Topic: Help with DVD needed
started by: LiNeY
Posted by LiNeY on Jan. 29 2002,21:57
I got a Ricoh cd-burner/DVD device for my comp yesterday. The burning goes just fine (Nero burning Rom software), but I can't get the DVD to start. Yesterday, when the guy who installed the stuff demonstrated it, it went wonderfully...Here's the problem:
1. it tells me I don't have DMA switched on, while I have!
2. the DVD starts running with the usual disclaimer "this is just for private use etc. etc. etc." in several languages. Then, I get to the window to choose language setting, scene, etc. Choosing the language works well. Then, I start the movie, and it starts with the intro (the usual stuff - production company logo and some music) - and FREEZES. Once, I took the trailer instead of the movie. That got me 50 seconds of the trailer. Then the picture froze. Then the sound froze, too. Then the whole comp froze.
What should I do? This machine runs on 64 MB RAM, and Windows ME (no jokes please, Windows ME works actually quite well on this comp! It's all about how you treat it...). The DVD player apparently freezes it up so thoroughly that the mouse is gone and it reacts to nothing but a alt-ctrl-del reboot.
Any ideas or help?
Or might the cause of the problem be that yesterday's DVD was "You've Got Mail" and mine was a movie the comp didn't like?
Posted by kornalldaway on Jan. 29 2002,23:33
a different movie can be part of the problemkind of hard to tell, but it would be helpful to have some more information as to what kind of software you are using for playing DVDs. you should have either a hardware decoder card or a software decoder. that might be causing some issues as well.
i had problems with DVDs before, but nothing like this
Posted by Dysorderia on Jan. 30 2002,20:26
sounds like an issue with system resourcesamount of RAM needed to run ME(bare minimum) is 64 Mega-bytes
I'd advise not to play DVDs until you get more RAM since DVD playback programs tend to hog the RAM.
128 Mega-bytes should do it.
Posted by Rshias on Jan. 30 2002,22:29
Very salient observation, Dysorderia. Asking a WindowsME machine with 64 megs of RAM to do DVD playback is starting to push it. Most of the memory is tied up with the OS, so what you have available is quite limited. This would cause similar effects as what you described. However, if it worked on a different DVD, then it may just be that something was wrong with the disk you tried.I have limited experience with WindowsME and usually don't screw around with the DVD players, so can't add a lot to what anyone has said. Hope you get things fixed.
Posted by Dysorderia on Jan. 30 2002,22:40
I encountered the same problems on my machine due to lack of free system resources.I left it alone until it got to the point where not even Ctrl+Alt+del or pushing the power button would get any response.
it's not ME or the DVD drive, LiNeY just needs more RAM to be able to play DVDs.
Posted by LiNeY on Jan. 30 2002,23:22
This reminds me of a recent discussion with my mom: LiNeY: "I think I need more RAM... I don't know much about this, but this machine is getting slow"
mom: (everything to do with comps is unknown and suspicious to her) "I don't think you should spend money on your computer all the time. There has to be an end to updating it."
LiNeY: "But, this is, like, necessary. It don't run too well the way it is."
mom: "You can NEVER reach the latest achievements in comps. They age quicker than you buy them!"
LiNeY: "I know. I don't want to update to the latest, I want to do some basic improvement!"
mom: "You shouldn't."
LiNeY: "I want speeeeeed!" evil grin
mom: "NO!"
LiNeY: "Alright mom, we'll see..."
I think now that I was right in this discussion. RAM is next on my shopping list.
Posted by Rshias on Jan. 31 2002,22:23
Parents never understand...
Posted by Dysorderia on Feb. 01 2002,02:20
most people think that computers are glorified televisions that just sit there and need little maintenence.computers have more in common in with plants since if you just leave them alone and not maintain them, they will quickly cease to work.
Posted by WrineX on Feb. 01 2002,20:49
speaking of RAM,
why have prices gone up so much the last few months?
Were the manufacturers wallowing in their own stocks?
anyways i don't think a stick 64 megs isn't gonna break your bank...
Posted by veistran on Feb. 06 2002,06:55
RAM has been going up from the global economy tanking, the lower price margins from the great increase in competition and over expansion of production.I'd consider getting a decoder card if you plan on doing a lot of dvd watching on your computer.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Feb. 08 2002,09:40
what software are you using? That could have a lot to do with it.