DVD Decoder and windows 2000. need help

[JohnnyMCE]

Ok so I am working on a DSL/Win2k dual boot for a very old laptop 333mhz 328mb ram. So far DSL is working fine but on the windows 2k side the machine is not able to read any dvd's. I put a dvd in and it says I need a dvd decoder. I've looked around but have not been able to find anything that helps. The laptop model is a sony vaio pcg-f180 and the model of the dvd-rom is toshiba dvd-rom sd-c2102. It is running windows 2000 sp4. Apparently software is not enough VLC crashes when i try to open a dvd after closing the previously stated error message.

 

[Cerb]

Find a cheap copy PowerDVD on ebay, maybe? I don't think Win2k can play an encrypted or region-locked DVD OOtB.

However, a 333 will have trouble playing many DVDs smoothly.

 

[JohnnyMCE]

i got a trial of powerdvd 7 and technically it did work. Like you said though it was super painful. Plus it was strictly cpu that was maxed. The memory still have about 150mb left. The OS is pretty barebones at the moment just win2k and it's updates any suggestions to possibly be able to play a dvd on a 333?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Check out G-Spot to investigate your codecs.

And if you are going to make it work, an older version of PowerDVD would be the way to do it.




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[mfenn]

I remember back in the Pentium II days there were hardware MPEG2 decodes available for people who wanted to watch DVDs on their desktop PCs. I don't think a mobile 333MHz part has the horsepower to accomplish the task.