PC Cannot play Retail DVDs.

[canadianpsycho]

P3 866
Asus P3V4X
256 MB RAM
ATI VE
LG DVD-|+RW
Generic DVD-ROM
Maxtor 120GB HDD
40 GB HDD (unknown)

PC works fine except that when I put in a DVD, both windows media player and DVD Shrink lock up and will not play anything. Furthermore, ending the task(s) will not let me shut down or restart the PC, I need to use the power or reset button.

The DVDs are recongized in XP, and can even be explored. Playing is no good.

Virus and Spyware checks revealed nothing. I'm totally confused. It has to be software related somewhere, as both DVD Writer and ROM will not play DVDs at all. Can burn DVDs without any issues.

Software installed:

Photoshop
DVD Shrink
Shareaza
Itunes
Quicktime
Sony Digital Camera Software
HP all-in-one software


I'm pulling my hair out, and basically about to reformat as I don't have any patience for this.

 

[UlricT]

do you have a codec? try ffdshow....

 

[Thor86]

Yeah, try and use a trial DVDplayer software like PowerDVD or WinDVD.

 

[canadianpsycho]

I reinstalled some codecs... DVD Srink still locks up. However Media Player now just states the following:

Windows Media Player cannot play the DVD because a problem occurred while configuring copyright protection

Will try another 3rd party DVD software. Will also try ffdshow.

Power DVD doesn't work also. Beginning to think maybe its the videocard in some way.

EDIT: OK, not getting copy protection error anymore, but still not playing DVDs. Updated vidcard drivers, and tried latest version of ffdshow.