If you ever get these error messages (shown below) then you may not have the correct codecs installed for Windows XP and Windows Media player. DVD playback codecs are not included with Windows XP. It also only has basic audio codecs included.
“Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because there is a problem with digital copy protection between your DVD drive, decoder, and video card. Try installing an updated driver for your video card.
“Windows Media Player cannot play DVD video. You might need to adjust your Windows display settings. Open display settings in Control Panel, and then try lowering your screen resolution and color quality settings. To fix this problem you can simply download a free version of XP codec pack at
http://www.free-codecs.com/XP_Codec_Pack_download.htmWhen you have download it, install it, and then Bob's your uncle! (your done).
This XP Codec pack will not only install the DVD codec's you need, but it will also install extra audio codec's for playback of DVD movies.
**Before installing anything new you should create a restore point with system restore. See
How and why you should use system restore in Windows XP**I have tried the K-lite codec pack, however it caused a few problems with my already existing codec's, making the DVD breakup.
**There are other programs that have DVD codec's that come with a DVD burner drive when you buy them. For example Nero and PowerDVD.
**Vista Ultimate and Home Premium include the codec for DVDs. Vista Home Basic and Business do not.
**The Free Media Player Classic is included in The XP codec pack, however I have still had minor problems with a copyright protect fail. Windows Media Player played the same movie fine.
**There is also a vista package available at
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/vista_codec_package.htm, however I have not tried this at all.. Please let me know if you have used this vista package?
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