Windows Media Player DVD Help

Check the DVD

• Take the DVD out of the computer's DVD drive and inspect the bottom. If there are any scratches or smudges, these could create read errors that will interfere with playback. Even if you don't see any visible irregularities on the bottom of the DVD, try playing another DVD in your computer to check and see if the first disc was the problem. If the second DVD doesn't play back, then you will know that the computer, not the disc, is where the issue lies.
  
  

Change Display Settings

• If you have an older computer, it may not be able to display the DVD video because of old video settings. Because older computers were almost never used to display videos, their video displays are set by default to only handle basic moving images. To adjust your video display settings, open the "Run" dialog box (under the "Start" menu, and then type "desk.cpl" in the text entry field. A new window will pop up. Navigate to the "Settings" tab, and then move the screen resolution slider to "800 X 600" and select "16-bit" for the color quality. Then click "OK."
  
  

Registry Error

• If an error message pops up saying the DVD decoder software is invalid (and you have played other DVDs in the player before) then there has been a registry error. The DVD decoding software (which came with the software suite) may have been mistakenly deleted. The easiest way to fix this is to click on the "Web Help" button at the bottom of the dialog box and re-download a DVD decoder. However, if you suspect other programs have been affected, perform a system restore to restore your system to the way it was before the error occurred. Find "System Restore" from the "Start" menu, then click "Programs," then "Accessories," then "System Tools."