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Video Decoder - XP Media Centre

  • 12-03-2006 6:26pm
    #1
    Trotter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,362 ✭✭✭


    Having bought a 19'' flat panel monitor for watching DVDs with my new Dell.. Im greeted with an error message in XP Media Centre saying I have no Video Decoder.

    Whats the handiest way to get around this problem??


Comments

  • #2
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    Is there any other software on your PC to play the DVDs, try VLC Media player and see if that works.


  • #3
    radiospan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,353 ✭✭✭radiospan


    Either install a DVD playing software like PowerDVD or WinDVD. Installing these will also make DVDs work in Media Player.

    Or download the free VLC from www.videolan.org (this won't make DVDs play in Media Player though)


  • #4
    Trotter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,362 ✭✭✭Trotter


    plazzTT wrote:
    Either install a DVD playing software like PowerDVD or WinDVD. Installing these will also make DVDs work in Media Player.

    Or download the free VLC from www.videolan.org (this won't make DVDs play in Media Player though)

    K.. Power DVD installed. Its a 30 trial, so Im presuming Ive 30 days to figure out the free way to do it. Seriously, Ya'd think Dell would give you the means to play a DVD when you buy a PC. Ridiculous!


  • #5
    8T8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    Do you have an NVIDIA graphics card in the PC, if so I would spend the $20 and get Purevideo as it has a very good MPEG 2 decoder that scales DVD's very well to large displays.

    One slight problem you may have in finding a free decoder is that the decoder must be compatible with MCE in fact Microsoft have a utility which will check and tell you whether it works with MCE or not. I'm pretty sure the list compatible decoders for playback inside MCE's interface is not large as MS keeps a tight lease on certified partners with MCE.

    Now it is possible to play DVD's on your PC with a free decoder like ffdshow (if you tick the box for MPEG 2 support) but you won’t be able to do that inside the MCE interface. Bye the way I'd recommend installing ffdshow anyway for playback of "everything else" typically MPEG 4 content with MCE.

    I'm surprised Dell didn't bundle in a DVD decoder they usually chuck stuff like that in or maybe they did but it isnt MCE compatible.


  • #6
    Airblazer
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 449 ✭✭Airblazer


    Trotter wrote:
    K.. Power DVD installed. Its a 30 trial, so Im presuming Ive 30 days to figure out the free way to do it. Seriously, Ya'd think Dell would give you the means to play a DVD when you buy a PC. Ridiculous!

    if u bought it with a dvd then you should have cyberlink powerdvd with it


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  • #7
    hobie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,338 ✭✭✭hobie


    Whats the handiest way to get around this problem??

    Give them a call .... bet you they will answer your question in two secs :p


  • #8
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    hobie wrote:
    Give them a call .... bet you they will answer your question in two secs :p

    :) would get "Our offices are closed right now, please call back between the hours of 9pm-5pm monday-friday":rolleyes:

    Most DVD drives or new computers come with a bundle of software, either installed already or on a disc.


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