Playing DVD Roms

Question

I want to play a DVD movie in my DVD Rom drive, it is a targus port noteworthy pcmcia NWDVDPR-T8   I put CDs in there and the drive works it just won't play the movies, it will pick up folders and files, but I want it so I can watch movies on my laptop, when I am in bed or when I am on the plane or in a train or whatever the case may be. I only want it for that, if I can use it for that, then it is just useless to me seeing as how I already have a cd rom that works just fine. Thank You for any help that you can provide, btw I have a Dell Latitude LS 500 mhz p3 128mb of ram 30gb hardrive I also know this is kinda off the message board subject and that this is really not a Dell question, but I am using this device on my Dell laptop and I figured this would be a good place to ask this question since it has always been a great place for info in the past

Bigmikeholliday · Answer

and what might that necessary playback thing be?

Flooby · Answer

That notebook's a bit on the underpowered side for DVD viewing (both from processor and installed RAM standpoints), but it sounds like you haven't installed the necessary playback software required to view DVDs.

Flooby · Answer

@Bigmikeholliday wrote: and what might that necessary playback thing be? Suggestion:  http://www.google.com Search:  'dvd playback software'

Steve911 · Answer

Every DVD drive that I've ever installed has come with the playback software. It requires that you install it as an optional component. If you don't have your original disks that came with the drive then you'll need to purchase something like PowerDVD or WinDVD.

Bigmikeholliday · Answer

I already have the software I need to play the DVD now. I downloaded it for free. Although it does come with these annoying ads and what not.   Some of the DVD's will play and some wont play. I guess maybe if they are scratched up they wont play?   Also, The DVD drive seems to make my system crash a lot. When it is not in use it is alright, but when I use it and hook it up and it just seems to make my system crash all the time.   The DVD that did actually work, worked very well. It ran at its normal speed and there was no pausing and it just ran like I was watching it on a regular household DVD Player.     I don't think the software that came with my DVD Rom has any of the playback software that I had to DL.

Bigmikeholliday · Answer

Ummm.. Hmmm It was doing that before I even downloaded that software you told me to download.   It has been doing that ever since I started using that DVD/CD Rom Drive   It only happens, though. When I take it out, plug in the AC adapter, or flip the Battery/AC  to PC Button.   Or I plug it in or you know what I mean, right? It runs perfectly other than that.

Flooby · Answer

@Bigmikeholliday wrote:

Also, The DVD drive seems to make my system crash a lot. When it is not in use it is alright, but when I use it and hook it up and it just seems to make my system crash all the time.

As was mentioned before, the system you're trying to use the drive on is underpowered for DVD playback, which probably has a lot to do with that "crash a lot" thing you have going on.

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Playing DVD Roms

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