DVD player query

[agibson]

Hi all

 

We have a problem with DVD playback on network computers - since recent updates to drivers/Windows we have noticed that WMP has become increasingly more temperamental with the playback of copy protected discs (I am referring to the inbuilt protection and checks). Initially we thought that it was something to do with WinVNC but this has since been removed and has made no difference. Drivers have been updated to the latest versions, machines reimaged but still no joy.

 

We cannot use a branded dvd software, due to budget constraints, so I have been looking at freebies. VideoLan is one that I do use myself, but this has its drawbacks with the availability of record options and other items that we do not want accessible to staff and pupils - and we do not want to make things overly complex fort hem either.

 

Does anyone out there use anything different (and free) for DVD playback - if so, could you please let me know what?

 

Many thanks

 

Andy

[LeMarchand]

VLC - will people really look at the other stuff it does? Could you hide it from the Start Menu and just set it to autoplay DVDs?

[mac_shinobi]

Not sure about this one : https://mpc-hc.org

[Novalee]

That's interesting - we had this today for the first time (well, first time anyone's mentioned it). We just used VLC instead.

[LeMarchand]

Not sure about this one : https://mpc-hc.org

 

Doesn't that require a bit of tweaking for DVD playback?

 

I did use to install KMPlayer skinned to look like WMP as part of the image for DVD playback, but went off it for some reason. After trying all sorts of different codec packs/media players I've settled on whatever Windows comes with + VLC on all my devices (+MediaPreview because I like to see thumbnails for everything).

[Chuckster]

I began using VLC for DVD playback when we started encountering this issue of protection rights through WMP when we upgraded our hardware almost 3 years ago.

 

Every station has VLC installed and a shortcut is placed in the start menu labelled 'DVD Player'.

 

In the properties of the shortcut type this in to the target field: "C:\Program Files\VLC Media Player\vlc.exe" "dvd:///D:/"

 

This assumes the VLC installation is in the Program Files folder and your DVD drive is D:\

 

It's all child's play and the staff and students need not know how to use the menu bar to locate the DVD drive.

[themightymrp]

I put Media Player Classic on as part of the K-Lite codec pack. Seems to play just about anything

[Arthur]

We use VLC and have it autoplay DVDs when they are inserted. Even the most technically illiterate teacher manages to cope.

 

I put Media Player Classic on as part of the K-Lite codec pack. Seems to play just about anything

MPC-HC has most codecs built-in now (like VLC) so there isn't any need to install a codec pack.

[themightymrp]

Ahh cool, I use the codec pack out of habit. I hadn't realised it had them all bundled now. Does it support H.265 out-of-the-box?

[Arthur]

Does it support H.265 out-of-the-box?

It does indeed. Support for HEVC (H.265) was actually added to MPC-HC several years ago.

[Sephiroth]

We use VLC and have it autoplay DVDs when they are inserted. Even the most technically illiterate teacher manages to cope.

 

 

MPC-HC has most codecs built-in now (like VLC) so there isn't any need to install a codec pack.

 

I use the KLite Mega codec pack. What is useful with this is that there is a tool with it for mass deployment. I'm not saying that MPC-HC doesn't though, as I've not used it.

[DMcCoy]

Most multiple codec packs are breaking the original software terms and conditions by being supplied on their own, it probably won't apply to open source codecs, but will to things like real audio, flash media, quicktime etc if they are included.

 

Usually just use vlc