DVD problem is keeping me up nights!

[miguelbgood]

OK, here's the story:
I have a Gateway Performance 500, with Hitachi dvd and CineMaster software, now also PowerDVD4 software.

I am using an Nvidia GeForceMX200 graphics card.
My dvd player plays cd's and cd-roms but will not play dvd's. Up until recently it played dvd's too. I cannot say for sure when it quit playing dvd's: either when I changed the video card from a different Invidia card; or when I added the cd-rw internal drive (TDK). I think it was the former, because I used GoBack to revert my drive to a time before I added teh TDK drive and it still would not play a dvd.

Here's the deal:
Every time I put a dvd in, it gives me this error message:
"Another application is preventing dvd playback".
I have killed every program using ctl-alt-del and STILL I get that message!

So, I have done every thing I've found that anyone recommended:
I have started in Safe mode and deleted the drivers.
I have checked for new drivers (I had the newest.)
I have changed my Sony Trinitron resolution to 600x800 and changed colors to 256 (although it used to play fine with 32bit color).
I have downloaded and used DVD Genie.
I have downloaded and used PowerDVD 4 trial version.

Oh, and I get this error message when I try to use PowerDVD to run my dvd:
"Invalid Page Fault in NVDD32.DLL at 0187:b00dcfff
Error code F6F00018"
Then another message:
"DDraw Overlay is recommended. Lower resolution and color depth 800x600 w/256 colors or change refresh to 75 Hz"

But like I say, I tried all that and it didn't make it work! Except for the ddraw overlay thing - I cannot find it anywhere. Oh, and when I click on the Overlay Controls of my NVidia software, I get this:
"An error occurred while Windows was working with the Control Panel file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DESK.CPL" and then the settings box closes on its own.

ANY IDEAS? This is really driving me crazy, now, after 4 days and nights of trying everything anyone has suggested...and still NO DVD!

Thanks for any more ideas, especially if you happen to KNOW what the heck is going on with this thing!

What on Earth has caused my dvd not to work anymore????

[Enchanter]

I understand your frustration, but do try not to double-post. It is not well-accepted here.

[miguelbgood]

Sorry, I was not aware double posting was bad. I wasn't sure whether my problem was a software problem or a player problem, so that's why I double posted. Figured maybe different people frequent the different boards...

[Nielchiano]

nVidia?

Hi,

since PowerDVD is complaining about NVDD32.DLL, I suppose that there might be a problem with your video-card... I don't realy understand which drivers you updated, but try the laters WQHL drivers from nVidia (ATM, that is 30.82).
non-WQHL drivers might work as well, but they're not certified by Micro$oft, and might contain some slight incompatibilities.

Good luck,
Nielchiano