DVD movies won't play on my machine

[CarmenAzusa]

Any advice will be appreciated.
It seems like all of a sudden I can't play a DVD movie on my computer. I've got Windows 2000 SP4, Pentium 4, 2.66GHz with DMA enabled...

My monitor is ViewSonic VP191s, I've got a G of RAM.

I open Matrox DVD Player - I've tried Cineplayer also, and I can hear sound, choppy. The picture is choppy, pixelated, big green squares, can barely see that it's a movie, then freezes, then nothing.

I don't know what to tweak, or where to start.
Thanks for reading.

[setarip]

If you have any videos on your hard drive, do they play properly?

[CarmenAzusa]

won't play properly

MPG2 files, which I edit and render in Type-2, only play on Media Player 6.4 (sound only in MediaPlayer 9), and Type 1, will play on MediaPlayer 9.

Movies which I burn to DVD-R on my Pioneer DVR-105 play fine on my DVD Player, but, not on my computer - it's choppy.

I don't have any DVD files on my computer.

Perhaps I should copy one to my computer?

[sfheath]

Have you tried running a lens cleaning DVD/CD?

[CarmenAzusa]

lens cleaner

I haven't tried that. I will stop at the computer store on the way back from work to find one. Thanks.

[CarmenAzusa]

Awesome. That's that. And it works.

[CarmenAzusa]

I guess I spoke too soon.

Here's the story. My son wanted to capture some pictures for a school project off of "The Matrix" - and that's the movie that wouldn't play in my computer. Then, as you suggested, I bought the memorex lens cleaner, but since he took "The Matrix" to school, I popped in "The Matrix II" and it played beautiful - clear, crisp, nice sound, etc. - hence, my last message above - but I just tried "The Matrix" (I) again - and it's the same - it plays all pixelated for a moment and then crashes the player. I even bought the CD Repair & Cleaner for the DVDs. Perhaps it's just that particular movie.

Thanks for reading.

[sfheath]

Glad you've had partial success!
Alas when the disks themselves get dirty they can be troublesome.
If your Matrix disc hasn't responded to the solvent cleaner I've read of others recommendation to use toothpaste carefully from centre to outside, not around.
However, I've also read of at least one poster who made it worse with this
Try your Matrix in DVD Decrypter to see if you can 'rescue' the files for a backup?

[setarip]

"I just tried "The Matrix" (I) again - and it's the same - it plays all pixelated for a moment and then crashes the player."

Is it an ORIGINAL, pressed, commercial DVD or a BURNED copy?

[CarmenAzusa]

Sorry, it's an original pressed (store bought) version that I can't play. After I did the lens cleaning - my burned movies are playing just fine.

I just tried the store-bought version of "the Mummy" same thing - all pixelated, plays for a couple of minutes - then crash.

[setarip]

If you've had these purchased commercial DVDs for a while (and, perhaps, your progeny are "less than careful" when handling them), by all means, follow the suggestions made by "sfheath" regarding both trying to use DVD Decrypter and cleaning the DVDs...