New DVDs cannot be read by PC

[ymfoo]

My new batch of DVDs (The Incredibles, King Arthur, Shark Tales etc) cannot be read by my DVD Rom. It says 'unsupported file format'. I have no problem with encoding all my DVDs into the HD before this.

Has there been a new format of DVDs that can only be played in standalone DVD players but not in PC? Has anyone encountered such situation?

My DVD-rom is Lite-On region 1, discs are also region 1. PC runs windows XP.

[Mug Funky]

(this maybe should be in the hardware forum)

how old is the lite-on?

i'm not aware of any changes to the interpretation of DVD specs.

however, disc quality differs a fair bit depending on the replication plant used to make them. try reading off the numbers on the inner ring of the disc - see if the ones that don't play correct all come from the same place, then google for certain parts of the code on these discs - maybe you'll get lucky and find something (but of course, you wont be able to do much about it).

best bet is to ring/write the authoring house and tell them about the incompatibility - they do like to know about these things, so they can use a different replication plant for the next batch (and probably send you a copy from it).

but double check and make sure your drive is okay before you do any of that :)

[manono]

The release date for the R1 The Incredibles DVD hasn't even been announced yet. Shark Tale isn't due out until Feb 8, 2005. Tsk, tsk.

[malkion]

No wonder it wont read. You got ripped off...

[ymfoo]

Sounds like I got ripped off.

But how come the discs can be played in standalone DVD players? (If the question sounds stupid, please forgive me as I am still learning.)

[Mug Funky]

that's an odd one. my brother got a "bankok discount" edition of Kill Bill vol 1 that played in his standalone but nothing else. i eventually got a rip of it using a lite-on writer (i forget the model number now - it's not mine).

ahem. i don't condone piracy, unless it's the hollywood-ized high seas, rum drinking eyeliner wearing drunken johnny depp style of piracy.

(incidentally, the biggest day on my party calendar last year was International Talk Like a Pirate Day... http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html )

[stef24]

what are you using to watch the dvd on your pc?

can you rip the dvd?

[ymfoo]

I normally use Cyberlink Power DVD 5, but it says 'unsupported file format'. I tried Windows media player, no luck either. The windows explore on the drive did not show any files in the DVD.

I have tried it on 2 computers (one with Lite-on DVD rom and another with Lite-on DVD combo drive), both unable to read.

Funny, only this batch of DVDs have such problem. Must be from 'Bangkok edition'.

[stef24]

nero has a function, something like "view tracks" which should show if there is anything on the disc. you could also use the "disc info" tool in nero. basically, if there is something on the disc, it will tell you, even if dvd player and windows explorer cant see anything. and if there is something on, you should be able to get it off, and put it back to a new disc ... i think

have you tried dvd decrypter?

good luck