I have an I/O Magic 16-16-8x dual-layer, double format DVD-RW drive i recently installed in my PC. It has no trouble reading DVDs except one: an apparently legal, commercially-produced copy of Dante’s Peak. It plays just fine in my standalone DVD player, but my computer’s DVD drive does not even recognize it as a valid media. The disc is in excellent condition with no visible scratches or fingerprints, and the drive can play other discs just fine. It is encoded for Region 1, so it ought to play fine. I suspect it’s an encryption issue–perhaps some copy-protection scheme designed to prevent ripping illegal copies. If this is the case, please don’t post instructions on circumventing it, but if it’s simply a matter of acquiring the proper CODEC I’d appreciate the help on where to get it. Does anyone have any ideas?
I suspect it’s copy protection. This is the same as the new Paul McCartney CD single I bought, which my computer will not even recognize. It plays fine in the stereo’s CD player. But for this reason, neither the disc nor the package can contain the Compact Disc Digital Audio logo, as the disc does not conform to red book standards. Does the package for your particular DVD have an authorized DVD logo? Or is it missing from the disc surface and any packaging?
It is a commercially-licensed, produced and released copy, purchased new in a video store, with all the appropriate labelling, markings and logos. Assuming it IS some sort of copy-protection scheme, is there any way for me to play it in my computer’s DVD drive without allowing illegal copies to be made, or am I stuck with only watching it at home?
There is no way of which I’m aware that you can watch it on your computer, if you can’t even get it to recognize the disc. So you are probably stuck having to watch it at home.
Return it!
The only way to let these bastards know that we refuse to be blocked from using the products we pay good money for is not to put up with it.
Once again, intrusive attempts at copy protection have the most detrimental effects on the honest people who pay for the disc.
Update, for those interested:
Apparently it was a disk data format issue. I upgraded my PC’s DVD drive firmware with the latest version from the drive manufacturer, and that did the trick. The drive can now recognize and play the DVD with no problem. I am curious, however, what exactly the different format might be and why it apparently is only used for some discs and not others. I had the same problem with a rental DVD, and the only commonality I can see is that both are older films. But, if it’s an older data format, why wasn’t it included in the drive’s firmware from the beginning? My searches on Google have thus far been fruitless.
Very odd. Glad to hear that it’s working now.