I've just installed a new DVD Burner into a freinds computer (P4 1.8, 756meg RAM and Win XP Profession Service Pack 2) and when I insert a movie DVD in comes up:

'Windows Media Player cannot play this DVD because a compatible DVD decoder is not installed on your computer'.

I installed Nero 7 essentials that came with the drive, so what else do I need to install?

BTW I don't have internet access on his machine but I can download and then transfer via usb stick.

I really need it to work in WMP as the dude is old (like 80) so putting on more software will only leed to mass ocnfusion.

I tried one codec pack and it didn't fix it but I don't want go installing random s*** to try and make it work.

Any ideas? Cheers

Get media player classic.

I don't have internet access on that machine, can I download that to USB and copy it over?

Surely there must be an easier way?

I've never had this problem before :/

Edit: It plays Divx off a DVD ok, but doesn't play original DVD's, this is gay.

last edited by mission at 14:42:01 22/Nov/08

media player classic just transfer via USB don't even need to install just unzip and run

Does most DVD's that I have there have been a few cases where they don't run but it's like a 1/10 chance
http://sourceforge.net/projects/guliverkli/

download and install VLC Player dont need any codecs and will play anything you give at it... its a small download so it easy to put on usb....
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

If you can upgrade to WMP11 you won't have this issue. WMP9 needs you to install a program like power DVD before it will play back DVDs so if you have a copy of that or win DVD then just slap that on there and set WMP9 to play DVD's by default.

Ok, I suppose I'll give one of those a whirl but why doesn't standard media player play DVD's?

He doesn't need anything fancy, just play and stop.

I was really trying to avoid more software as the guy is 80+ and struggles with computers at the best of times, let alone unfamiliar software popping up at him.

deadlyf gets a gold star.

I had a cd-rom of Power-DVD installed that and it now plays in WMP9.

Thanks for the suggestions.