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DVD won't play in new computer

E

edjacobson

Junior Member
Hello, I just built a PC with a NEC 3520A DVD player. Specs in signature. When I insert a DVD into the player, it won't play. A window from Universal InterActual Player appears, but then I get an error message that says "Playback failed due to a problem with the video subsystem. Lowering your screen resolution or color depth may fix the problem."

I also downloaded Windows Media Player 9.0, and it doesn't recognize that I have a DVD disk in the player. The player works on CDs without problem.

Anyone have any tips on how to correct this problem? This is a first build for me, so I'm new to getting the whole system up and running. Thanks.
 
InterActual Player and Windows Media Player are just front ends, you still need DVD decoder software like WinDVD or VideoLan. A lot of motherboards have WinDVD free on the drivers disk that comes with the motherboard, otherwise you may have to pay for a copy. VideoLan is a freeware decoder but the last time I tried it, it was a little buggy. Beware other "free" DVD decoders which will install spyware on your system.

It's probably also good to rule out a defective drive... if you have any data DVDs lying around, see if you can read data files off of them. If you can, then it's definitely the decoder.

-Adam in Philly
 
kb3edk is correct. By default Windows has no DVD decoder. If you get one from someplace else then Media Player will use it.
Did you get an OEM or Retail version of the 3520A? It should have come with some freebee software like WinDVD or PowerDVD. Failing that, you could go to Best Buy and look for decoder software in the bargain bin. I got the full version of PowerDVD for $8.

Just to beat the dead horse a little more.....
Any decoder you get free from the internet will either quit after 15 minutes or infect you with spyware.
 
Thanks for the help guys. I downloaded the NVIDIA decoders which have a free 30 day trial and my DVD player is now working. I'll see if I buy this version or find a better one.
 
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