Getting DVD Player to work on Power Mac G3

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Level 1

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Getting DVD Player to work on Power Mac G3

When I click on DVD Player in the Apple Menu, I get an error message that tells me to close down any applications using audio/video or to add a DVD-Video PC Card to my Powerbook. I am not running any applications and using a Tower G3 not a Powerbook. I have an external DVD player/recorder hooked up via Firewire. How can I get DVD Player to run?

Power Mac G3, Mac OS 9.1.x, External Firewire DVD Player/Recorder

Posted on Mar 10, 2007 8:29 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 10, 2007 9:26 AM in response to harjac

Hi, harjac -

Welcome to Apple's Discussions.

What version of DVD Player do you have?

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Answer 2

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Mar 10, 2007 10:29 AM in response to harjac

Hi, harjac. You apparently have an OS installed on your G3 that was meant for an early Powerbook G3, the Wallstreet model, and not a universal installation that properly recognizes your computer for what it is. A Wallstreet equipped with a DVD-ROM drive (whether it was original equipment or an aftermarket purchase) also needed a proprietary Apple DVD decoder card for its PC Card slot in order to play DVDs; without that card, the drive could only read CDs. Later Powerbooks had the DVD decoding hardware built in. Apple DVD Player is looking for the card in your "Powerbook" and, upon failing to find it, is telling you you don't have the necessary hardware to play a DVD.

To use your DVD drive, you will probably need to reinstall OS 9.x from a retail (universal) installer CD, rather than from the Wallstreet-specific CD that was apparently used to install the present OS.

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