Q: DVDs crash DVD player?

Are there any that it does work?
Are these rented DVDs, purchased DVDs from the store, or DVDs burnt by you or a friend?

1. Remove the com.apple.dvdplayer.plist file from your Users -> yourname -> Library -> Preferences, and your System -> Library -> Preferences and the Hard drive -> Library preferences if found.

2. Repair permissions with Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility.

3. Zap the PRAM:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379?viewlocale=en_US

And try again.

If it doesn't work, your drive may have gotten dirty on the DVD lense.

Have you had any spills or falls with the machine?

Replace the clock battery. If there is still a problem, perhaps some unsuspecting individual pressed too hard on your sleeve, and damaged the keyboard.

Normally that's a job for an authorized service technician.

If you are technically able, http://www.ifixit.com/ may have directions to do it yourself.

You could, but for so old a computer, it is hard to know if it will break it even more. It might just be cheaper to get an external Firewire DVD drive from http://www.macsales.com/