windows Media Player codec

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Level 1

25 points

windows Media Player codec

I often use compressor to export my FCP project to m2v (use default setting), then import into studio pro to make DVD.

I know on PC, VLC is the one of the best player to play most of kind of video files including DVD.

However, I happened to have many client who isn't really computer savy, they expect to play DVD we produce for them with windows media player.

The problem I ran into is, WMP will says "incomptatible codec" to play the DVD.
I have several PCs, that will play the DVD with WMP, however, they usually already installed winDVD player...
Assuming, those player include codec that will play DVD.

Since such a player (winDVD, powerDVD..etc) usually cost money, I was looking for a free codec to play DVD with WMP.

I tried k-lite codec pack, which I read it will work on WMP, however, I didn't have any luck to be able to play....

Does anyone know if there is specific codec I need to be able to play DVD on window media player on PC??

2x3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Feb 11, 2009 2:00 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 14, 2009 10:28 AM in response to pyonpyon

your clients should be told that WM Player is not a DVD player and that they should be using the supplied application.

WM player can sometimes be coached into playing back a DVD; if the right codec is installed, if its available to wmp and the system settings are able to be changed, but this is really not a thing clients should be left to sort out themselves.

A reliable procedure is:
launch the supplied software DVD player,
insert the DVD and close the tray,
press play on the software control panel.

If there is a DVD drive installed in the computer, there will be a DVD software player supplied with the drive, your clients should use that, (no need to purchase any extra software)Win DVD or Power DVD are the most poular ones.

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Answer 2

pyonpyon Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 16, 2009 8:39 AM in response to Gary Scotland

Thanks, Gary Scotland, for the reply.

The problem is, many of our client is not very technology savvy and they expect all the video to play on their PC's WMP.

Since they complained our DVD doesn't play on their machine, we provided them wmv format video, and VLC player to them to view them with explaining WM player is not a DVD player.

If I figure out exactly what codec WM Player needs to be able to VOB video, it'd be very helpful, and that was reason why I posted this thread.

I did try google them and search for them.. and test out on several PC that in our office, and one works on the particular codec I installed, but it doesn't work on the others...

I know if we installed WinDVD/PowerDVD, then, there will be no problem to play DVD on WMP, however, they are all paid software/player...(don't think we want to pay the player for every client). I'm more looking for "THE CODEC".

I hope this make sense...

Thanks again.

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Answer 3

Feb 17, 2009 3:31 AM in response to pyonpyon

the solution to this is as I previously described

if there is a DVD drive fitted on the machine you dont need to pay for any additional software, it will have DVD player software suppied for free.

they should use the DVD player for the following reasons:

1 convenience

2 the DVD software player will work with the computer/operating system/drive combination thats fitted

3 Windows media Player would need to be configured by the user to work, not an easy task and not the best way to solve an issue like this

4 having an MPEG2 codec on the machine will not garantee that Windows Media Player can use it

5 the user may not be able to set up Windows Media Player because they are locked out from making any system changes as they dont have Administrator Rights to the machine

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Answer 4

Feb 17, 2009 5:47 AM in response to pyonpyon

pyonpyon wrote:
The problem is, many of our client is not very technology savvy and they expect all the video to play on their PC's WMP.

And this is why you need to take the time to educate them. WMP is notoriously buggy. Hardware manufacturers know this. This is why they will typically include WinDVD or PowerDVD on their computers. Educate them to NOT use WMP, use WinDVD, PowerDVD or anything else (there are free DVD players available).

If they have problems using their computer, then having them hunt down and install some elusive codec is not the solution. Your message need to be, "WMP is very buggy. Do not use it."

On a side note, some Windows users are reaaally oblivious about their computer. They might only have a CD drive and might not realize that a DVD will never play on their computer.

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