dvd player

idi banashapan · 12-03-2006, 13:53

can anyone recommend a decent dvd player for XP? got powerDVD, but it won't play some copy-protected discs (such as Mr and Mrs Smith)

tia

12-03-2006, 14:18

I havn't noticed any problems with PowerDVD???

- however I do also use 'Alshow', currently free while in beta

http://www.altools.net/ALTools/ALSho...7/Default.aspx

which seems to work ok & 'phones home' if it can't find a suitable codec installed.

idi banashapan · 12-03-2006, 14:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

I havn't noticed any problems with PowerDVD???

- however I do also use 'Alshow', currently free while in beta

http://www.altools.net/ALTools/ALSho...7/Default.aspx

which seems to work ok & 'phones home' if it can't find a suitable codec installed.

nice one, thanks for that

12-03-2006, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

nice one, thanks for that

no problem

- I'd be interested in what you think of it. I came across it while trying to find a suitable codec for some divx files. It is fairly basic, but so far has played averything I have tried it with .

idi banashapan · 12-03-2006, 14:42

does it use full 5.1 channels? for example, i know WMP doesn't do 5.1 very well, if at all. powerDVD does, so I'd like one that sounds good!

12-03-2006, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

does it use full 5.1 channels? for example, i know WMP doesn't do 5.1 very well, if at all. powerDVD does, so I'd like one that sounds good!

there is certainly a setting for 5.1 sound, however I haven't tried it - I use an external player, as well, & that connects to my surround amp. I tend to use the player in my PC for listening late at night with headphones.

- the settings are

'choose sound device' - directsound

'normalisation' - puts more sound in the central frequencies

'spdif enable' - for suitable hardware

'Number of Channels' - 2, 2.1, 4, 5.1

'Audio capture' - wav or ogg (haven't tried this)

Gster · 12-03-2006, 20:34

I use VLC player (videolan) for......everything. Has most codecs built in TBH, only ever had the odd problem with a WMP player specific file. Not the slickest DVD player but sure does kick it for everything else and its free

Stuart · 12-03-2006, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

can anyone recommend a decent dvd player for XP? got powerDVD, but it won't play some copy-protected discs (such as Mr and Mrs Smith)

tia

What's the error PowerDVD comes up with? I've been using PowerDVD since V3 (I am currently watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer using V6), and I have never had any problems with it, unless the drive is malfunctioning or the disk is dirty.

In fact, IIRC, if the drive was manufactured after January 2000, then the chances are the drive's onboard software decrypts the dvd, and not PowerDVD.

nemesis01 · 13-03-2006, 08:27

Anydvd will almost certainly get rid of the protection error, I use Zoom Player to play dvd's but you must have a dvd codec from a 3rd party player installed, like power dvd to play them. Use AC3 filter (freeware) for 5.1 sound.

v0id · 13-03-2006, 17:13

I use DVD Xplayer pro. A regionfree software dvd player.

13-03-2006, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

What's the error PowerDVD comes up with? I've been using PowerDVD since V3 (I am currently watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer using V6), and I have never had any problems with it, unless the drive is malfunctioning or the disk is dirty.

In fact, IIRC, if the drive was manufactured after January 2000, then the chances are the drive's onboard software decrypts the dvd, and not PowerDVD.

Most likley to be arrcos or ripguard if its a Sony or Columbia release.

DVD43 should get you around these.

Hope this helps.