Windows Media Player - no sound on DVDs

Joshua Adams · #1 11-11-2006, 10:27 PM

Anyone know why there's no sound when I try to play DVDs in WMP? AVI files and such like work plenty fine, it's just DVDs. Is there some codec for DVDs that I don't know about, and which is for some bizarre reason not included with WMP out of the box?

I have this PowerDVD CD that came with my drive, but they want me to buy a key for it, so I'd rather go with the free thing.

Corona688 · #2 11-11-2006, 10:39 PM

I've had the opposite problem -- sound, with no video. I think the gist of it is, you do NOT get the software you need to play DVDs just from buying a DVD-ROM. That's extra.

Try VLC, it's free and good.

Javaman · #3 11-11-2006, 10:59 PM

I recommend downloading one of the codec packs from Edskes and using "Media Player Classic" that comes with them. My other recommendation is to uninstall Real Player (and Quicktime if you don't still need it for iTunes) and use the alternatives that come with the packs. Get them from here:

Edskes File Download Mirror

Joshua Adams · #4 11-11-2006, 11:41 PM

I got VLC and it looks like it'll get the job done, so thanks, Corona.

I don't have RealPlayer or Quicktime at all. I have Media Player Classic hanging around somewhere, but I didn't think to try it. Didn't realize it could play DVDs, I guess. Thanks anyway for your recommendations, Javaman.

maddog · #5 11-24-2006, 06:48 PM

I have a similar problem ... my drive won't play DVD's at all, and says I don't have a decoder installed. I clicked on the button that says ask the internet for more info, and I got a screen of four choices, Sonic CinePlayer DVD Decoder Pack (by Sonic Solutions, Inc.), DVD XPack (by InterVideo, Inc.), NVIDIA DVD Decoder (by Nvidia), and PowerDVD SE (by CyberLink Corp.). I know from nothing about these. They range in size from 170 kb to 10 mb. Do they charge you for these things? I'm afraid to click on anything.

And what's the point of buying a computer touted with a DVD drive, if you can't play DVD's on it?

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BracesForImpact · #6 11-24-2006, 07:54 PM

Yep, codecs aren't included. A site like Freecodec can get you started in the right direction.

maddog · #7 11-24-2006, 08:37 PM

Thank you, BFI.

I was in chat, and ceptimus helped me figure out that I needed to install a disk that came with the computer, and now it works, afaik, just fine.

Thanks everyone!

ETA: spoke too soon. It'll play some dvd's but not others. I'm looking into the codec (whatever that is) site; thanks again BFI.

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