Help w/ my DVD Decoder (MPEG2)?

[Booda]

This might sound funny but I'm trying to find out which Decoder is on my system and is there a certain Decoder that is better than others?

I'm trying to help my little cousin who just got a AlienWare Computer and asked me if I knew why his PC wouldn't play DvDs. I told him I'd look into it and that's what I'm doing... I don't watch DVDs on my PC so that's why it's somewhat new to me. I told him I thought he probably needs a decoder installed and it should have most likely come w/ his new (Very Expensive) computer. I told him to call the Alien Co. and ask. For that kind of money it should have a little decoder on it.

So I'm looking into it... I've done some searching and found... If you put a DVD in and play it in Win Media Player, it will play if you have a Decoder installed or it won't. Duh! Well on my system it played a DVD... I know I never installed a Decoder. The only thing I can think of is I do have Nero on my PC??? I also see that everyone wants $15 for their decoder.

So... Is there a better Decoder to use and shouldn't my Cousins PC have one?

Thanks for any help,
B.

 

[RAK]

While there are various DVD player software options out there, it looks like you DO need a seperate decoder to play DVDs with Windows Media Player.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/plugins.aspx#DVDDecoder

If you want surround sound, you might need a decoder for dolby digital or DTS, or Dolby Surround, if your player doesn't have that.

One more thing, are you positive the computer has a DVD reader drive?

 

[Booda]

While there are various DVD player software options out there, it looks like you DO need a seperate decoder to play DVDs with Windows Media Player.
One more thing, are you positive the computer has a DVD reader drive?

Yes, this is correct. I'm just wondering how I can find out wich one I'm using on my PC then I can hopefully give it to my cousin. I've looked at DxDiag, and other properties/drivers but can't find anything that says Mpeg2 decoder w/ a Manufactures name.

... AND are some better to use than others?

Yes, he has a DvD-R.

Thanks,
B.

 

[RAK]

Yes, this is correct. I'm just wondering how I can find out wich one I'm using on my PC then I can hopefully give it to my cousin. I've looked at DxDiag, and other properties/drivers but can't find anything that says Mpeg2 decoder w/ a Manufactures name.

... AND are some better to use than others?

Yes, he has a DvD-R.

Thanks,
B.

Well, I would think in WMP you would just go into Tools -> Plug-ins -> Options, and it would list all your plug-ins, including whatever you have as a DVD Decoder. But I'm not absolutely positive, that would just be my guess.

Briefly looking at the decoders from the WMP site, it seems that not all of them decode Dolby Digital or DTS, so that may or may not be an important feature. I'm trying to remember what DVD player software I have on my computer, but I haven't used it in so long I can't. I'll have to look it up.

 

[Booda]

Thanks for trying to help Rak!
I did look in WMP and the only thing listed under PlugIns is Nero Fast Burning Plug-In and it's listed under Category: Background.

Then under the DVD tab -> Advanced->Nero Audio Decoder Filter
So this must do the Video as well? There must be better ones but since I don't watch DVDs on my PC it's fine. As for my Cousin... His PC must have something... for $3000 you think they'd include a $15 plug-in.

B.

 

[RAK]

I just remembered what I have on my computer, Intervideo WinDVD Platinum 6
I agree with you that he should call Alienware, and see if it was suppose to come with DVD playing software or not? Even the referbished HP desktop I got a few years ago came with Intervideo WinDVD 4 installed on it.

Good luck.