PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Windows PCs & Software: Help, News & Discussion => Topic started by: renshaw8 on November 22, 2004, 08:26

Title: Dvd Codec
Post by: renshaw8 on November 22, 2004, 08:26

I'm trying to get my dvd player to work on my Toshiba laptop and was told I need a WinDVD or PowerDVD codec. I was also told that I could download them at suprnova.org but when I went there the page was talking about Bit Torrents with a variety of differant options which I know nothing about. Can anyone help me understand this stuff. Thanks

Title: Re:Dvd Codec
Post by: Sandra on November 22, 2004, 12:38

As Bit Torrents is a P2P type of file sharing I'm afraid that we cant really discuss too much about it other than to explain that the files in a "Torrent" are split into many bits and shared between users using a client program. Once a user has all the individual bits they are reassembled by the client program into the original file  :)

Title: Re:Dvd Codec
Post by: Simon on November 22, 2004, 16:33

I don't think there's any harm in saying that there is a free bit torrent client available here (http://www.download.com/3000-2196-10296306.html?part=6257627%2520%25E2%258A%2582j=dlpage&tag=button), which I am just about to try out for myself.  What we don't want to know, is what you use it for.  ;)

Title: Re:Dvd Codec
Post by: Sandra on November 22, 2004, 16:39

Actually its not a windvd or powerdvd codec you need.
Windows media player should play dvds provided you have the correct codecs installed, which I think it has already. If you havent it should ask you to connect to the net and tell you which one you need.
Are these standard rented or bought DVDs ?

Title: Re:Dvd Codec
Post by: renshaw8 on November 22, 2004, 17:51

Thank you Sandra and Simon for your replies. I have a program called Interactual player that I guess is supposed to play my dvd's. I have a couple of dvd's and am planing on renting some also. When I tried to play one I bought, I got a message that said I needed a codec to play.

Title: Re:Dvd Codec
Post by: Sandra on November 22, 2004, 19:24

Did it say which codec ?
You can often download individual ones free, just google for it  :)

Title: Re:Dvd Codec
Post by: Dack on November 23, 2004, 01:06

You need an MPEG2 Codec. These will be included in one of the DVD player softwares.

There are supposidly no free codecs as MPEG2 developers have to pay a license fee (about £8 per installation/distribution)

You might want to try and install:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Stinky_MPEG_2_Codec.htm (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Stinky_MPEG_2_Codec.htm) though

(Failing that - http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Cole2k_Media_Codec_Pack.htm (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Cole2k_Media_Codec_Pack.htm))