Weird DVD Playback Problem

[brashquido]

Hi All,

Came across a weird problem while playing back a DVD rip of Stargate the other night, where the computer would freeze when playing one VOB file in particular. However, when I play the same VOB file on my gaming rig, it works fine.

The computer I have setup for playing DVD's is a Windows 98 box with a Duron 800, 384MB PC2100, Iwill KA-266 M/B, Gigabyte Geforce 2 MX, and a 40GB WD HDD. My gaming machine is runninf W2K Pro, with a T-bird 1.2GHz, 256MB PC-133, Iwill KK266 M/B, Leadtek Geforce 2 Pro, and 2X 10GB WD HDD's in RAID 0.

I control the DVD player computer via netmeeting so I don't have to have a monitor, keyboard and all the rest in my cinema room, I'm wondering if this has something to do with it? Any ideas?

[chemmajik]

Sounds like a network card or network driver related issue. Have you tried another player through the network. If your running 10mb, you may have to get a hub & use 100mb. Maybe convert it to mpeg1 or mpeg4?

[brashquido]

Thanks for your reply chemmajik. I have a 100MB Switched network, but I'm pretty sure it's not that coz I copied the vob file to the HDD of each computer for playback. I have a funny feeling it is a hardware thing. I'm building another windows 98 computer this weekend, so I guess I'll find out then.

[TRILIGHT]

I'll be perfectly honest, I HATE the 9x code. It is the most unstable crap I've ever seen. It only gets worse with age. Before I went to NT4 back in 96, I had to reinstall Windows at least every other month. I would not be surprised at all if it was a corrupt dll or registry in your 9x OS.

[brashquido]

I agree TRILIGHT, I'm not a great fan of Win 9X either. Unfortunately, my Matrox video editing card only supports upto Windows 98, so not much choice for this new machine I'm building. I'll probably be getting the Pinnacle Studio Deluxe shortly, so I be able to install W2K or XP then!

[chemmajik]

Wasnt sure if you where trying to play off the hd's of both or not. Yes it might be a corrupt dll, codec or filter. But it also maybe a different version that is causing the problem. Well Win9x can be just as stable as 2k if you have it setup right, just it take the right combo to do it.

[TRILIGHT]

Originally posted by chemmajik
Well Win9x can be just as stable as 2k if you have it setup right, just it take the right combo to do it.

I don't mean to be a hard-ass but I assure you, the 9x code will never be as stable as NT, Win2k, or XP. It follows the same principle as building your house on a solid foundation. The 9x code is inheirently unstable from the ground up. This is the reason it was abandoned altogether with the release of Windows XP (which, like 2000, is based on the NT code). Windows "Me" is the last bastard son of the 9x code we'll ever see. Thank god! :)

[chemmajik]

Thats okay I will stick with my 9x code, mines stable, and 100% compatible. Prob will try 64bit Hammer Windows, or revisit Linux if this new old version of DX9.1 doesnt impress me.