Unable to play commercial DVD on home built PC

  • Thread starter Thread starter dave xnet
  • Start date Start date
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dave xnet

Hello,
I've installed Vista Ultimate on a home made box.
Nvidia chipset and onboard video; AMD x2 4200.
I have an LCD hooked up through VGA.
It's my only display.

I'm getting this message:
"Windows Media player cannot play this DVD because there is a problem
with your digital copy protection between your DVD drive, decoder
and video card"

I'm using Ultimates built in decoder, the PC has the latest
Nvida chipset and display drivers installed.

Thanks for any clues.
 
Copy Protection...
What is HDCP?

HDCP stands for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, a copy protection
scheme to eliminate the possibility of intercepting digital data midstream
between the source to the display. The format designed by Intel and
licensed by Digital Content Protection, LLC using an authentication and key
exchange procedure before video and audio is presented. Products compatible
with the HDCP scheme such as DVD players, satellite and cable HDTV
set-top-boxes, as well as few entertainment PCs requires a secure connection
to a compliant display, the process often described as the handshake. Due
to the increase in manufacturers employing HDCP in their equipment, it is
highly recommended that any HDTV you purchase is compatible. Although most
video devices support high-definition video over component output, analog
connections are scheduled to phase out in the future or possibly forced to
limited resolutions output.

Why is it important to me?

Although manufacturers are still making most products with at least
component HD output, new generation of products like HD-DVD and Blu-Ray
devices will limit the analog output resolution (Analog defined as Component
or RGBHV). The highest resolutions these devices can output
(720p/1080i/1080p) will be available on via the digital (DVI or HDMI)
connections that employ HDCP encryption. Any new HDTV purchase should have
a digital HDCP compatible input.

It is important to note that HDCP is currently not a standard used in PC
monitors, and almost none of these displays have Component inputs. Although
PC monitors are HDTV capable, HDCP encryption limits this type of use. If
you use an HTPC and want to ensure dual use of your new flat panel display,
look for HDCP compatibility.

What its saying is that your Video card and Monitor must be HDCP compliant
.....one or both of yours is not
peter
 
==========================
I don't know if the following article will
offer anything new but it may be worth
a try to download and install VLC Media
Player:

Windows Vista -
Play a CD or DVD in Windows Media Center
http://tinyurl.com/5yxj43
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/7f278c85-8ac1-4f47-aa20-5e81f7d29baf1033.mspx

VLC media player
http://www.videolan.org/

The following articles may be useful also.

How to Fix VLC Media Player in Vista
http://tinyurl.com/5lzmm8
or...
http://tech-buzz.net/2007/05/21/how-to-fix-vlc-media-player-in-vista/

VideoLAN -
Using VLC Player Under Vista
http://tinyurl.com/2r6rrh
or...
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-vlc-player-under-vista/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I don't understand why I have to install a
third party product to circumvent Vista's "content protection" before
I can play a commercial DVD in Vista.

All the sordid detials can be found here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2056944/Vista-Rules

Vista wont let me watch a commercial DVD because
it can't be "sure" the signal path is "protected" ? You've got to
be kidding me. No wonder Vista has the reputation it has.

Secondly, why did MS go to all this trouble,
when you can circumvent the whole thing by buying something
like Anydvd ?

Doesn't make any sense at all.
 
Copy Protection...
What is HDCP?

HDCP stands for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, a copy protection
scheme to eliminate the possibility of intercepting digital data midstream
between the source to the display. The format designed by Intel and
licensed by Digital Content Protection, LLC using an authentication and key
exchange procedure before video and audio is presented. Products compatible
with the HDCP scheme such as DVD players, satellite and cable HDTV
set-top-boxes, as well as few entertainment PCs requires a secure connection
to a compliant display, the process often described as the handshake. Due
to the increase in manufacturers employing HDCP in their equipment, it is
highly recommended that any HDTV you purchase is compatible. Although most
video devices support high-definition video over component output, analog
connections are scheduled to phase out in the future or possibly forced to
limited resolutions output.

Why is it important to me?

Although manufacturers are still making most products with at least
component HD output, new generation of products like HD-DVD and Blu-Ray
devices will limit the analog output resolution (Analog defined as Component
or RGBHV). The highest resolutions these devices can output
(720p/1080i/1080p) will be available on via the digital (DVI or HDMI)
connections that employ HDCP encryption. Any new HDTV purchase should have
a digital HDCP compatible input.

It is important to note that HDCP is currently not a standard used in PC
monitors, and almost none of these displays have Component inputs. Although
PC monitors are HDTV capable, HDCP encryption limits this type of use. If
you use an HTPC and want to ensure dual use of your new flat panel display,
look for HDCP compatibility.

What its saying is that your Video card and Monitor must be HDCP compliant
....one or both of yours is not
peter
Click to expand...
Peter, I don't understand how this affects me.

I'm using a home built pc with a budget motherboard that only has
VGA output (until I decide to buy a real card).
Thus, I'm using the VGA out from the PC to the
monitor. How is this analog signal supposed to be handled?
 
The 15 pin (blue) VGA output is an analog signal, if your card had a digital
output (white) it probably wouldn't be an issue.
I have some cards that have both and a couple with only digital.
Most of my newer LCDs have both inputs.
 
dave xnet said:
Vista wont let me watch a commercial DVD because
it can't be "sure" the signal path is "protected" ? You've got to
be kidding me. No wonder Vista has the reputation it has.

Secondly, why did MS go to all this trouble,
when you can circumvent the whole thing by buying something
like Anydvd ?

Doesn't make any sense at all.
Click to expand...

It doesn't make sense. I have access to four Vista machines of varying
pedigree from upgraded old boxes to a Vista shipped 1 year old Dell and they
all play commercial DVD's. Always have, never a problem. So I'm wondering
what's wrong with YOUR setup?
 
Yes it did...and I forgot to put the quote..
but at least I endeavored to help....and you??

peter

--
DISCLAIMER: If you find a posting or message from me
offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate... ;-)


Paul Montgomery said:
[snip of 100% plagiarised material}
Peter, I don't understand how this affects me.
Click to expand...

[SNIP]

Give him some time. He's gotta find another website to copy an answer
from. His previous post came from:

http://www.digitalconnection.com/FAQ/HDTV_12.asp
Click to expand...
 
Secondly, why did MS go to all this trouble,
when you can circumvent the whole thing by buying something
like Anydvd ?

Doesn't make any sense at all.
Click to expand...
You don't even have to buy anything. Just use VLC to circumvent it.
Microsoft was forced to enforce it by Sony etc. I had the same issue when
trying to play a DVD piped to my LCD projector.
 
Charles Tomaras said:
It doesn't make sense. I have access to four Vista machines of varying
pedigree from upgraded old boxes to a Vista shipped 1 year old Dell and
they all play commercial DVD's. Always have, never a problem. So I'm
wondering what's wrong with YOUR setup?
Click to expand...

Inquiring minds want to know about that.....never happened to 100+ computers
here.
 
Inquiring minds want to know about that.....never happened to 100+ computers
here.
Click to expand...
I'm perfectly willing to accept something is wrong with my machine.

Where's the KB or other article that helps me pinpoint the problem?

All I know is, it's a home built box, New install of Ultimate,
onboard video, latest drivers -
and it doesn't work.

Apparently installing VLC allows one to view DVD's, but that
still doesn't really explain why vista is doing what it's doing.

Dave
 
I'm perfectly willing to accept something is wrong with my machine.

Where's the KB or other article that helps me pinpoint the problem?

All I know is, it's a home built box, New install of Ultimate,
onboard video, latest drivers -
and it doesn't work.

Apparently installing VLC allows one to view DVD's, but that
still doesn't really explain why vista is doing what it's doing.

Dave
Click to expand...
This may be because I have a third party region free
firmware in my DVD rom device.
Got the clue here:
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/176127.aspx

Looks like I'll either have to install Anydvd , or just use either
XP or Ubuntu on this tripple boot box.

Dave
 
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