Valid Video Device Not Found

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Level 1

20 points

Valid Video Device Not Found

I have a 2.66GHz Mac Mini with 4GB of RAM 500GB Hard Drive and am getting an error with DVD Player coming up and saying "There Was An Initialization Error: Valid Video Device Could Not Be Found For Playback (Error -700117." I have my video set at 720P (connected to a 42" Plasma TV via HDMI) have run software update and have tried other media sources and I still get the error. Any thoughts as to why? I rarely use the DVD on the MM for dvd playback, but when I used my laptop (MBP, 2.16 GHz, 3GB RAM) I never had this error with these same settings Is something wrong with the DVD player in the MAc Mini or are there other things I have overlooked?

Thanks in advance!

Mac Mini 2.66GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Apr 1, 2010 8:19 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 2, 2010 2:53 AM in response to Tully Lehman

Did you try a different DVD?

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Answer 2

nooper1

Level 1

0 points

Apr 2, 2010 2:51 PM in response to Tully Lehman

I have the exact same problem with almost the exact same configuration, the difference being I have a Denon receiver between the mac-mini and the TV via HDMI. Also "Front Row" is unable to play the DVD. This occurs on just about every DVD I use. It seems to come up when I turn off the TV for a period of time and turn it back on.

I find that if I restart the mac-mini with the DVD ejected it resolves the problem, but that workaround is less than ideal.

I would love a resolution to this pain-in-the-neck issue.

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Answer 3

Jun 30, 2010 3:07 PM in response to Tully Lehman

Similar configuration (50" Samsung via MiniDVI to DVI-HDMI cable) same problem. Just started recently though - after 10.6.4 for sure that I noticed it. When the TV has been off, I also get nastygrams from iTunes if I leave it in a video state (after watching a TV show in iTunes, e.g.) - something along the lines of "connect an approved display" - which leads me to believe it's somehow related to HDCP evilware.

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Answer 4

MacProCT

Level 2

366 points

Jul 15, 2010 4:34 AM in response to Tully Lehman

I do believe this problem is related to DHCP. While most displays with HDMI do have HDCP capability, I'm not sure that all do. I think your particular TV may not have it. In which case, the Mac Mini will refuse to play protected content. I can't think of a workaround for this.

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Answer 5

Jul 29, 2010 9:33 AM in response to MacProCT

I am having the same problem. Is there a solution to this? This is my only device for playing my netflix on the tv and if it is not going to work, I will return it and get something else. I have a mac laptop and thought a mac mini would be awesome but I am disappointed that the device does not work to play dvds. Please let me know if you know how to fix this.

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Answer 6

MacProCT

Level 2

366 points

Jul 29, 2010 11:07 AM in response to cinape914

What monitor or HDTV are you using, and how is it connected to your 2010 Mac Mini?

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Answer 7

dupe

Level 1

0 points

Sep 7, 2010 3:28 PM in response to MacProCT

this is definitely a software issue

i have a mac mini like everyone else and just upgraded to 10.6.4 now my DVD's will not play and i can't play ANYTHING form front row.. not even things i've downloaded from itunes.

however, it never ever has done this while using 10.5.8 so i'm going to go back to 10.5.8 since 10.6.3 is a total POS!!!!!!!

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