# Apparently I need a codec plug-in **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-need-a-codec-plug-in/609716 "2012-01-16T18:18:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-need-a-codec-plug-in/609716/1 "2012-01-16T18:18:51Z")
I recently obtained a desktop computer that for the first time in my experience, has a DVD burner/player. The friend we bought it from never actually used it to play back a DVD; only to burn them. I tried to play a DVD movie this morning, and Windows Media Player told me I needed a plug-in DVD decoder, and offered to direct me to a place where I can BUY one. Well, screw that. I don’t BUY things, if I can get an equivalent for free. Google does respond when I search on “free,” “dvd plugins,” and “Windows XP.” But lately, I’ve been deciding to be careful about the sites I go to for free downloads. Anyone have any suggestions for a safe place to download such a free plug-in? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-need-a-codec-plug-in/609716/2 "2012-01-16T18:30:39Z")
Install the Media Player Codec Pack from here > **[Media Player Codec Pack](https://download.cnet.com/Media-Player-Codec-Pack/3000-13632_4-10749065.html)** > > Download Media Player Codec Pack for Windows to play various types of video and audio files in Media Player. It’s a safe site. ---
**Author:** ![Chickenwrangler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chickenwrangler/32/91_2.png) [@Chickenwrangler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickenwrangler)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-need-a-codec-plug-in/609716/3 "2012-01-17T00:49:22Z")
Or install the free [http://www.videolan.org/](http://www.videolan.org/) and you can play just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-need-a-codec-plug-in/609716/4 "2012-01-17T14:09:24Z")
I’ve always recommended the k-lite codec pack, it’s solved all my users’ problems in this area > **[Codecs.com | Downloads for K-Lite Codec Pack 17.6.8](https://www.free-codecs.com/k_lite_codec_pack_download.htm)** > > Download K-Lite Codec Pack 17.6.8 : fast downloads for latest versions of K-Lite Codec Pack ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-need-a-codec-plug-in/609716/5 "2012-01-17T18:50:50Z")
> [@Chickenwrangler](#): > > Or install the free [http://www.videolan.org/](http://www.videolan.org/) and you can play just about anything. Another vote for[VLC Player](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLC_media_player). Been using it for years, even before I switched to Linux. _The default distribution of VLC includes a large number of free decoding and encoding libraries, avoiding the need for finding/calibrating proprietary plugins. Many of VLC’s codecs are provided by the libavcodec library from the FFmpeg project, but it uses mainly its own muxer and demuxers and its own protocols. It also gained distinction as the first player to support playback of encrypted DVDs on Linux and Mac OS X by using the libdvdcss DVD decryption library._