DVD Player not working

Hi there. This weekend, the DVD player on my Dell XPS M1210 stopped working. The only thing I had recently done to the notebook was let McAffee run out and install Norton 360. CinePlayer will recognize the DVD, title and all, but when I click 'play', the screen goes black like it is going to start it, but then goes right back to the default CinePlayer screen. If I try to play it in WMA 11, I get the message "Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because there is a problem with digital copy protection between your DVD drive, decoder, and video card. Try installing an updated driver for your video card." If I do need to install "an updated driver" - I will need some help, because I'm still green at all this. I started messing around using just the manual, and after screwing up some other things, did a Dell PC Restore by Symantec - which did absolutely nothing but let me waste time backing up all my files on an external hard drive. I'd rather not go and download something like AVI, because I figure, hey - I like WMP, and am simply frustrated that CinePlayer doesn't work like it should. Oh yeah - and my warranty expired less than a month ago, and Dellsaid they'd be glad to help - if I paid close to $300 to renew. Arggh - thanks for letting me vent - and for any help.

Hi, Sorry to hear of the problems with your DVD. Its very rarely a waste of time backing up all your files to an external hard drive (unless you do it incorrectly!) Regular back ups are generally considered good habits to get into, and even if your last back up is even a day or so out of date it would be sensible to ensure that it is all now 100% up to date, accurate and reproducible. There are a number of avenues that need exploring here, so please advise on the following: 1 When you did a" Dell Restore by Symantec" did this "wipe" your hard drive, reinstall your operating system and restore the machine to its "factory settings" leaving you to download and install all relevant Windows updates, anti virus, antispyware definitions etc? 2 If this was so, did you actually complete all the downloads and install them? 3 If it was not so, can you expand please on what the Dell Restore by Symantec entailed? for example did it restore your operating system without destroying your data? (letters files, music, documents photos, emails, settings etc) 4 did it utilise one of the Windows created System Restore Points? Have you uninstalled your DVD player software, rebooted and then installed it again? 5 Are your Windows updates all now 100% up to date and installed without problems including any for Windows Media Player ? 6 When you installed Norton did you first do a complete uninstall of McAffee via Start>Control Panel>Add & Remove Programs followed by a reboot and then the install of Norton? 7 If you did this was the uninstall of McAffee complete, and uneventful or did you receive any error messages? 8 Is there still any reference to McAffee in your Add & Remove Program list? (accessed as above) 9 Check in Device Manager if you have any yellow or Red flags on any of the items (you may need to click on the + signs)…..Device Manager can be accessed from right clicking MY Computer, clicking on Properties and Hardware and Device Manager. Letting us know this extra information will help us, to help you, on these issues. Regards paws

Hi,
Sorry to hear of the problems with your DVD.
Its very rarely a waste of time backing up all your files to an external hard drive (unless you do it incorrectly!) Regular back ups are generally considered good habits to get into, and even if your last back up is even a day or so out of date it would be sensible to ensure that it is all now 100% up to date, accurate and reproducible.


Regards
paws

Thanks for the reply - here are the answers to your questions:

There are a number of avenues that need exploring here, so please advise on the following:

1 When you did a" Dell Restore by Symantec" did this "wipe" your hard drive, reinstall your operating system and restore the machine to its "factory settings" leaving you to download and install all relevant Windows updates, anti virus, antispyware definitions etc?
According to the manual,"The Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data stored on the hard drive and removes any applications installed after I received the computer." So yes, I suppose that is being restored to the factory settings.

2 If this was so, did you actually complete all the downloads and install them?
I did receive an 'Automatic Updates' pop-up, and did clicked "Express Install" which said that it would ensure my PC was up to date with the latest software….but nothing changed in regards to the player.

3 If it was not so, can you expand please on what the Dell Restore by Symantec entailed? for example did it restore your operating system without destroying your data? (letters files, music, documents photos, emails, settings etc)
n/a?

4 did it utilise one of the Windows created System Restore Points?
No - because System Restore was set to off, so when I turned it on, it would only go to that day.

Have you uninstalled your DVD player software, rebooted and then installed it again?
I am not sure how to do that…the only program I uninstalled and reinstalled was CinePlayer

5 Are your Windows updates all now 100% up to date and installed without problems including any for Windows Media Player ?
According to the Automatic Updates, I would assume "yes."

6 When you installed Norton did you first do a complete uninstall of McAffee via Start>Control Panel>Add & Remove Programs followed by a reboot and then the install of Norton?
Yes.

7 If you did this was the uninstall of McAffee complete, and uneventful or did you receive any error messages?
No.

8 Is there still any reference to McAffee in your Add & Remove Program list? (accessed as above)
No.

9 Check in Device Manager if you have any yellow or Red flags on any of the items (you may need to click on the + signs)…..Device Manager can be accessed from right clicking MY Computer, clicking on Properties and Hardware and Device Manager.
Nope - it all looks good - no red flags.

Letting us know this extra information will help us, to help you, on these issues.

Hi, Ok, The extra information was useful. The fact that you have restored your operating system to factory means that your actual Windows operating system should be spot on. The next steps therefore are to: 1 Visit Microsoft Update, (not Windows Update) download and install any updates for Windows and for any software or hardware that Windows detects on your machine 2 Reboot your machine and repeat the process until every update shown has been installed. 3 After a further reboot, visit Sonic CinePlayer's website and download any updates/upgrades/patches available 4 Reboot and see how you go If still no joy then please post back here as there are a number of other things to try. Regards paws