PC which can block ripping. Sony had a SNAFU where they installed "a rootkit" on people's PCs without the user knowing. That might have happend to you. If you have the sony root kit, do a google search on how to remove it.

John Lox

Anonymous Nov 23, 2008

After re-reading the original post, you stated that you used to be able to play
commercial DVD's, but now you can't. Did you add/remove any software recently?

I agree with leecom72 that you shouldn't buy something if you don't need to, especially if already have/had it. There is lots of great freeware out there.

Have you tried microsoft system restore to a date before the issues started?

Lee Hodgson

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Posted on Nov 23, 2008

Lee Hodgson

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Download this >>>>>>> XP codec pack: http://www.xpcodecpack.com/download
install this codec pack, after install reboot the pc and try again, if microsoft media player still gives you grief, open the dvd's and cd's in media player classic, it will be on the desktop
hope this helps
regards

Lee Hodgson Nov 23, 2008

you don't need a decoder, your just going to throw money away so don't pay for something that is free, microsoft media player always does this even if you update it, codecs basically are the same thing, they use the same decoding technology and intall the latest codes so you can watch the latest video file or listen to the lastest audio file, because piracy is so rife microsoft cannot be seen to endorse this kind of thing so the software locks you out. you have to be wise to this and if you want to watch something, just simply watch it through a different media player. if you use a torrent client you can download any media player like roxio etc

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Can no longer play commercial DVDs on my Microsoft Media Player.