My DVD player works on everybody's computer but mine :(

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troubledshooter

Senior member
Aug 17, 2000
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Yesterday, for the first time I actaully tried watching a full DVD. It failed. Using PowerDVD 2.55 I was unable to view anything past the 35 minute mark on any DVD. On the Matrix for example, when going to scene selector I could only see the first 6 scenes, and if I selected the 6th (about 31 minutes in) I could only watch for 3 min. At that point PowerDVD just exited. If I used the navigational slider to slide past this point, to ANY point farther than this, PowerDVD would exit. Using WinDVD, some DVDs play perfectly, and others will not play (Matrix for example will not even start. I put it in, and WinDVD greys out like it is about to begin playing, then returns to the play button and nothing happens). I know all the DVDs work as I tested them in another computer.

EDIT:
Today I tried something else--I opened up my roomate's comp and tried my DVD drive in there. Problem gone. Used PowerDVD to play Matrix flawlessly. Only differences I can observe are: he is using a 1 device 40 wire cable, and running win98se. I am using a 2 device 80 wire (UDMA) cable and running win2k. I have tried the drive as slave, master, alone, and in both primary and secondary IDE channels. Could Win2k REALLY be the cause of this, or is the cable more likely? (His setup is an original athtlon 500).

thanks again guys
___________________________
Abit KT7 motherboard-newest VIA 4-in-1, bios
AMD Thunderbird 950
256 Micron pc133 RAM
12x DVD toshiba
12x10x32A plexwriter
eVGA geforce2 MX-5.32 Nvidia win2k drivers
20.5 GB 7200 RPM Western Digital HD
 
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troubledshooter

Senior member
Aug 17, 2000
315
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Yep, both software are full (one I own, other borrowed from friend to test and see if I should switch)

no more ideas?
 
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Chintan

Member
Jan 5, 2000
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it might be your dvd player (hardware) that is not working properly. Matrix is a dual-layered DVD and some DVD players have lots of trouble reading these type of discs. Try watching another dual-layered DVD on your player (e.g., Sphere, the Mummy) and see if the problem persists. hope that helps

 
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Erasmus-X

Platinum Member
Oct 11, 1999
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If your current DVD-ROM drive can't read dual-layered discs, there should be a way to correct this by updating it to the latest firmware from the manufactuter. This used to be a classic problem with many standalone DVD players from the last couple of years. Once dual-layered discs like The Matrix starting being released, people would have to send off their players to their respective manufacturers to have a firmware updates performed on them.

My friend had that problem with his old Sony DVD player. Luckily, he had a service plan on it at Best Buy and he got the firmware update free of shipping/handling charges.
 
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Grminalac

Golden Member
Aug 25, 2000
1,149
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I doubt it is a hardware problem. Most dual layer discs switch near the end of a film, not near the beginning. Also the fact that it screws up at the exact same point on a single layer disc proves that the problem does not have anything to do with disc layering.
You must not have a registered copy of powerDVD, you only have an evaluation copy. you'll have to purchase it, or figure out a way to register it.
 
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rmblam

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2000
1,237
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Might be related?

My "Toshiba" DVD player in my new laptop crapped out after 30 minutes on most movies and after reboot would only play another 5 minutes or so. Sometimes I'd get lucky and it would play longer but in most cases 30 minutes was tops. I tried the works to get it to go but finally gave up and sent it in. When I got it back it had a new drive in it. hmmmm. Guess it was a crappy drive after all.

Good luck

Also, do you have dma on? Do you have direct X 7 and the most current directmedia engine? Not sure if they are past version 6 with the patch. Try updating those and reinstall the dvd player. I'd remove multiple players and try them one at a time. Also try DVD genie for tweaking.
 
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troubledshooter

Senior member
Aug 17, 2000
315
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NFS4...jsut read that whole thread. Some interesting ideas, but no conformation as to what worked...what did? Or didn't you ever find out? As I said, some DVDs play PERFECTLY with windvd 2k, others wont start. Everything starts, nothing plays past 30 min or so with powerdvd. I assure you I have demos, AND full versions of each and have gone through the process of making sure I am using only the full versions.

Checking that site listed at the bottom of that post now, but really, what worked for you? As this whole system is brand new nothing should be "dying" but there is always the possibility for a defect.

I have all windows updates installed save the most recent windows media player. Win2k comes with directx 7+ or whatever, so I should be fine there, but what is directmedia?

Finally, I absolutely cannot get DMA enabled. I have been trying for several days to do so. Its on auto in bios, same setting as my HD, and set for Use DMA if avail. in win2k, but it refuses. I don't understand it.

anyway, any more ideas are always appreciated.

thanks again
 
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rmblam

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2000
1,237
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Check the link below to maybe activate dma. Check your bios also if you haven't. I remember being prompted whether or not I wanted dma enabled when I installed my via 4 in 1 drivers also. Something to think about. Maybe you'll need to reinstall your bus or ide drivers??

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=223749

I doubt directX media is necessary but what the hell. I tried EVERYTHING when I was debugging mine. Look towards the bottom of the page. It may be already included in w2k.

http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp

 
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Midnight82

Member
May 6, 2000
58
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Kinda related, but I have problem everytime I try to play the "off to the oracle" scene on the Matrix DVD. The DVD pauses and then restarts to the beginning. The rest of the DVD is fine. I have been able to play Star Trek: First Contact all the way through with no problems. Any ideas?

I also get a 'skip' every once in awhile...nothing major, but it just seems like a frame or two is dropped for a split second every 10 minutes more but maybe its more random i dunno.

I have a Creative PC-DVD Encore 8X DVD player using the latest drivers and software for the DVD. Using the Creative PC-DVD player. Any help would be appreciated.
 
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troubledshooter

Senior member
Aug 17, 2000
315
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I don't think I have SB16 even installed...but thanks for the info. Just to be sure, EXACTLY how would I check?

I did this:

Went to device manager (win2k)

pulled down sound etc.
listed the following:
Audio Codecs
Creative SB Live! (WDM)
Game Port for Creative...
Legacy Audio...
Legacy Video...
Media Control...
Video Codecs

Nothin about SB16 emulation.

I'd love to know about it if its hiding from me though!

thanks as always
 
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troubledshooter

Senior member
Aug 17, 2000
315
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In reading part of that thread you referred me to, I read something about DMA modes. In my hardware resources folder in System Information (win2k once again) when I click on DMA I see only 2 modes listed...2 and 4.

Channel Device Status
4 Direct memory access controller OK
2 Standard floppy disk controller OK

should that tell me something?

thanks again!

boy am I getting frustrated
 
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rmblam

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2000
1,237
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Do you have a SB Live card installed or is it onboard? I'm not a w2k expert, but does w2k use dos (doubt it) or is it like ME? No dos would mean no sb16 emulation. It would be in settings/control panel/system/device manager and under a different spot than sound,video, game controllers. I can't remember and I'm at work (no sb live here). Anyway, check under "properties" for the listing if you see it. Check the "properties" of the sb live also just for kicks.

You might have to play with the dma settings in your bios also to get more options if your two choices don't help. I'll do some digging when I get home and see if I can come up with clearer help.

How about that 4in1 installation? Do you remeber activating dma or have you tried the upgrade or reinstall? I've reinstalled and upgraded/downgraded a few times with no ill effect as I benched each. Might want to try it... Hopefully it won't fu*k up your system more... :) jk

I hate it when I am debugging and I make more problems than when I STARTED... Come on we've all done it at one time or another...lol

Can you say fdisk without the expletives??
 
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troubledshooter

Senior member
Aug 17, 2000
315
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I am all too familiar with that last line of yours.

Interestingly enough, I got the problem resolved. It WAS in fact a BIOS issue. Inobservance can truly cause problems.

I only set the controller for my secondary chain to auto, I didn't set the mode or whatever.

Anyway, just as I rebooted to see that my DVD drive is using UDMA, and my plexwriter is using DMA I check my email (I had written to the place I bought my OEM DVD drive about the original problem I was experiencing in this post) and get a 1 line response:

"Please call 1-718-353-8412 for the RMA Dept."

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I HATE RMAs
 
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dszd0g

Golden Member
Jun 14, 2000
1,226
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Midnight82, don't use the Creative Encore software. It stinks. Purchasing a Creative DVD players was one of the worst computer purchases I have done to date. It was quickly moved to my secondary machine to just act as a DVD/CD reader and I purchased a Pioneer/Holywood+ combo. The H+ software is far superior to the Encore. You may wish to try some of the software DVD products like PowerDVD. I don't think the issue with the Creative is a hardware issue, their player software just sucks rocks.
 
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rmblam

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2000
1,237
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Groovy, so it plays movies all the way through now? Gotta love DVD while you surf.

By the way that SB emulation is under device manager and "Creative Miscellaneous Devices" if you even needed to know (In win 98 for sure).

 
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