DVD decoders?

[Mercule]

Okay, here's the deal: I got my computer with Win ME installed on it, but later upgraded to XP Pro. It turns out that the DVD decoder (or whatever the software needed to watch DVD movies is called) is part of the HP restore disk.

What this means is if I install XP Pro to a clean format, I can't use my DVD player for DVDs, but I can if I install over ME. This sucks because the ME uses FAT32 instead of NTFS. Also the restore disk installs a lot of garbage that I've got no need or desire for. Plus, when XP installs, it doesn't retain all the registry and other install info -- which means none of this garbage shows up as being installed or is usable, but the disk space is still consumed.

Okay, enough rant. The solution I'm looking for is to find somewhere I can get a free DVD decoder. Everyplace I can find wants me to pay $30-60 for software I've already got. Or, does anyone know the legalities regarding HP having to split the software bundle they gave me on the restore disk?

"Out of the box" suggestions/solutions are also greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Hand of Evil]

As this is a system upgrade I would think you should be able to upgrade from HP.

There are decoders out there and based on rulings out earlier this year, you should be ablr to use them. See CNET download area.

You may want to search for others.

 

[Rackhir]

Okay, here's the deal: I got my computer with Win ME installed on it, but later upgraded to XP Pro. It turns out that the DVD decoder (or whatever the software needed to watch DVD movies is called) is part of the HP restore disk.

This is why you should never buy a brand name system. Remember they are designed for the lowest cost and minimum tech support possible. That's why they have restore and not reinstall disks. Just telling people to run the restore is much simpler than trying to trouble shoot problems in windows and to be fair, usually more effective.

I think you can purchase DVD decoder software for $30 or so at a compusa or some similar place if you just want a quick solution.

 

[Mercule]

I think you can purchase DVD decoder software for $30 or so at a compusa or some similar place if you just want a quick solution.

It's more a "principle" thing than anything. I don't want to put any money into something that I shouldn't have to. As we've got two other DVD players in the house, it's not likely that I'm ever going to actually use the computer for watching a movie. I forget how I even discovered the issue in the first place, but it took me almost a year.

 

[Ranger REG]

Have you contacted HP technical support? Of course, if the DVD decoder is a third-party software that comes with the PC's software bundle, you should contact the software developer. But if your PC is three years old, you might as well cough up for the latest version.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Mercule --

I change video boards like most people change their underwear, and have a copy of PowerDVD 5 that came with my old GeForce board you can have if you'd like. Drop me a private message if you're interested.

 

[Mercule]

Rodrigo, I don't have PM ability. You can email me at "mercule at gmail dot com" (do the obligatory translating of "at" and "dot"). Thanks, much.