DVD won't play

[futuref]

My ASUS DVD-ROM E612 player won't play *some* dvds.

It first tries to read the dvd but then freezes and when I try to open PowerDVD I get a "NO DISK" message!. To give you an example the "Star Wars II" dvd won't be seen at all but its companion extra dvd plays just fine.

Are this certain dvds made not to play on the pc? Is it a medium/encoding problem? Is it a driver copyright policy? Where should I look?

I have a SAPPHIRE RADEON 9000 ATLANTIS PRO (DRIVER: 6.14.1.6292 [catalyst 3.1]) on windows XP pro SP1, mobo ASUS P4PE and P4 2400.

What I find strange is that it doesn't simply don't play the dvd but it says that there is no dvd in the drive. Not even Smart ripper can't see it.

[Batman]

Are these original dvd's (NOT homemade copies/pirated material)?

[futuref]

Yes, Batman, they are original dvds from my neiborhood videoclub.
Both those which play fine and those that are not recognized are originals.

I forgot to mention that those which are not recognized on the pc, play normally on a home dvd player.

[setarip]

1) As an experiment, try using a different software DVD player, such as WinDVD

2) Clean the DVDs

[futuref]

It cannot reach the software player at all, since the disk is not seen by windows in the first place.

Cleaning the disk was my first guess but it doesn't work.

[Qyd]

This is probaby not the case but...
Sometimes when I use the drive button to eject dvd's the computer doesn't notice I insert another dvd, believes it's still the old one and thus doesn't play it.
So I have to use the context menu (right mouse button) to eject the dvd, than it would recocnize the newly inserted dvd.

[setarip]

"when I try to open PowerDVD I get a "NO DISK" message!."

"It cannot reach the software player at all, since the disk is not seen by windows in the first place."


Which is it - PowerDVD or Windows???????????

[futuref]

Setarip please!!!

I mean when I try to play it with Power DVD. I also mentioned that neither Smart Ripper can see the DVD and it goes without saying that I tried windows explorer as well.

Maybe I left unclear that the *system* cannot see the disk, but yeap that's what's usually going on with "no disk" messages.

[futuref]

What I generally want to know is if that's a:

1)faulty disk problem

2)device specs problem/incompatibility with certain dvd formats

3)disk copyright policy problem (are the dvds restricted from playing on the pc?)

4)Is the graphics card involved? (much like the latest gforce drivers that restrict dvds from playing when tv-out on?)

5)something I haven't thought of?

I guess I can't be the only one with this problem, so if anybody's got a clue please HELP!!!!

[setarip]

"Setarip please!!!"

OK - EOF for me...