mpeg 2 decoder

[rachael]

can someone please help me, i just tried to watch a film i got for Christmas on my computer and the sounds not working properly. I'm getting the background music and sounds but not the dialogue and I'm unsure how to fix it. I tried another DVD so i know it's not just a broken disk. It wont play at all through windows media player so i clicked the web help button and it told me to download a mpeg 2 decoder but i don't think it's fixed the problem as it still wont work in windows media player and I'm having to run it through a completely different media player that's on my computer. Can anyone please help me?

[patio]

DLoad and try VLC Player (FREE )...

[rachael]

thank you for the advice, i tried VLC player just now and the same thing is happening. is there anything else i could try?

[Broni]

Is it store bought DVD?

[rachael]

yes i got it for christmas so i dont know which shop they're from but  they are aren't copys or dvds someone else has made. i've never had this problem before its only recently and the only change to my computer was reinstalling windows a few months ago and i've not tried a dvd since so could it be something that needs reinstalling? i dont know much about computers and its all i can think of but i'd have thought it would have installed itself through updates or something?

[Broni]

If VLC Player doesn't want to play it, I suspect bad DVD.
The only way to find out is to try it on another computer.

[rachael]

i only have access to this computer for now but i'll try that when i can. my only concern with that is dvds i've had for a while and used to work on my computer aren't anymore so i didn't think it's the new dvd thats broken.

[rachael]

Ive tried the disk on another computer and on a DVD player and it worked fine on both of them. does anyone know how to fix it?

[patio]

Sounds like you need a new player...
Dual-layer DVD players start at about 40  bucks shipped from newegg if you are in the States...

[rachael]

oike dokie, i'm in england so it's probably going to be more but never mind. is there anything in particular i should look out for when buying a new one or anything i should take note to match up to my computer or are they pretty universal, my computers a dell?

[BC_Programmer]

my computers a dell?

This is analogous to saying "My car is a Ford"...


but- there really isn't anything you'll need to look for, most DVD drives are IDE. If you can find out the model number of your Dell, I'm sure we could determine wether you'll need a newer SATA-type drive or not.

[rachael]

it's quite old but i have an owners manual for it and it says dell dimension 8400 series then at the bottom it says model DHM. i've got two dvd drives in it will they both need replacing?

[BC_Programmer]

it's quite old but i have an owners manual for it and it says dell dimension 8400 series then at the bottom it says model DHM. i've got two dvd drives in it will they both need replacing?

have you tried both DVD drives for playing the DVDs?

[rachael]

yeh so they'll both want replcing wont they cos neither of them play it properly?

[Broni]

Try to uninstall both drives through Device Manager.
Restart computer. They'll be automatically reinstalled.
If the above doesn't help...
Try one of these:
1. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060
or...
2. Download, and run Restore Missing CD Drive patch
Double click on cdgone.zip to unzip it.
Right click on cdgone.reg, click Merge.
Accept registry merge.
or...
3. Go to Device Manager, click a "+" sign next to IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
You'll see two items:
- ATA Channel0 (or Primary Channel)
- ATA Channel1 (or Secondary Channel)
Right click on each of them, and click Uninstall. Confirm.
Restart Windows. They'll be automatically reinstalled.

Still nothing? Both drives are dead.