(new) DVD playback is poor

[pduncan67]

I have been running my system without issues for some time. I just installed a DVD drive. When I play video on it, the picture 'shimmies' from side to side. It occasionally stops the side to side and plays correctly, but then starts it again.
I have the same problem when viewing w/ windows media player as well as gbpvr.
Any ideas how I can fix this?

[pduncan67]

BTW - just looked at a DVD using VLC media player and it looks perfect - so I guess its a codec issue?
Can someone tell me how to force my system to use the vlc codecs when playing a dvd?

[sub]

vlc's codecs are embedded within its own executable (and not directshow based), so not usable from third party apps like GB-PVR.

I agree the problem sounds like its related to the decoders you're using though.

[Sykor]

Try using "Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility", available at microsoft's site (Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility, and elsewhere (google), and see which mpeg2 decoders you have installed. Try changing the default one, and see which one works better.

Poor firmware (being a new/recent drive) could also be something to look into, although the fact that VLC handles it properly makes it extremely unlikely.

I had to try a couple of different decoders before I finally hit the right one for my setup.

[pduncan67]

thanks for the suggestions... I tried the decoder checkup - seems that none I have are compatible with WMP10. Would rolling back to a previous version of media player help?

if not - where can I get (free) DVD codecs?

[pduncan67]

Update: Problem Solved

It was a codec issue. And for those who are having DVD codec issues, here is what I did:

go to http://www.filehippo.com

Download the K-Lite Codec Pack 5.10 (Full)


There are a ton of codecs included in this bundle. The GUI lets you pick and choose what will be installed. I was asked to change my DirectX version - I said "No". I deselected the defaults and only chose the "Cyberlink MPEG-2 decoder" to be installed.

WMP10 played the DVD perfectly. Lastly, in the gbpvr config tool, under DVD decoder I selected "System Default".

- just a note: That K-Lite bundle is pretty sweet. It has just about everything you need to start from scratch.

[hoborg]

BTW, SAF will do the same, but install only really necessary stuff and play as much as possible using DXVA.