Hi bonzomn,

Please run the Dell diagnostics on your DVD drive. The instructions are in the CD/DVD FAQ (link below). You need to run the READ test with a data DVD in the drive, not a movie DVD.

I would also try reseating the data cable from the mother board to the optical drive on both ends.

Thanks, osprey4,

I ran the diagnostics and the DVD drive passed with flying colors. It still does not recognize studio burned movie discs though. Any other ideas what it might be? Thanks again for your advice...

Just to check, you're running the 102A firmware, correct? Have you checked for updates to PowerDVD? Another suggestion would be to grab VLC (in Osprey's Toolbox, link below). Installing this also installs codecs that may help reading some newer DVDs.

Finally, it would be helpful if you provide the titles of the movies you're having trouble with. I assume when you say "studio discs", you are referring to commercially manufactured DVDs, not illegal copies.

Yes, I am running the 102A firmware and updated PowerDVD... still the drive doesn't read the commercially manufactured DVDs. Does Netflix put any strange copyguarding protection on their discs, because the only ones I have trouble viewing are the ones I rent from Netflix. Latest titles are Chris Rock's "Hair" documentary, a Three Stooges compilation and Gran Torino. Very odd that it can't play any of them in the DVD drive.

Thanks again for your assistance!

I don't know that Netflix uses any encryption different than anyone else. Try VLC Media Player.