What's up with Media Player needing a codec to play a DVD movie

[PC Freak]

VLC media player works great.
Anyone else run into this problem?

 

[MrBond]

In order to have DVD playback, I think MS would have to play a royalty fee for every copy of Windows Media Player. That's why you can't do it as default, since WMP is free to download.

The same reason is why the xbox won't play DVD's unless you buy the remote control kit. Rather than pass the cost of the license to play DVD movies onto everyone, they gave customers the option of buying the DVD kit and priced the console cheaper (rather: didn't lose an extra bit of money on it).

I'm not sure how VLC gets around the royalty thing - I'm just glad it plays DVDs since I reccomend it to all my friends who ask me what software to use on their PCs.

 

[Ulfhednar]

WMP used to play DVDs for me just fine, but recently (probably with some sneaky Windows Update fix) it's been hassling me about decoders etc. Definitely annoying, and definitely not always been there.

 

[TheRyuu]

WMP doesn't have the mpeg2 codec built in I think. After you install it you should be able to play DVD's fine.

OR you could just use VLC or MPC (whichever one you like better) since those are basically better anyway.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
WMP doesn't have the mpeg2 codec built in I think.

 

[Gooberlx2]

There's free mpeg2 codecs around. just google it, or go to videohelp.com

 

[MrChad]

http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=Dscaler_5

Freebie. Works great with WMP.

 

[iamaelephant]

Meh, I just installed Cyberlink PowerDVD (I have several full legal copies lieing around as they pretty much give it away like candy with hardware purchases) and DVD's will play in WMP/MCE no worries. The only annoying thing is that PowerDVD insists on associating all of your media files with itself (without asking no less) but that just takes a few minutes to correct and you're away laughing. Seriously, who doesn't have a copy of this program lieing around somewhere?

 

[archcommus]

MPC will do it without any outside help.

 

[Tobolo]

I use Interwindow, I must have had at leas 15 copies, Seriously. We used them as frisbies (sp) pff the balcony at my dorm.

Anyway, good program and I love it.