I had a bad DVD-RW drive in a Dell XP 1710. Dell sent me a
replacement. After a deletion from the registry and restart, I could
play audio CDs and get to data CDs. However, I cannot play a DVD
(first time I tried it since getting laptop).

Dell recommends doing a PC Restore, which will mean I lost the
data, software and user accounts on the laptop. Anybody have a better
idea as to what I might try before such drastic measures?

Thanks, Alan

"Alan" <jalanthomas@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1179515070.654565.146650@n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> I had a bad DVD-RW drive in a Dell XP 1710. Dell sent me a
> replacement. After a deletion from the registry and restart, I could
> play audio CDs and get to data CDs. However, I cannot play a DVD
> (first time I tried it since getting laptop).
>
> Dell recommends doing a PC Restore, which will mean I lost the
> data, software and user accounts on the laptop. Anybody have a better
> idea as to what I might try before such drastic measures?
>
> Thanks, Alan
>[/color]

Which application are you trying to use to play the DVD? I'm assuming this
is a DVD movie? What error does it give you?

I double clicked on its icon from Computer, and it asked if I
wanted to prepare a blank disc. When I do this on data or audio CDs,
I see their contents.

I heard that perhaps my edition of Vista (Business) does not have a
DVD decoder. Alan

"Alan" <jalanthomas@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1179537733.159489.180990@l77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> I double clicked on its icon from Computer, and it asked if I
> wanted to prepare a blank disc. When I do this on data or audio CDs,
> I see their contents.
>
> I heard that perhaps my edition of Vista (Business) does not have a
> DVD decoder. Alan[/color]

That is correct. Only Home Premium and Ultimate come with a DVD decoder.

If you want a simple cheap solution that works with Windows Media Player
then I recommend:

[url]http://www.cyberlink.com/vista_plugin/dvd/enu/pdvdse_index.jsp[/url]

or

[url]http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/cineplayer/vista/overview.html[/url]

Justin,
Thanks for the links. Alan

"Alan" <jalanthomas@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1179624736.629999.266290@p47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Justin,
> Thanks for the links. Alan
>
>[/color]

You're welcome.