# DVD Software **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748 "2002-06-13T00:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/1 "2002-06-13T00:01:09Z")
Okay, so I got a really good deal on a DVD-Rom drive for my PC only problem is, there’s no software with it. I can’t find any _free_ drivers for the thing on the manufacturers website, so anyone know where I might be able to get 'em? The drive’s a Sony 1621 DVD-Rom, and I’m running Windows 2000 Pro on a PC with a 750 Mhz AMD processor and 320 megs of RAM. Please note that “upgrading” to Windows XP is most emphatically _ **NOT** _ an option!!! My modem is _ **TOTALLY INCOMPATABLE** _ with XP (I know, I’ve tried.), so switching OS’s is out. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/2 "2002-06-13T01:12:25Z")
The newest version of Windows Media Player (8) plays DVDs - if that’s what you mean by software. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/3 "2002-06-13T01:50:53Z")
Surprisingly enough, Windows basic DVD player is pretty good. Rather than some huge, bulky remote-control-style interface like WinDVD (which is pretty good, too), it has two tool thin tool bars (one at the top and bottom) which disappear a few seconds after you stop using your mouse. A simple twitch of the mouse turns them back on. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/4 "2002-06-13T02:19:22Z")
Don’t you need XP to run WMP 8? That’s not an option for Tuckerfan. Besides, I think he needs a Win 2K system driver, not DVD player software. Can you clarify that Tuckerfan? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/5 "2002-06-13T03:34:03Z")
Okay, my system knows that its a DVD drive, and I downloaded MaXimusDVD, thinking that it would work. However, when I slap a DVD in the drive, this is the message that I get > [@](#): > > There is no Windows 2000 compatible DVD decoder installed on this system. A DVD decoder device or decoder software is required to play movies (a DVD drive alone is not sufficient). So that’s what I need. Anybody know where I can find it? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/6 "2002-06-13T04:18:55Z")
I’m not a 2000 user but IIRC 2000 is a toughie for DVD freeware (or much multi media freeware period). My suggestion is to get a cheap USB modem and upgrade to XP. It has lots of multi media goodies that 2000 doesn’t. Win DVD is also an option but it costs $$. Did you see this Microsoft dl for 2000? It might have an applicable codec.l [http://www.mpegx.com/video.asp?dcat=VideoCodec&detail=972](http://www.mpegx.com/video.asp?dcat=VideoCodec&detail=972) here is a freeware player that works in 2000. [http://www.tucows.com/mmedia/preview/196134.html](http://www.tucows.com/mmedia/preview/196134.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/7 "2002-06-13T04:27:34Z")
**astro** , I _am_ using a cheap USB modem!!! That’s the problem! I’m downloading the software that you linked to, but I’m not sure how well the one will work, since Windows Media Player 7.1 one doesn’t work on my machine (and its the version I currently have installed). ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/8 "2002-06-13T04:48:47Z")
Well, **astro** , just tried the stuff and no dice. Surely there’s something out there that’ll let me use this thing! ---
**Author:** ![KoalaBear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47c2d/32.png) [@KoalaBear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KoalaBear)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/9 "2002-06-13T04:52:54Z")
It’s not a player that you need _per se_, but a pair of drivers for decoding MPEG-2 video and AC3 audio. Once those are installed you can use just about any player you like. Try **Intervideo [WinDVD](http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/Product_Profile.jsp?p=WinDVD4PLUS)**. It supports Win2K, so it should contain the drivers you need. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/10 "2002-06-14T03:32:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KoalaBear \* > \*\*It’s not a player that you need _per se_, but a pair of drivers for decoding MPEG-2 video and AC3 audio. Once those are installed you can use just about any player you like. > > Try **Intervideo [WinDVD](http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/Product_Profile.jsp?p=WinDVD4PLUS)**. It supports Win2K, so it should contain the drivers you need. \*\* Downloaded it, attempted to install it, and the damn install program keeps crashing. Will try to download it again, but anyone have any other suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/11 "2002-06-14T15:11:48Z")
as usual., [download.com](http://download.com) search for ‘dvd’ younever know what they have there., Plenty of free/sharewares stuff. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/12 "2002-06-14T15:30:41Z")
I don’t know if this is a feasable solution for you, but I HIGHLY recommend a hardware decoder–the ReelMagic Hollywood Plus. They can be found on eBay for as little as $20-$30 (make sure you are getting the cables and drivers with the card, though). It’s as easy to install as RAM and the performance is great. It also supports TV out. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/13 "2002-06-14T16:01:26Z")
Don’t you have to make sure your video card works with a hardare decoder? Maybe this isn’t an issue anymore, but I have a hardware DVD decorder that was incompatible with a video card I wanted to use, so I had to uninstall the decoder. Besides, a 750mhz AMD should be plenty enough power to decode DVD, I used a 400mhz PII with no problem with PowerDVD XP (on Win98). ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-software/113748/14 "2002-06-15T01:01:35Z")
Well, I downloaded the trial version of PowerDVD and it played the video, but no audio, and none of the other players that I downloaded work (had hoped that finding _one_ that worked might allow the others to work as well). So, I’m getting closer, but still ain’t there, yet.