DVD Codecs

[Benji1]

Hi Guys,

 

What do you use to play DVD's on teacher laptops. I have run a search on here but there were issues mentioned about it being legal etc..

 

What are you all using ? Power dvd ? Any cheap/free legal solutions ?

[timbo343]

Media player 11 should play dvds

[CyberNerd]

VLC -plays pretty much everything except realplayer

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

 

apparently uses some illegal codec, but I've never seen it.

[Geoff]

It uses libdvdcss which was previously discussed in this thread:

 

http://www.edugeek.net/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=49751

 

Also consult the VideoLAN FAQ:

 

http://www.videolan.org/doc/faq/en/index.html#id289740

[cheesypete]

We are finding that installing VLC on workstations seems to suit everyones needs - from DVDs to old Chemistry software which needs old Indeo codecs

[mac_shinobi]

Media player 11 should play dvds

 

media player relies on the fact that there is a dvd codec installed afaik.

 

To check if you have any installed you can do this :

 

By default, Windows XP does not come with compatible DVD decoder software installed. To confirm if you have Windows XP-compatible DVD decoder software on your system:

 

1. Select Start > Run

2. Enter cmd in the Open box, and click OK

3. Type dvdupgrd /detect and press Enter

4. A Windows dialog box will open with identifying information about the installed software. If No decoders found is displayed, no decoder is installed

 

There is also the windows xp utility to check for you which is here :

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DE1491AC-0AB6-4990-943D-627E6ADE9FCB&displaylang=en

 

VLC is very good and free but as mentioned above it has the libvdeccs or something like that which if you check here :

 

http://www.videolan.org/doc/faq/en/index.html#id289740

 

You will see the legality of it