This is sure to bring out the IT masters (okay, geeks ), if only to flame my colossal ignorance of the magic box and screen.

One of the regulars here kindly burned and mailed to me a few DVD+R disks worth of old video files (I won't name him as I don't want to open him up to 100's of requests for similar favours - needless to say, I'm grateful for his kindness and he knows who he is).

However, big problem playing them.

Dumb thing I did no. 1 - inserted all three disks into my HDD DVD player. Yep - nothing.

Dumb thing I did no. 2 - inserted all three disks into my PS2 (which we used to play DVD's before the HDD came into our lives). Yep - nothing.

Dumb thing I did no. 3 (as you can see, I'm quite talented) - inserted all three disks into my work computer. Only a CD drive (duh!!). Yep - nothing.

Finally figured out that I needed to try and play them in the DVD drive/burner on our home computer (but then promptly forgot about them for a week or so due to other commitments).

Tried it tonight - computer is automatically calling up a choice of playing in Windows Media Player or RealPlayer (?I know not what this is - something my wife downloaded perhaps). Nothing in RealPlayer. However, Windows Media Player (after I downloaded version 10 or sumthin' - needed to have a beer while that happened) went through some motions trying to download a codec(?????que?????), ended up briefly saying 'error downloading codec' (in what I'm positive was a smug tone) and then, quite maddeningly, I start hearing the presenter's dulcet tones but get no vision. So, I can hear but not see (apt, some of you might think but I'm sure more would prefer 'hear but not talk').

Anyways (a few more beers and some self-flagellation later), I'm calling for help. What am I doing wrong (please confine your answers to the viewing issue for the time being - I don't have all weekend)? Are the disks rooted by my previous mistreatment or is there some software I need to see as well as hear the show?

All constructive suggestions gratefully accepted. All jibes and flames - welcome too if they're funny and original.

 

It is a multi-faceted problem..

On level one you need to be sure that your player supports DVD+R disks... To do this you need the model number of the player and a look at this site - http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php just stick the model number in the box next to the search button...

My guess is that the PS2 is unlikely to support DVD+R.

On level two you need to know how the video was encoded.. DivX is common.. Ask the person what they used to create the disks for you - you may find it easier to invest in good software like Nero 7..

Cheers

 

you could also install a codec pack.

I use something called klcodec which plays almost everything I can throw at it.

It can be found here: http://codecpack.nl/klcodec270b.exe for the basic version that allows playback of video files only.

 

I have found that .vob files burned by NERO on DVD-R disks play better on stand-alone players..
Do you know what type of video files you have? (right click file / properties)
DVD+R use some sort of "book type" (not sure what that is) conversion.
Might have better luck re-burning them on DVD-R media.
Good luck.

 

Thanks guys - will investigate some of that later today.

Appreciate the assistance.

 

Tried this solution first as it seemed handy to have the codecs anyways.

However, having gone to the link and reached a dialogue box that gave me the option of run or save, I tried run twice and save once and each time Internet Explorer would close after a few minutes, saying it had encountered a 'problem'.

At the risk of being a pest - any ideas why this may be so?

Aaarrggghhh - where can you buy retail copies of previous Top Gear seasons? It's gotta be easier.

 

Tried this - player is a Pioneer DVR-530H. Had some difficulty interpreting the results. Some had DVD+R blanked out whereas others said it could read them (I think ). Any ideas Adrian?




Agreed. Only tried it on PS2 because I was feeling lucky (as usual, I was wrong).




NFI - will ask. BTW, we discussed whether the disk had been 'closed off' after burning after my work computer guru mentioned it. My benefactor thinks he may not have. Does this mean the disks are stuffed anyways?




I'll search for this on Google. A freebie or something you pay for?

 

NFI - whereabouts do I right click??

Oh dear - I'm freaking hopeless with this kinda stuff.

 

..You should only put one disc in your player at a time ...that might be the problem!!!!

 

Go ahead and pull that trigger.

 

Supports DVD+R but it will not support stuff like DivX... So you are out of luck there.. You only hope is the PC itself..


I am beginning to wonder if these are a series of video files that have been saved onto a DVD, but not a DVD movie with chapters etc that has been created from the video files.

My next step would be to download the demo version of NERO and use Nero showtime to either start it as a DVD or enable you to run the individal video clips..

Nero is at http://www.nero.com/nero7/eng/nero7-demo.php and you will need a broadband connection to download... Make sure that you uncheck the Yahoo thing - damn pain... While this is downloading have a look at the manual at ftp://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/nero...ime_ug_eng.pdf

Also make sure that you uncheck the file formats that you don't want Nero to use, if you already have other applications that do it better (eg JPG, JPEG etc)

Otherwise you can always give me a call - you should have my mobile number..

EDIT: Or you can ring Taka...

 

Why don't you ask me? The windows player is doing the right thing and it is trying to download the divX codec.

They are all in DivX codec and just need to download a player bundle from www.divX.com.

That will do.

Cheers

 

Oooh...why am I glad our wives/partners/SOs do not get to read this stuff

 

1 how old is you dvd player??
2 what form of windows are you running??
3 what window media player is it???

comments. if you dvd player was made in the last 2 years it should play +r..

beers

 

it's not a problem with the media, rather it's the actual encoding of the video files.

revolver, if you have firefox you could try the link using that rather than IE. save the file to your desktop then go to your desktop and double click on the file and follow the installation prompts.

 

You might also try downloading VLC Player from http://www.videolan.org/ which will play just about anything (on your PC) without fussing with the codecs for the other players. It's a 9 meg download for the PC. If you want to watch it on your TV (and it is a DVD, SVCD, VCD or a Divx or an XviD file) you would have to buy a player like the Philips DVP-642 ($55.00 at Walmart.)

 

Sorry Taka - wasn't meaning to be rude. Thought I'd hassled you enough about it.

Also thought I'd kill two birds with one stone as I knew you'd come across the thread and I also knew someone else here might be able to help.

Thanks all for your suggestions. I'll work on some when I get home tonight.

 

revolver, what format is the video in? is it DVD? or divx video burnt onto DVD+R discs?? by the sound of WMP trying to download codecs, it's most likely some sort of divx.. I recommend u try KMPlayer.
http://www.kmplayer.com/forums/index.php
absolutely the best player of all video formats i believe.. it has divx codec built into it, so you don't need to go install separate codecs or other codec packs. also overlays subtitles etc.. (if u ever get to watch a foreign movie with english sub.. lol) and very customisable. highly recommended.

 

Thanks playa.

Didn't get a chance to play with it last night so I'll try some of these in the next day or so.