# Free safe DVD Codec for XP + WMP 11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550 "2010-04-18T18:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550/1 "2010-04-18T18:46:35Z")
Looking for a safe downloadable DVD (MPEG-2) codec for use on XP with Windows Media Player 11. Free is best, but some cost is not out of the question. Something which embeds ads or advertiser spyware is right out. This is going into a computer for an old person who can’t handle new software real well. So advice to stop using WMP and instead download some other media player, while well-meaning, won’t be helpful. Thanks in advance … ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550/2 "2010-04-18T19:00:16Z")
[K-Lite Codec Pack.](http://www.free-codecs.com/download/k_lite_codec_pack.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550/3 "2010-04-18T19:00:30Z")
FFDShow will let you play DVDs in WMP. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550/4 "2010-04-18T19:10:47Z")
[Here are the pay codecs by various companies from the MS site](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/plugins.aspx). Pricing ranges from $10-$20. The free codec packs will probably work just as well. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550/5 "2010-04-18T19:33:44Z")
[CCCP](http://www.cccp-project.net/) is another option but I’ve also heard good things about K-lite. If you pay more than $0, you’re paying too much. Oh, and FFDShow should be included in either codec pack. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550/6 "2010-04-18T22:50:04Z")
I have links to many good codec packs on [my article about them here.](http://www.techsupportalert.com/understanding-codecs.htm) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550/7 "2010-04-18T23:28:09Z")
Thanks all. I followed **Dragwyr** ’s article’s advice which led me to k-lite as recommended by **runner pat** which includes ffdshow as recommended by **palooka**. And that seems to be the ticket. Sometimes it does take an electronic village. My concern wasn’t finding a free codec. It was finding a safe place to download it from. Unfortunately, Google is just as good at returning a malware site as it is a legit one. Thanks to all. We can call this case closed. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-safe-dvd-codec-for-xp-wmp-11/536550/8 "2010-04-19T03:24:33Z")
That article has been very popular at Gizmo’s Freeware. I’m glad to have helped you out.