DVD movie disc won't show up on computer

[RC_Moonpie]

hello all

I've got a DVD movie i just bought from an online store, it's a legit
DVD movie, not a bootleg.... well, it LOOKS legit. Who knows anymore.

Anyway, it plays fine in a DVD player connected to a television.. but
wont load or show up on two different windows XP computers.

Both computers will load and play other DVD movies... just not this
one. The disc never even shows up in the computer.. the drive spins
and nothing ever happens... go to My Computer, and it shows there is
nothing in the drive. Click the drive letter and nothing happens.
Weird.

Anybody ever seen this? Is it just a bad DVD?

 

[David B.]

Could possibly be the copy protection scheme used on the disk, some have
issues when trying to play on a PC.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

hello all

I've got a DVD movie i just bought from an online store, it's a legit
DVD movie, not a bootleg.... well, it LOOKS legit. Who knows anymore.

Anyway, it plays fine in a DVD player connected to a television.. but
wont load or show up on two different windows XP computers.

Both computers will load and play other DVD movies... just not this
one. The disc never even shows up in the computer.. the drive spins
and nothing ever happens... go to My Computer, and it shows there is
nothing in the drive. Click the drive letter and nothing happens.
Weird.

Anybody ever seen this? Is it just a bad DVD?

It's common enough that a number of video rental places I've been to have
signs saying that what they rent is intended for standalone DVD players, and
is not guaranteed to work on a DVD drive in a PC.

HTH
-pk

 

[M.I.5¾]

It's common enough that a number of video rental places I've been to have
signs saying that what they rent is intended for standalone DVD players,
and is not guaranteed to work on a DVD drive in a PC.

If that were the case then the DVD video is prohibited from showing the DVD
logo anywhere on the disk or the packaging.

The DVD logo is a sign that the disc conforms to a rigid specification *and*
that it will play on any equipment that displays the same logo.

 

[David B.]

Be that as it may, there are still DVD disks that won't play on certain PC
drives.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

If that were the case then the DVD video is prohibited from showing the
DVD logo anywhere on the disk or the packaging.

The DVD logo is a sign that the disc conforms to a rigid specification
*and* that it will play on any equipment that displays the same logo.

That's nice, but the fact is, the signs are there because these shops got
enough returns from people who couldn't play the discs on their PCs.

It's also quite possible that it's the *drive*, not the *disc* that's at
fault.

Once again, reality trumps the official rules.
-pk

 

[RC_Moonpie]

That's nice, but the fact is, the signs are there because these shops got
enough returns from people who couldn't play the discs on their PCs.

It's also quite possible that it's the *drive*, not the *disc* that's at
fault.

not in this case, as two different computers, both of which play other
DVD movies, just fine, will not even load this disc

 

[David B.]

It is possible for 2 different computers to have the same model DVD drive in
them.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Be that as it may, there are still DVD disks that won't play on certain PC
drives.

I understand your point. But the question remains: has the DVD been
mastered in such a way that it designed not to play on PC DVD drives, or
does it suffer some fault that it won't play on some drives? I have no
shortage of premastered DVD disks at home that won't play on some video DVD
players but will play on others. There is no indication that they have been
mastered that way. Indeed the publishers would be deliberately limiting
their market if they did.

The lasers used in the optical block of DVD drives has proved itself to be
notoriously unreliable. They deteriorate at alarmingly different rates
between examples rather than fail catastrophically. I have long held the
view that the manufacturers are using lasers that will mostly just last the
waranty period - a practice that is actually illegal in the UK (and I
believe the rest of Europe).

 

[M.I.5¾]

not in this case, as two different computers, both of which play other
DVD movies, just fine, will not even load this disc

It is not incoceivable that both PCs have drives with deteriorating lasers
in them. DVD writers seem to be most vulnerable in this regard as the
energy levels in the lasing cavity are much higher (while writing). I am
not aware of any DVDs that are specifically mastered not to play in a PC DVD
drive - though given the paranoia levels amongst DVD producers, one might
think they will try.

Here in Europe, if you buy a video sold as a 'DVD Video' and it won't play
in a PC DVD drive, then you you have statutory right to return it for one
that does - or your money back. This issue did arise with Audio discs that
*were* designed not to play in PC drives - they were prohibited from
marketing them as 'Compact Discs'.

 

[RC_Moonpie]

It is not incoceivable that both PCs have drives with deteriorating lasers
in them.

I have no argument with this; I suppose its entirely possible.

HOWEVER on another forum, I cant remember which, another XP help forum
or possibly a DVD help forum, someone else just posted an almost exact
duplicate of my question. Apparently they are wondering the same
thing. I suppose its possible they have a computer with a
deteriorating laser as well. Its also possible, is it not, that
somehow these DVD movies are being sold with some sort of technology
or something to prevent being loaded into a computer?

not sure, this is pretty interesting to watch unfold tho.

thanks to all for your comments