Using DVD drive to watch a movie CD

[chuckmex]

HI, Hope somebody can help me here. Usint Windows me:
I rented a CD DVD movie thinking I could watch it on my 17" monitor but it won't play. Excuse my ignorance but I been living in Mexiceo for the past 15 years and don't know diddly about DVD, etc.
I did learn that I need to install some software but the software I found to download stated that I need DirectX installed and I can't get my puter to install anything from Microsoft. Posted this problem some days ago and haven't got a fix for it yet.
Thanks.

 

[Hamill]

Hi,
You should have software that came with your dvde player that you can load. It is the decoder software that is required to watch a dvd. Some popular ones are power dvd, or windvd, and pc friendly. Hope this is not a stupid question but you do have a dvd installed in your pc and not a cdrom or cdrw? Only a dvd player can play dvd's. Hope this is some help.
Hamill

 

[chuckmex]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I do have a DVD drive but I bought it at an auction on Egghead and I got nothing with the drive. No CD w/install or nada.
I just did a search and found another post about this thing and someone recommended a program called Zoom Player. I am there now looking at the download. What I wonder is do I need to have this DirectX thing installed?? This site with the zoom download doesn't say one anything about it.

 

[Hamill]

Direct x will be included with the dvd decoder software. If zoom is free go for it. It will most likely work for you.
Good Luck,
Hamill

 

[chuckmex]

Thanks, Hamil.
I went to the site for zoom and downloaded their program. It installed nicely which as I said earlier MS programs won't install on my puter!!! Clic'd on the icon it had installed on my desktop and it tried to install again. I used explorer to find the installation of zoom and opened their read me file. There it said that DIRECTX was necessary to be installed. I am afraid that that will be the case for all multimedia type programs. I just don't know what to do about this problem of not being able to install DIRECTX and other MS programs.

 

[eddie5659]

Hiya

Lets see what version of DirectX you currently have. Go to Run and type DXDIAG. In the first tab, it will show you the version that you have. If its lower than 8, go here and get the latest:

http://www.microsoft.com/directx/default.asp

Also, what is your video card?

Control panel | System. Device Manager. Under Display will be the name of your video card.

Regards

eddie

 

[eddie5659]

Hiya

Just got a PM

Thank you for the reply. I got my problem fixed and posted the upgrade of Microsoft updates/programs as fixed. I installed DirectX 8 and it installed OK. Also installed all the other upgrades for Windows Me but still can't watch a movie. I thought that I had it all solved when I installed Direct X8 and downloaded that Zoom player but no joy. Now it appears that I need to install a card to decode the DVD movie. I rented another movie yesterday and tried to see it bus still no show. Well, guess I'll go out and get me a christmas present of a DVD/TV combo so I can watch DVD movies. Oh, you asked what video card I have - its a Nvidia TNT Model 64. Gonna be a problem for me to put in another PCI card. Am going to change motherboards soon and the new M/B is a Azus K7v and it only has 3 PCI slots which will be filled by what I have already. Well would have saved me some money if I could have been to watch DVD movies on my monitor using my computer. Happy New Year.

See Ya

eddie