FREE windows 8 bluray software.

[gaidin43]

Ok there has got to be some solution for a free windows 8 blu ray player. I tried to do the VLC solution but it crashes as soon as I try playing an encrypted disk.

I refuse to pay a dime to cyberlink since I just bought this bluray player and their OEM version will not support windows 8. Which is complete cramp because this like other programs are forcing you to buy a new software right off.

Anyone have any suggestions on this? And I know how to make mkv's and I do when needed, but this is for my HTPC that I want to have an easy plug and play solution for when someone other then me wants to use it.

 

[tommo123]

the free media center addon? you get the code from microsoft

 

[Steltek]

Media center won't play bluray discs.

The issue isn't playing bluray discs, as both VLC Player and MPC will do that. The issue is rather decrypting bluray discs, which isn't free. The general cost difference between a retail bluray drive and a cheaper OEM bluray drive is the cost of the player software that comes with the retail drive.

The closest you'll probably come to a free solution is Passkey Lite from DVDfab. However, it is limited and may not work on all blurays:

http://www.dvdfab.com/passkey-lite.htm

If you are a serious movie buff, I recommend investing in a copy of Slysoft's AnyDVDHD product. It is well supported and decrypts the bluray discs so that other software (like VLC Player or MPC) can play them. They offer a 21 day free trial so you can see if it works for you.

 

[gaidin43]

When I look at anydvd hd the price is always in pounds. Is there a way to see how much this costs for US dollars?

Also, this just decrypts the bluray? And you use another player to play it?

 

[ViRGE]

When I look at anydvd hd the price is always in pounds. Is there a way to see how much this costs for US dollars?

Also, this just decrypts the bluray? And you use another player to play it?

For price conversion, just use Google ("[price in pounds] in USD").

And yes, that just decrypts the Blu-Ray. It doesn't do playback.

 

[gaidin43]

Yea I am looking for a player, not a decrypter. Plus it costs as much to decrypt them as buy a player and MKV will strip it without needing to buy this.

 

[serpretetsky]

i feel for you gaidin. We recently installed a blu ray drive for a customer (lg) and found that the software it came with (cyberlink) was too old for windows 8. Furthermore, the software updates cost $$. Weaksauce.

 

[gaidin43]

There has got to be some free solution. Had VLC with the codec add work worked for anyone?

 

[Ferzerp]

You will not find a free encrypted bluray player because legitimate players have a per player licensing fee that they must pay.

 

[Evander]

Not free, but $9.99 after rebate you can get Nero 12 Platinum which includes Blu-ray disc playback (and does a lot of other stuff besides that). Part of the rebate though is a competitive rebate. If you don't have that, you can go buy an old ass version of the eligible produces on ebay or something and use that for the rebate:
http://www.frys.com/product/7283963?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
On newegg, you can get PowerDVD Ultra 12 for $19.99 after rebate, but you said you don't want Cyberlink

 

[gaidin43]

Not free, but $9.99 after rebate you can get Nero 12 Platinum which includes Blu-ray disc playback (and does a lot of other stuff besides that). Part of the rebate though is a competitive rebate. If you don't have that, you can go buy an old ass version of the eligible produces on ebay or something and use that for the rebate:
http://www.frys.com/product/7283963?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
On newegg, you can get PowerDVD Ultra 12 for $19.99 after rebate, but you said you don't want Cyberlink

Where do you see powerdvd 12 ultra for windows 8 available for $20? I'd buy it for that, the Nero options looks decent too, not sure how much I trust those rebates or exactly how they work.

 

[Nothinman]

There has got to be some free solution. Had VLC with the codec add work worked for anyone?

No, there doesn't. There is no legal free solution because one has to pay licenses for the encryption and codecs used. The same is true for MP3s and DVDs, but most people just ignore that and use the free software available illegally without purchasing the required licenses.

 

[gaidin43]

No, there doesn't. There is no legal free solution because one has to pay licenses for the encryption and codecs used. The same is true for MP3s and DVDs, but most people just ignore that and use the free software available illegally without purchasing the required licenses.

You are wrong. You do not need to buy licensing for DVDs or MP3s... when you buy them you inherently get the license through ownership. I am trying very hard to find a legal and inexpensive way to play blurays on my HTPC. I will always use free software over paid, mainly because paid software is priced through the roof. I don't mind spending $20 bucks on a bluray software player, but even with the upgrade price, cyberlink wants over $60for this. Not to mention, they demand you upgrade ever year or so to their next product, again, ridiculous. I just want my HARDWARE that I bought for this reason to work and to work without having to pay yearly for it to work.

There are ALWAYS free options out there, and there are ALWAYS ways to make it work for both sides. The software industry and the bluray aspect of this has completely lost themselves.

 

[Ferzerp]

We've told you what you're looking for doesn't exist.

 

[ViRGE]

You are wrong. You do not need to buy licensing for DVDs or MP3s... when you buy them you inherently get the license through ownership. I am trying very hard to find a legal and inexpensive way to play blurays on my HTPC. I will always use free software over paid, mainly because paid software is priced through the roof. I don't mind spending $20 bucks on a bluray software player, but even with the upgrade price, cyberlink wants over $60for this. Not to mention, they demand you upgrade ever year or so to their next product, again, ridiculous. I just want my HARDWARE that I bought for this reason to work and to work without having to pay yearly for it to work.

There are ALWAYS free options out there, and there are ALWAYS ways to make it work for both sides. The software industry and the bluray aspect of this has completely lost themselves.

To be clear, Nothinman is not talking about a license for the media, but a license for the player. Blu-Ray players need to license both the necessary codecs (H.264, VC-1, DTS, etc) and the DRM systems (AACS, BD+). The latter cannot be freely (and simultaneously legally) implemented because it requires access to tightly controlled keys that are only available from the relevant licensing authority for a hefty price.

Distributing a free Blu-Ray player package capable of decrypting a Blu-Ray would get the software manufacturer sued so fast that it would be gone in a flash.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Precisely the reason I never bothered with Blu Ray. Downright hostile for the consumer in my opinion. :/

 

[Nothinman]

You are wrong. You do not need to buy licensing for DVDs or MP3s... when you buy them you inherently get the license through ownership. I am trying very hard to find a legal and inexpensive way to play blurays on my HTPC. I will always use free software over paid, mainly because paid software is priced through the roof. I don't mind spending $20 bucks on a bluray software player, but even with the upgrade price, cyberlink wants over $60for this. Not to mention, they demand you upgrade ever year or so to their next product, again, ridiculous. I just want my HARDWARE that I bought for this reason to work and to work without having to pay yearly for it to work.

There are ALWAYS free options out there, and there are ALWAYS ways to make it work for both sides. The software industry and the bluray aspect of this has completely lost themselves.

No, you get a license for the content with the disc but not for any of the parts required to play the content. Licenses for that stuff is usually covered by the hardware and software manufacturers when you buy the drive and use the included software. But if that doesn't work for you then you need to buy software that either includes the licenses, and thus costs slightly more, or to buy the licenses yourself separate from the software.

 

[lxskllr]

Precisely the reason I never bothered with Blu Ray. Downright hostile for the consumer in my opinion. :/

Yup, same. I wouldn't "invest" in any media the requires proprietary software for me to use it. If I can get libre tools to break the restrictions, I /may/ purchase, but that puts me in a position of supporting practices I don't believe in. As it stands, I'll only buy DVD, or CD.

 

[gaidin43]

Ok here's a new one as well.

I reinstalled my OEM powerdvd software version 9 and ran the advisor and it is saying my graphic driver for my intel 3000hd 9.17.10.2875 is incompatible. I know this graphics card can run blurays I know it works.

Is this cyberlink refusing to allow you to use old hardware now as well? All they have to do is put this driver version as being ok to run.

 

[abaez]

Seriously, slysoft anydvd. The price is well worth it and it gets updated frequently. You can play your blurays in ANY player you want, on any screen (since it removes HDCP requirements), and you can also make images and rip them very easily.

You can see the issues with [lousy] cyberlink and other software forcing you to upgrade. Just get Anydvd and you are done.

No profanity in the tech forums please
-ViRGE

 

[Evander]

Where do you see powerdvd 12 ultra for windows 8 available for $20? I'd buy it for that, the Nero options looks decent too, not sure how much I trust those rebates or exactly how they work.

I did the Nero rebates for Nero 11 Platinum last year - worked fine. Just make a copy of everything in case there's a problem.

On Power DVD it looks like they raised the price to about $30 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832117020

 

[gaidin43]

Seriously, slysoft anydvd. The price is well worth it and it gets updated frequently. You can play your blurays in ANY player you want, on any screen (since it removes HDCP requirements), and you can also make images and rip them very easily.

You can see the issues with [lousy] cyberlink and other software forcing you to upgrade. Just get Anydvd and you are done.

Anydvd is around $60 us correct? Again too expensive.

And yes looks like newegg raised it to around $30 after the rebate. Also the one with the rebate is not the windows 8 version?

 

[Evander]

Both Power DVD 12 and Nero 12 are advertised as being Win 8 compatible

 

[ViRGE]

Seriously, slysoft anydvd. The price is well worth it and it gets updated frequently. You can play your blurays in ANY player you want, on any screen (since it removes HDCP requirements), and you can also make images and rip them very easily.

You can see the issues with [lousy] cyberlink and other software forcing you to upgrade. Just get Anydvd and you are done.

The only problem with AnyDVD is that it's "legit" only if your definition of legitimate is extremely loose. It's a DRM circumvention device, so it's not legal in the US under the DMCA.

 

[Nothinman]

The only problem with AnyDVD is that it's "legit" only if your definition of legitimate is extremely loose. It's a DRM circumvention device, so it's not legal in the US under the DMCA.

It doesn't require one be lose with their definition of legitimate. Unless I missed something it's considered fair-use for a person to "rip" their own discs for personal use. The DMCA attempts to curtail that, but AFAIK the MPAA and such haven't pushed that in court because they know fair-use would win out and they don't want that brought into the spotlight.

https://w2.eff.org/IP/eff_fair_use_faq.php