Windows Media Center and Media Player have suddenly stopped playing DVDs
properly on this new Dell Vista computer. No error message, only a screen of
little boxes of many colors and partial sound.
DVDs still play fine on any 3rd party DVD player, so I think the Codec may
be corrupted.
Can anyone tell me how to find/intall a fresh codec for Media Center or
Media Player.

Thanks for any help.
Cameron

Welcome to Dell Support!
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--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Cameron" <Cameron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6DA0FA16-C341-4611-8EEA-C66DE0C40B5C@microsoft.com...
Windows Media Center and Media Player have suddenly stopped playing DVDs
properly on this new Dell Vista computer. No error message, only a screen of
little boxes of many colors and partial sound.
DVDs still play fine on any 3rd party DVD player, so I think the Codec may
be corrupted.
Can anyone tell me how to find/intall a fresh codec for Media Center or
Media Player.

Thanks for any help.
Cameron

Hello Cameron,

Did a google search for “how to find/install a fresh codec” message and came
up with these potentials.

<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1 &q=how+to+find/install+a+fresh+codec&spell=1>


I hope this post is helpful.

Let us know how it works ºut.

Ǝиçεl
- -- ---

"Cameron" wrote:

> Windows Media Center and Media Player have suddenly stopped playing DVDs
> properly on this new Dell Vista computer. No error message, only a screen of
> little boxes of many colors and partial sound.
> DVDs still play fine on any 3rd party DVD player, so I think the Codec may
> be corrupted.
> Can anyone tell me how to find/intall a fresh codec for Media Center or
> Media Player.
>
> Thanks for any help.
> Cameron

"Cameron" <Cameron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6DA0FA16-C341-4611-8EEA-C66DE0C40B5C@microsoft.com...
> Windows Media Center and Media Player have suddenly stopped playing DVDs
> properly on this new Dell Vista computer. No error message, only a screen
> of
> little boxes of many colors and partial sound.
> DVDs still play fine on any 3rd party DVD player, so I think the Codec may
> be corrupted.
> Can anyone tell me how to find/intall a fresh codec for Media Center or
> Media Player.
>
> Thanks for any help.
> Cameron

Cameron,

If indeed a missing and/or corrupted codec is the problem you should
install only the codec you need. Stay away from Codec "Packs" as they will
install many unnecessary components on your system, which in turn have the
capability of causing conflicts or crashes.

C.B.


--
It is the responsibility and duty of everyone to help the underprivileged
and unfortunate among us.

Where can I find the codec I need for Windows media player? Most movie
files I attempt to play with WMP result in an "unable to open" message.


"C.B." <notreallyc.b.mullen@windowslive.com> wrote in message
news:D00C5054-BFEE-4C31-8227-2C989D706389@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Cameron" <Cameron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6DA0FA16-C341-4611-8EEA-C66DE0C40B5C@microsoft.com...
>> Windows Media Center and Media Player have suddenly stopped playing DVDs
>> properly on this new Dell Vista computer. No error message, only a
>> screen of
>> little boxes of many colors and partial sound.
>> DVDs still play fine on any 3rd party DVD player, so I think the Codec
>> may
>> be corrupted.
>> Can anyone tell me how to find/intall a fresh codec for Media Center or
>> Media Player.
>>
>> Thanks for any help.
>> Cameron
>
> Cameron,
>
> If indeed a missing and/or corrupted codec is the problem you should
> install only the codec you need. Stay away from Codec "Packs" as they will
> install many unnecessary components on your system, which in turn have the
> capability of causing conflicts or crashes.
>
> C.B.
>
>
> --
> It is the responsibility and duty of everyone to help the underprivileged
> and unfortunate among us.

JayC,

I don't use WMP. I use GOMPlayer, which will play most video files. If
it will not play a particular video file it will tell you which codec you
need and will provide a link to it (in most cases).
In any event, stay away from Codec Packs, which for the most part are
codecs and players developed by other people and thrown together in a
"Pack".

C.B.

"jayC" <test@rcn.com> wrote in message
news:5EC2C4C9-E140-44EB-BCE0-8A4775D8F621@microsoft.com...
> Where can I find the codec I need for Windows media player? Most movie
> files I attempt to play with WMP result in an "unable to open" message.
>
>
> "C.B." <notreallyc.b.mullen@windowslive.com> wrote in message
> news:D00C5054-BFEE-4C31-8227-2C989D706389@microsoft.com...
>>
>>
>> "Cameron" <Cameron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:6DA0FA16-C341-4611-8EEA-C66DE0C40B5C@microsoft.com...
>>> Windows Media Center and Media Player have suddenly stopped playing DVDs
>>> properly on this new Dell Vista computer. No error message, only a
>>> screen of
>>> little boxes of many colors and partial sound.
>>> DVDs still play fine on any 3rd party DVD player, so I think the Codec
>>> may
>>> be corrupted.
>>> Can anyone tell me how to find/intall a fresh codec for Media Center or
>>> Media Player.
>>>
>>> Thanks for any help.
>>> Cameron
>>
>> Cameron,
>>
>> If indeed a missing and/or corrupted codec is the problem you should
>> install only the codec you need. Stay away from Codec "Packs" as they
>> will install many unnecessary components on your system, which in turn
>> have the capability of causing conflicts or crashes.
>>
>> C.B.
>>
>>
>> --
>> It is the responsibility and duty of everyone to help the underprivileged
>> and unfortunate among us.
>

Thanks for your replies, but can anyone tell me the name of the actual codec
responsible for DVD playback in WMP or Media Center?
Is it possible to re-install that one Microsfoft codec from the installation
CD or from Microsoft.com?

Many thanks
Cameron

"C.B." wrote:

> JayC,
>
> I don't use WMP. I use GOMPlayer, which will play most video files. If
> it will not play a particular video file it will tell you which codec you
> need and will provide a link to it (in most cases).
> In any event, stay away from Codec Packs, which for the most part are
> codecs and players developed by other people and thrown together in a
> "Pack".
>
> C.B.
>
> "jayC" <test@rcn.com> wrote in message
> news:5EC2C4C9-E140-44EB-BCE0-8A4775D8F621@microsoft.com...
> > Where can I find the codec I need for Windows media player? Most movie
> > files I attempt to play with WMP result in an "unable to open" message.
> >
> >
> > "C.B." <notreallyc.b.mullen@windowslive.com> wrote in message
> > news:D00C5054-BFEE-4C31-8227-2C989D706389@microsoft.com...
> >>
> >>
> >> "Cameron" <Cameron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:6DA0FA16-C341-4611-8EEA-C66DE0C40B5C@microsoft.com...
> >>> Windows Media Center and Media Player have suddenly stopped playing DVDs
> >>> properly on this new Dell Vista computer. No error message, only a
> >>> screen of
> >>> little boxes of many colors and partial sound.
> >>> DVDs still play fine on any 3rd party DVD player, so I think the Codec
> >>> may
> >>> be corrupted.
> >>> Can anyone tell me how to find/intall a fresh codec for Media Center or
> >>> Media Player.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for any help.
> >>> Cameron
> >>
> >> Cameron,
> >>
> >> If indeed a missing and/or corrupted codec is the problem you should
> >> install only the codec you need. Stay away from Codec "Packs" as they
> >> will install many unnecessary components on your system, which in turn
> >> have the capability of causing conflicts or crashes.
> >>
> >> C.B.
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> It is the responsibility and duty of everyone to help the underprivileged
> >> and unfortunate among us.
> >
>
>
>