You would think that modern media players, like Windows Media Player 11, are supposed to play DVD by default. Should I need more software to play my DVD?

My PC requires the proper Codec (MPEG-2) to play DVDs in my laptop using any media player (just not windows media player). A CODEC is a combination of COder-DECoder. When media is written to DVD or CD, using some special algorithms, it will be encoded in to a specific compressed format. This encoding also decides the quality of the media. At the time you play the disc, this encoded media cannot be played as it is. It should be decoded on your computer before it can be played back on the screen. There the Codecs come in to picture.

Some players automatically download the codecs from websites to play the media, and some don’t. In my case, windows media player 11 has never been able to download a codec to play a DVD successfully, and this is by design.

Initially I struggled a bit to find out what to install in order to run my DVD movies in Windows Media Player 11. Then I found out about the DVD plugin for windows media payer and wrote a page about them over at my website www.updatexp.com

The article is here: Windows Media Player 11 DVD Decoder

I have installed the XP and Vista plugins and voila ! Now I can enjoy my movies…

So if you are not able to view DVD movies, do not re-install your windows XP many times, instead go and install a proper codec from the above website.

Regards

Marc Liron
Microsoft MVP
http://www.squidoo.com/windowsmediaplayerdvd