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    9300 Won't play DVDs.

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Rock1127, Apr 15, 2006.

  1. Rock1127

    Rock1127 Notebook Guru

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    When I try to play a DVD with my 9300, it says that the proper decoder is not installed on my computer. It says this when trying to play it with WMP and MediaDirect. I have never tried to play a DVD with my laptop until now, and now it won't play one.

    Any idea on which DVD decoder I need to download?
     
    Rock1127, Apr 15, 2006
    #1
  2. drumfu

    drumfu super modfu

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    get VLC Player; it's free and plays everything, i mean, everything
     
    drumfu, Apr 15, 2006
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  3. 05Edge

    05Edge Notebook Consultant

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    Did you do a fresh install on your PC? If so, that's probably what happened. MediaDirect uses the Cyberlink PowerDVD encoder that comes pre-installed. If you did a fresh install then it's gone and you have to ask Dell for the disk (I'm assuming this works for the 9300). VLC Player (VideoLAN) will play DVDs, but will not make your other programs play them, at least to my knowlege. I know I installed VLC yesterday, and MediaCenter didn't find it... CyberLink is on its way.
     
    05Edge, Apr 15, 2006
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  4. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

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    I think Media Direct requires CyberLink PowerDVD in order to work properly, Cyberlink has the dual function of being the dvd decoder as well as the dvd player for most dell systems. As drumfu stated, you can use other decoders, but I believe that you must have Cyberlink in order to use the Media Direct/Experience functions.

    VLC will work if you want to use WMP or some other player to watch DVDs.
     
    Amber, Apr 15, 2006
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  5. Rock1127

    Rock1127 Notebook Guru

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    Yeah, I did a clean install. I went ahead and downloaded a codec (cyberlink PowerDVD). All is fine now.

    Also, it's extremely easy to get install disks from Dell if you ever need them. I emailed Dell requesting an OS install disk for XP MCE on Thursday afternoon, Friday it was here in the mail. It was sent overnight express. I was impressed to say the least. Did a clean install this morning.
     
    Rock1127, Apr 15, 2006
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  6. 05Edge

    05Edge Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, I asked for the CyberLink and Sonic CDs at the same time, but only received sonic, so today I got on chat and asked again, now I have CyberLink, a resource cd, and another XP cd coming. Pretty cool. I was just making sure I had them all when I got Cyberlink, and the chat associate decided to send me everything, I won't complain, it's always good to have backups!
     
    05Edge, Apr 15, 2006
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  7. xAMDvsIntelx

    xAMDvsIntelx Notebook Deity

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    You can also download the trial version to make WMP work here.
     
    xAMDvsIntelx, Apr 15, 2006
    #7