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[twiglet]

Just tried to watch the OOF V6 cambelt dvd on my laptop, which is running Windows XP.  When I put the dvd in, Windows Media Player fired up, but then an error message came up saying it couldn't play the file as the Codec was missing.

I'm assuming it's just a case that this only version of the player just won't play dvd's?

Can someone recommend a free player that I download that will play it?

Btw, the dvd itself is fine, and plays fine on the dvd player in the house.  Trouble is, I don't think SWMBO will be too impress if I take the 40" flatscreen telly outside when I come to do my cambelt! 

TIA 

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

VLC worked for me

[Martian]

I personally use K-Lite Mega Codec Pack as it has just about every audio & video codec known to man.

[TheBoy]

Pre Windows Vista and Post Windows 7 will require additiional codecs.

ffdshow is enough to decode the MPEG2, not sure if its enough to deal with the DVD format.

[TheBoy]

I personally use K-Lite Mega Codec Pack as it has just about every audio & video codec known to man.

I would strongly advise against codec packs. Very strongly. Most Codec Packs incorporate too many conflicting codecs, usually have poor uninstallers, and invariably end up buggering up your codec chains. The more codecs installed will impact performance, and VFW stability.

So whilst codec packs are a one(ish) click solution, I'd fine tune your requirements and just install whats required.

[Martian]

I personally use K-Lite Mega Codec Pack as it has just about every audio & video codec known to man.

I would strongly advise against codec packs. Very strongly. Most Codec Packs incorporate too many conflicting codecs, usually have poor uninstallers, and invariably end up buggering up your codec chains. The more codecs installed will impact performance, and VFW stability.

So whilst codec packs are a one(ish) click solution, I'd fine tune your requirements and just install whats required.

I know what you're saying, but the K Lite installer is quite smart and only registers the codecs that your system is missing.
Any codecs that are installed are automatically registered so that any media player you have installed will play them, and other software (eg, Nero Burning ROM) will also take advantage of them if it needs to.

I will say that if the OP is going to install VLC Player then he (or she) should pay attention to the installer as it will install the Alot toolbar (among other things) by default.

[TheBoy]

I personally use K-Lite Mega Codec Pack as it has just about every audio & video codec known to man.

I would strongly advise against codec packs. Very strongly. Most Codec Packs incorporate too many conflicting codecs, usually have poor uninstallers, and invariably end up buggering up your codec chains. The more codecs installed will impact performance, and VFW stability.

So whilst codec packs are a one(ish) click solution, I'd fine tune your requirements and just install whats required.

I know what you're saying, but the K Lite installer is quite smart and only registers the codecs that your system is missing.
Any codecs that are installed are automatically registered so that any media player you have installed will play them, and other software (eg, Nero Burning ROM) will also take advantage of them if it needs to.

I will say that if the OP is going to install VLC Player then he (or she) should pay attention to the installer as it will install the Alot toolbar (among other things) by default.

I find the K-Lite one is particularly problematic, although in fairness, it is the most popular.

Even if it worked for everyone all the time, the more codecs installed, the more impact on performance. And any break in the codec chain will break VFW, so more codecs will increase the chances of this.

Hence, I prefer the more tuned approach. Although the advantage of the (older) MS/Windows platform is you are free to make your own choices

In this case, as its only a (quite old) laptop, not a full blown HTPC, most codecs probably aren't relevent anyway.

[Martian]

Here's the easy solution, no installation required 

VLC Portable

[Bionic]

  Download the VLC player and all of its various codecs. Its a free program and I have yet to find any disk it will not play. 

[cem_devecioglu]

as said vlc..

[tunnie]

VLC 

Windows Media Player is just total shite

[TheBoy]

VLC 

Windows Media Player is just total shite

Ah, once again, a blanket statement without understanding how it works

I wouldn't install VLC, but the Portable one Martian suggests looks more interesting...

[tunnie]

Just years of trying to play videos, windows media player always moans about codecs. VLC just works, its not cluttered with rubbish I don't want. It just plays videos, its works well & reliable. I've not used WMP in years

[TheBoy]

Just years of trying to play videos, windows media player always moans about codecs. VLC just works, its not cluttered with rubbish I don't want. It just plays videos, its works well & reliable. I've not used WMP in years

As someone who used Media Player every day, its the most solid, reliable one out they for Windows, by a considerable factor.

VLC ignores most standards, and is prone to locking up. It has no place on my PCs.

[dbug]

Been using VLC for years on a number of pcs - from win2000 through to Win7 - never had a problem with it locking up, always worked ok even on odd formats (such as cctv clips) and never tried to install any toolbars