General Discussion

Zorro

(18,472 posts) Fri May 4, 2012, 08:50 PM May 2012

Windows 8 dropping the ability to play DVDs [View all]

Okay, we get it — DVD is starting to go the way of the VHS tape and film reel. But we've still got hundreds of DVDs in our house, and always pack a few in our laptop case for viewing on those long flights. That's why this news is so frustrating: The upcomingWindows 8 operating system (which you can download and preview now) is dropping the ability to play DVD content.

According to Windows engineering team member Steven Sinofsky (emphasis his), "Windows Media Player will continue to be available in all editions, but without DVD playback support. For optical discs playback on new Windows 8 devices, we are going to rely on the many quality solutions on the market, which provide great experiences for both DVD and Blu-ray." In other words: If you want to watch that Bridesmaids DVD on your next plane trip, you're going to have to pay extra for software that will let you play it, even if your laptop already has a DVD drive. And don't think getting Blu-ray is an option — you can't play that straight from the box, either.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/windows-8-dropping-ability-play-dvds-171546904.html

63 replies

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Highlight:

Windows 8 dropping the ability to play DVDs [View all] Zorro May 2012 OP

The version of media player on my XP OS won't play DVDs...... marmar May 2012 #1

This Issue may not affect most people FredisDead May 2012 #45

I wonder what version you have of media player? Mine on old XP plays DVDs. Honeycombe8 May 2012 #51

I won't use Windows Media Player for anything-such a resource hog among other things. hobbit709 May 2012 #53

Exactly Aerows May 2012 #62

Will this be enough to wean you from the world's most prolific computer virus? n/t Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #2

That's a bit of a surprise, but I never use Media Player for DVDs anyway fishwax May 2012 #3

The reality is that WMP sucks. There are way better alternatives that are totally free. Edweird May 2012 #4

and this affects watching Porno on-line How ???? FreakinDJ May 2012 #5

Open source MPlayer works for me. nt phasma ex machina May 2012 #6

I have not been a fan of Windows 8 since I first saw the beta preview and the reasons keep growing. Initech May 2012 #7

Why not just rip the DVD to digital... this is what WMP prefers anyway DontTreadOnMe May 2012 #8

Don't you have to defeat encryption to rip a movie from a DVD to your hard drive? Lasher May 2012 #12

Yes, but there are many programs that do this for you. Nye Bevan May 2012 #20

Hmm, so there are. Lasher May 2012 #30

VLC Media Player is free. Ian David May 2012 #9

Indeed everyone should have VLC installed anyway as it plays more formats than WMP does. n/t PoliticAverse May 2012 #31

The last Ubuntu release is very, very, good bhikkhu May 2012 #10

+1 L0oniX May 2012 #24

In a world without walls and fences, who needs windows 2on2u May 2012 #11

Never get a version of Windows until the first service pack comes out. n/t customerserviceguy May 2012 #13

Media Player Classic FredisDead May 2012 #14

I am absymally ignorant about computers. I read the link snagglepuss May 2012 #15

It will work with Windows XP SP3 FredisDead May 2012 #19

Thanks. I do have SP3:) But just to clarify. By downloading this freeware, I don't snagglepuss May 2012 #32

To play a DVD disc FredisDead May 2012 #34

You can pay for the DVD media player add on. Warren Stupidity May 2012 #16

I still have trouble getting my 5.25 inch floppy disks zbdent May 2012 #17

+1 GeorgeGist May 2012 #29

I never liked Widows media player dvd anyway. Speck Tater May 2012 #18

No thanks. I'll just read a book on my next plane trip. Iris May 2012 #21

Fine with me I never use media player. jp11 May 2012 #22

that's what I use, too TorchTheWitch May 2012 #44

Does adjusting the start-up volume in the Preferences not work for discs? Make7 May 2012 #63

Make the switch to Ubuntu ...play DVD's ...make copies ...etc. L0oniX May 2012 #23

You cannot play DVDs FredisDead May 2012 #28

I didn't have any trouble HillWilliam May 2012 #36

You must have added FredisDead May 2012 #39

It was such a non-event HillWilliam May 2012 #59

Mint is Ubuntu with the codecs included IDemo May 2012 #52

Mint has two versions for download FredisDead May 2012 #55

I've always downloaded the Main Edition, no additional downloads or configuration required IDemo May 2012 #57

there are a buunch of free media players you can get online WhoIsNumberNone May 2012 #25

DIVx is free, too HillWilliam May 2012 #38

The day that Microsoft starts making products that don't suck is the day ... Poiuyt May 2012 #26

The Kinect is actually pretty cool Occulus May 2012 #33

LOL....fanboy. Brainwashing has worked on you! Logical May 2012 #37

You made a funny FredisDead May 2012 #41

Mplayer/Smplayer? Video Lan Client? If these are available in Windows 8 Zalatix May 2012 #27

Tell me something... jmowreader May 2012 #35

bridesmaids was good. Tunkamerica May 2012 #47

I think it's one of the funniest movies I've ever seen obamanut2012 May 2012 #54

so download VLC player for free.... dionysus May 2012 #40

++! VLC rocks! backscatter712 May 2012 #43

I'm no Microsoft fan, but this is silly. Download VLC (or another one many other programs) for free. NYC Liberal May 2012 #42

why would you use WMP anyway? lots of better programs out there. Tunkamerica May 2012 #46

What bull; of course there will still be free, non-Microsoft software to play DVDs. eShirl May 2012 #48

Bull? jp11 May 2012 #50

Vlc JCMach1 May 2012 #49

VLC is free and terrific obamanut2012 May 2012 #56

The movie studios probably dropped fifty tons of legalese on Microsoft's doorstep... hunter May 2012 #58

Incredibly backwards. Baitball Blogger May 2012 #60

VLC Media Player is FREE, FREE, FREE and is already much better than anything MS has created. n/t Dawgs May 2012 #61