PowerDVD Query

Hi Powerdvd wont play dvds on my laptop…message says "no disk in drive D". What do I need to do to play them? Thankyou

Look in Device Manager for any yellow or red warning signs. If found, Select the item, then double-click, then highlight the Driver, then Select Remove or Uninstall. Then Reboot your machine. Windows will then "Find new hardware" and "Install software/drivers for New Hardware". Windows XP will recognize and play DVDs in some machines without additional software. But some units require the additional software to enable the drive to recognize DVD formated disks. Since yours is PowerDVD, uninstall and reinstall the software PowerDVD. Keep us posted with your progress. Best Regards

Hi there Thanks for your reply. My laptop is brand new…has been used 3 times or something…anyway I checked in the device manager and all is ok. I should have mentioned Powerdvd wont read copied dvd-r movies only; sorry about that. Afraid to remove the software because I dont have a copy to reinstall it. Thanks

Hi devonrexcatz, I don't know much about running copied dvd-r' It used to be and still is with CD's that the owner/user needs the appropriate Codec pack to enable running of the various generations of mpg, mpeg, avi, mpg-2, etc. You might benefit from looking around at the PowerDVD website. See if they have a Forum. Other folks may be discussing how they fixed the very problem that you are experiencing. It is possible that the machine and software that copied the DVD's that you're trying to play is simply not compatible with your machine. ………. or that the DVD was an attempted copy of a copywritten/protected media that is blocking you. I'm believing that the drive recognizes and plays other CD's and other DVD's? Best Regards

Hi These particular non-playable movies are copied from Foxtel to the Foxtel hard-drive and stored; then they are played back and recorded to a dvd-r in the dvd player. They play on the dvd player, just not on my laptop or a desktop computer that I tried them in. Other dvds and cds play well.

I just Googled - PowerDVD - and found a ton of download sites for the driver software, and even some commentary that could be useful for you to read. Is it possible that you do not have a "file Association" for DVD - r (whatever the File extention is on those DVD's. Take a look in Windows Explorer - Tools - File Types (tab) I'm about out of ideas. Best Regards

Hi Couldnt find the file type tab in tools…could you pls tell me what driver I should actually download for the Powerdvd 6 as Im not up on much of this sort of thing.

You mention that you have PowerDVD (6) which appears to be one of their Paid/Full version systems. The only (free)downloadable version is (5), which would be a step back for you.
Stick with the PowerDVD6.

These are the file formats Supported by PowerDVD
DVD-Video, DVD-Audio*,miniDVD; ——– MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-2 HD;
DVD+VR, DVD-VR; ———————– WMV, WMV-HD; VCD(MPEG-1), SVCD(MPEG-2); MP3, WAV;
————————————————-MPEG-4 (H.264/ DTS-ES, DTS 96/34, DTS Neo: 6 and AAC
————————————————-Decoding. AVI, DivX, XviD video. DivX Pro*, H.264**.

I don't see DVD-r, but I really don't know if it might be the same as DVD-VR? …just Don't know.

Sounds like you may be using a proprietary or brand-named system with which you are recording.

Foxtel to the Foxtel hard-drive and stored; then they are played back and recorded to a dvd-r in the dvd player. They play on the dvd player, just not on my laptop or a desktop computer that I tried them in. Other dvds and cds play well.

Is Foxtel your Cable or Satellite TV system? And the Foxtel "hard-Drive" is the decoder box that sits on top of yourTV or Entertainment Center? And then "recorded to dvd-r in the DVD Player" <—- what brand or type of DVD Player/recorder is that?

You may find a solution by speaking with the Foxtel people. It might help you if you can find out what file-format your Foxtel system is recording to. (what the actual file-extension of the recorded movie is)

Sorry I can't be of much help here.
Perhaps some other Member has a similar system and will know the magic answer.
Otherwise, call the Foxtel People for more information.

Best Regards

Thanks dough My daughters Foxtel is satellite and Im supposing the hard drive is the decoder box on the TV…there is nothing much else it could be. The DVD player is an LG brand, (not a cheap one like my mothers which would not play these copied movies either)…your idea about asking the Foxtel mob about the file format of the recorded movie is a good idea…I will get back to the forum after the weekend when I may have some answers…you have been very helpful.

Hi there Well the disks just needed to be finalised…as simple as that. My daughter thought finalising was automatic till she realised that she needed to go into the menu and request to finalise. Thanks for your help.

Didn't occur to me. Good to know. Thanks. Glad you decided to become a Member here at TomCoyote. Best Regards, Doug