Article ID: 306331 - Last Review: December 21, 2007 - Revision: 12.2

Supported software MPEG-2 DVD decoders in Windows Media Player for Windows XP and Windows Vista

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This article was previously published under Q306331

SUMMARY

This article describes how to detect and upgrade available third-party software MPEG-2 DVD decoders in Windows XP and Windows Vista.

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For more information about how to troubleshoot issues with Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista, Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP, Windows Media Player 10, and earlier versions of Windows Media Player, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

843509 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/843509/ ) Resources for troubleshooting issues in Windows Media Player

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Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista and Codecs

For more information about how to use Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista and codecs, visit the following site:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/3d0c5a49-8f61-45cc-8a7d-38c4695ba9291033.mspx (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/3d0c5a49-8f61-45cc-8a7d-38c4695ba9291033.mspx)

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Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility List Web site

The Windows Hardware Compatibility List Web site lists DVD decoders that may work with Windows Media Player for Windows XP. To view the Windows Hardware Compatibility List Web site, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/)

Notes

You must be connected to the Internet for the following procedure to work correctly. You must also have administrator or user rights in Windows XP Professional or owner rights in Windows XP Home Edition.
If a DVD decoder was installed before you upgraded to Windows XP, the DVD upgrade mechanism runs five minutes after the upgrade is complete.

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How to detect the availability of a DVD decoder upgrade

If you previously clicked Upgrade Later when the upgrade page appeared in the Help and Support DVD Troubleshooter, a desktop shortcut was created. To upgrade your DVD decoder program, double-click the desktop shortcut. If no desktop shortcut exists, follow these steps to determine whether there is an upgrade available for your DVD decoder:

Click Start, click Run, type dvdupgrd /detect, and then press ENTER.

After you run the dvdupgrd /detect command, any detected DVD decoders are listed with either a "yes" or "no" to indicate that there is or is not an upgrade available from the manufacturer for both Microsoft Windows 98/95 and Microsoft Windows 2000 versions of the software.

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How to upgrade your DVD decoder

If an upgrade is available for your DVD decoder program:

Click Start, click Run, type dvdupgrd /upgrade, and then press ENTER.

After you run the dvdupgrd /upgrade command, you will be directed to the manufacturer's Web site where the upgrade is located. Follow the instructions on the Web site to obtain and install the upgrade for your DVD decoder program.

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No upgrade is available or no DVD decoder is present

If an upgrade does not exist or if there is no DVD decoder present, obtain and install a decoder that is compatible with Windows XP. For more information about decoder providers, please view any of the following third-party Web sites:

ATI Technologies

http://ati.amd.com (http://ati.amd.com)

CyberLink (PowerDVD)

http://www.cyberlink.com (http://www.cyberlink.com)

InterVideo (WinDVD)

http://apps.corel.com/lp/ivi/index.html (http://apps.corel.com/lp/ivi/index.html)

MediaMatics (DVMatics)

http://www.national.com (http://www.national.com)

MGI Software (SoftDVD)

http://www.roxio.com/en/products/index.jhtml (http://www.roxio.com/en/products/index.jhtml)

Ravisent (CineMaster)

http://www.sonic.com (http://www.sonic.com/)

For more information about DVD playback support in Windows Media Player for Windows XP, and also links to third-party DVD Decoder Packs, please visit the following Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/plugins.aspx (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/plugins.aspx)

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

Important Any DVD decoder that is not detected may not be supported in Windows XP. Support for problems with a decoder is provided by the manufacturer of that decoder.

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