Unable to play DVDs

[Jobos]

Upgraded most of the schools computers over the summer to Win 7 and I'm getting reports that they are unable to play DVD's in the classroom. I've tracked the problem to the video splitter as removing this and connecting the PC direct to either the monitor or projector the DVD plays fine. The error I'm getting is

windows media player cannot play this dvd because there is a problem with digital copy protection

 

I've found that changing the splitter fixes this but is there any other way apart from replacing the splitters on all the problem computers?

[Arthur]

Have you tried a different media player such as VLC?

[mac_shinobi]

Have you tried a different media player such as VLC?

 

Windows Media Player Home Cinema : :: MPC-HC ::

 

Think this was one you suggested on a different thread on EG a while back

[Duke5A]

Sounds like an HDCP problem; it's a newer form of DRM where the signal to the display is encrypted to prevent copying by splitting the video signal. This would be the exact thing it was designed to prevent. Either you use a third party media player (we use VLC) or hook the projector up as primary.

[round2it]

had the exact same problem with our splitters,

 

got image working on test bench worked perfect took to classroom no dvds play.

 

i rolled out vlc player to all win 7 machines and the dvd problem has gone away.

 

thats all you can do apart from replace the splitters.

[Jobos]

Thanks guys. I'm back there on Friday so I'll give VLC a go.

[Chris_Cook]

Are the projectors connected with vga? We found some problems with dvds were fixed by installing the correct drivers. Sometimes we had to resort to windows vista or xp drivers.

[round2it]

how did you get on with the splitter problem vlc running now?

[Jobos]

Using VLC worked a treat. I could have replaced the splitters but VLC was the cheaper option.

[twin--turbo]

Try turning on windows Aero theam if you have not already.

 

Rob

[mikecain]

had exactly the same problem when we upgraded to win 7 last year, the problem was unpowered cheap splitters, when i swapped the spliter with a powered better quality one they worked fine

[Jobos]

Well most of the splitters here are 8 years old apart from 1 which is new and this was the only computer which played DVD's so I knew the splitter was at fault.