My PC won't play DVDs, anyone got thoughts or advice??

[Capybara]

It's a Dell PC running Windows XP, five years old. It plays some DVDs, but most it will not, and I get an error like "Unable to open 'dvdsimple://E:'"

It's fukking pissing me off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, I'm always asking for help in here. Sorry I'm so clueless.

[Capybara]

P.S. I've tried different players (RealPlayer, VLC media player, etc.), same basic result.

[beermankirk]

Download porn I guess, dunno.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Buy a DVD player

[mrmarket]

You could buy an external dvd drive if some error is making yours malfunction. Or just replace the drive in the CPU itself. They are pretty cheap either way.

[SportsMushroom]

if its a desktop pc you can replace your existing dvd drive for a new one for very little money

if its a laptop its probably cheaper to get an external dvd player than replace the existing one

[Ace_of_Spades]

Could be codecs perhaps. Not a PC wizz though.

[onetrickpony]

Buy a DVD player

[bobbyfk]

download VLC media player and try to play the DVD's with this program

[TobiasFunke]

I think it may be time for a new machine if you're having problems on a 5 year old machine still running XP...plus, it's a Dell. If you can afford it, get a new machine (and try to stay away from Dell's).

[wtt0315]

looks like something deleted a file. when did this start? try to find the restore in your windows options and go back a ways. if that doesnt work you should reinstall windows if you have the windows cd. that should fix it but you will lose everything you have.

[Capybara]

Buy a DVD player

Of course I have a DVD player, but the TV is toast right now, gonna buy a new one. In the meantime, figured I could still watch DVDs on my PC, but naturally I can't because that's the way my life goes.

[Capybara]

looks like something deleted a file. when did this start? try to find the restore in your windows options and go back a ways. if that doesnt work you should reinstall windows if you have the windows cd. that should fix it but you will lose everything you have.

I think it's most likely the DVD Drive? I mean it's not even recognizing most DVDs at all. Although it does play SOME DVDs, soit's like russian roulette, I mean it'll play one of every five or something!

I also need to just reinstall windows anyway, or get a new computer. For instance, I also can't move music from iTunes to my iPhone -- never have been able to since I got the phone in September. After 100 hours on the phone w/ various tech support people from various companies, during which it never got corrected and I wanted to kill myself, I just gave up. So getting a new computer (or reinstalling windows) would definitely improve my life greatly!

[MrExacta]

Could be a bad DVD-Rom drive but I doubt it.

Here's a thread that relates to removing any programs that have tried to take over the functions of the DVD-Rom and CD-Rom drives from Windows.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080808141039AABJ2W9

It involves removing the upperfilters and lowerfilters from the registry....this is always a good bet when having read/write issues with your optical drives.

I would also recommend installing a true DVD Player application instead of Media Player or VLC. I always like to have PowerDVD installed just in case, because it always just plays the DVD's.....not relying on codecs or other horseshit like media players do.

Here's a link to an OEM Version I use all the time (it's a bundled free version):

http://ftp.kksh.kh.edu.tw/~ftpkksh/PowerDVD/PowerDVD.CJL.Deluxe.v6.0.0.20.23.Retail.Edition.exe

You can always PM me with questions.

Good Luck,

MrExacta -`

[Hootie Johnson]

Not worth the time, hassle, and/or cash for a 5-year-old machine.

Time for a new one.

[Tuna Fish Riot]

Your drive's laser is dying out. Just buy an external USB DVD Burner.

[beermankirk]

I still say porn. I "stick" by that.

[krazeedawn2000]

new comp

geet a new comp lol

[Housemoney]

I think it's most likely the DVD Drive? I mean it's not even recognizing most DVDs at all. Although it does play SOME DVDs, soit's like russian roulette, I mean it'll play one of every five or something!

I also need to just reinstall windows anyway, or get a new computer. For instance, I also can't move music from iTunes to my iPhone -- never have been able to since I got the phone in September. After 100 hours on the phone w/ various tech support people from various companies, during which it never got corrected and I wanted to kill myself, I just gave up. So getting a new computer (or reinstalling windows) would definitely improve my life greatly!

Try updating the driver, you never know. In XP go Start/Control Panel/Performance and Maintenance/System/Properties/Hardware. You will find the device manager there. Find the drive and right click on it -update driver. It is probably the laser going out.

I don't use Itunes to sync my music. Try MediaMonkey and see if you have any luck.

[sundin4prez]

either buy a external drive, or replace the drive

also is the computer properly updated?