How to watch DVD over Network?

[homestarmy]

Well I've got my HTPC together and hooked up, but one problem... it's currently using a regular CD rom. So what can I do to watch DVDs using the drive on another computer on my network? I normally use PowerDVD if that matters, and both of the computers are on XP.

I don't think you can share an optical drive... can you?

 

[Slick5150]

Just rip the DVD to a hard drive on one computer, and either transfer the folder over to the PC you want to watch it on (its a large transfer, so it will take awhile), or open up PowerDVD and tell it to open a folder, and point it to the folder on the other PC where the movie was ripped to (make sure its shared on the network).

 

[Aleksandar]

or you can share the dvd drive

 

[jackschmittusa]

Sharing the drive probably won't work. But mapping it to the other machine might. You would have to install the dvd viewing software on the machine and point it to the mapped drive. Not sure if this will work, but I've had lots of software that couldn't see a drive on another machine unless it was mapped.

 

[homestarmy]

Ok, as stated I don't think you can share the drive... can someone help me on how to map the drive from one XP computer to another?

And ripping the movie first... well I could hook up a dvd player faster...

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
Sharing the drive probably won't work. But mapping it to the other machine might. You would have to install the dvd viewing software on the machine and point it to the mapped drive. Not sure if this will work, but I've had lots of software that couldn't see a drive on another machine unless it was mapped.

Sharing the DVD drive is very possible - what's the issue with doing that? You'd do exactly as you describe.

 

[homestarmy]

You can't right click on it and choose share. I don't see why you can't map it to use over the network, anyone care to explain HOW?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
You can't right click on it and choose share. I don't see why you can't map it to use over the network, anyone care to explain HOW?

You can right click on your DVD and choose "share". Is that what you're trying to do?

net use * \\computername-with-shared-dvd-drive\dvd-drive-share-name /user:username-on-shared-dvd-computer password

SO if I had sharename of D on computername DVD_COMPUTER, with a username on there of DVDUSER and a password of PWD, I'd put in:

net use * \\dvd_computer\D /uservduser PWD

and that would map the next available drive letter to the DVD drive.

Or you can just do it all in the GUI.

 

[homestarmy]

I didn't think I could share it the other day, I swear I couldn't see the share option, but there I look today and it's right freakin there... so I have it shared on the network, thanks guys!