Windows Media Player ver. 12

[hlewton]

I have a new computer running Windows 7 and it uses Windows Media Player version 12.0.7601.17514 and while trying to play a movie DVD it said I should try updating the video card because it could not play it. Since this is a new computer I really don't want to or think I should have to update the video card's driver but have no idea what my other choices are to get it to play a movie DVD. Any ideas how to fix this even if it is an entirely different player?

Thanks.

[HansV]

Windows 7 has the capability to play DVDs built in (this is no longer the case for Windows 8 - you have to get a separate DVD decoder), and I agree with you that the video card in a new computer shouldn't have problems, unless you got a computer with a very low-end video card. Do you know what model video card you have?

(To find out: click the Start button, and type device manager. Press Enter. In Device Manager, expand Display Adapters)

[hlewton]

Hans once you told me how to do a search I downloaded K-Lite Codec Pack and it now plays. I am supposed to have a pretty good video card it is an AMD Raedeon HD 6670. Not sure if it is in fact a good one but since I don't play games it does seem to be working fine for me especially now that it is playing the DVDs. Not sure why it didn't before though. Thanks.

[HansV]

Installing the K-Lite Codec Pack is a good idea - it lets you play many additional formats.

The Radeon HD 6670 is a capable video card - not the latest and greatest, but suitable for almost any use, including gaming, except perhaps the most demanding 3D games.

[hlewton]

Thanks Hans. I knew you had helped me before with a very similar problem but couldn't find it until you told me how to do a specific search.

Still it does seem funny that it would not play the DVD until I installed that codec pack if Windows 7 is supposed to have that capability. OH well just another thing that isn't consistent with MS I guess.

[HansV]

I can't explain either why your Windows 7 didn't play DVDs "out of the box", but the important thing is that you can now.