Windows XP playing of VCD

[John Bull]

I have never played a VCD on my computer. No great sweat. My life is still full of wonderful things. But I have received a VCD of a dear friends funeral which although it will hurt, I would like to watch.

Somebody said - just stick the CD in the slot and it will play. Well, nothing happens ! No great surprise, Story of my life.

I have Windows Media Player and QuickTime installed but they are as much good as a PITA. The WMP has only some crap about music on it and the QT is just a waste of time. When I put the VCD in the slot, I expect something to come up saying "Play" - I get nothing. The WMP and QT thingy`s talk about FILES ! What files ? I don`t give a fig about files, all I need is for the video to play, it is a VCD not a file.

I always consider Wilder`s as the ultimate source of knowledge, there are so many experts in our community that not many questions go unanswered.

PLEASE can anybody tell me what exactly this damned system wants me to do in order to watch my best friends funeral ?

I have looked on the web until I fell off my chair, but nothing told me HOW to play a VCD in precise procedural terms on my computer. Web=0, JB=1.

John

[dbknox]

As pointed out many times on this site the vlc player will play just about anything. It is what I first started using for VCD ( video cd) also a lot of DVD players will play VCD.
http://gofree.com/download/Video/Media-Players/vlcmediaplayer.php?gclid=CLjMz8OXoacCFYnt7QodOzRxPg

[Dundertaker]

Hi;

Might be an issue with codecs...

Personally I do not use Windows Media player but have either VLC Media Player or The KM Player (plays 3gpp files). You want to try K-lite CodecPack 6.90 or Cole2k Media - Advanced v7.9.1....I use Windows 7 Codecs 2.7.5 for my Win7 x32.

Links are:

http://filehippo.com/software/multimedia/

Cheers:)

[John Bull]

Thank you.

Just to clarify, I do not wish to embark on a "best of breed" VCD player program comparison, simply to know why my VCD does not play when it is loaded in the slot.

The two players I have are regular and reputable. But nothing happens when I load the disc and opening the players is as much use as two left shoes. No instructions, no nothing. They seem to want a file - What file ? I have a VCD not a file.

John

[dw426]

-{ Quote: "Thank you.

Just to clarify, I do not wish to embark on a "best of breed" VCD player program comparison, simply to know why my VCD does not play when it is loaded in the slot.

The two players I have are regular and reputable. But nothing happens when I load the disc and opening the players is as much use as two left shoes. No instructions, no nothing. They seem to want a file - What file ? I have a VCD not a file.

John" }-

How about giving us exactly what the error says? Is there a name of a file it is asking for? Is it telling you it can't handle the file? A VCD IS a file, to a computer. Movies, music, software, it's all files, and if you don't have the proper codec or the player you use doesn't have the ability to read a particular type, it won't go anywhere.

PS: Does your DVD player have the ability to read VCDs? Most newer ones now will, older ones may not. When you insert a VCD into a player that can handle it, you should get a screen showing (depending on how the VCD was set up), a menu with the title and maybe one or more "scene selections" to choose from.

[mistycat]

More than likely, WMP and QT need a codec you don't have right now. VLC carries its own or the K-Lite codec pack (Full) should have all you need but if this is a once in a while thing I'd go with VLC.

[ABee]

-{ Quote: "Somebody said - just stick the CD in the slot and it will play. Well, nothing happens !" }-Probably either because you have autoplay turned off for the drive or there's no 'autorun.ini' file on the VCD.

-{ Quote: " What files ?" }-The '.DAT' file located inside one of the folders on the VCD, which is located inside whichever drive you inserted it into.

The '.DAT' file is the one you want your player to open.

[John Bull]

I have uninstalled QuickTime as it was just an inert panel on my screen. I tried the QT User Guide, but needed a User Guide to understand it. Apart from a mention of CD`s it was all movies and music gibberish.

All I have now is Windows Media Player which has been frequently updated by MS as and when they did so.

I have never used the CD slot or WMP. A few program install CD`s have played perfect in the past.

I suppose all I need from you generous colleagues is an answer to "What do I need to make it all happen when I simply place a CD into the slot ?"
Providing you spell it out in single syllables like training a pet parrot, I`ll be OK.

My PC was purchased some years ago from a neighbour. It has been extensively attended to by the PC vet several times to undergo surgery and seems quite good and relatively up-to-date now.

The WMP is as it was when I bought the set - just a load of junk to me. I cannot see a CD in sight. Screenshot below.

Living in hope
John

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[vasa1]

-{ Quote: "How about giving us exactly what the error says?...." }-

How about giving us exactly what the error says?....

How about giving us exactly what the error says?....

[crofttk]

How 'bout this John?

Excerpt from http://www.videohelp.com/play -{ Quote: "How to play VCD, XVCD, MPEG1

in Windows
You can play VCDs with Windows Media Player, insert the VCD in your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM and browse to the MPEGAV folder and double click on the .dat file and associate it with Media Player and open them with that. ..." }- Note: 1)"browse" refers to using Windows Explorer, 2) to "associate", follow the prompts that windows should give when it doesn't know what to do with the .dat file

Give it a whirl.

Report out on results.

EDIT: Removed colon from posted url.

[Page42]

-{ Quote: "How about giving us exactly what the error says?" }-
-{ Quote: "How about giving us exactly what the error says?" }-
So, what you're saying is, he should give us exactly what the error says? :dry:

[dw426]

-{ Quote: "So, what you're saying is, he should give us exactly what the error says? :dry:" }-

Pretty much ;D Though from the looks of things he isn't getting any, the computer is probably just sitting there as dumbfounded as he is, lol. But anyway, @John: Just follow Crofts' instructions and you'll be set. Or, if the gods are against you and that fails, download VLC player and be done with it.

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "How about giving us exactly what the error says?....

How about giving us exactly what the error says?...." }-

Please Vasa, there is NO error. On placing the disc into the slot - NOTHING happens, I am looking at my beautiful Rottie instead of my best friends funeral.

Yes when I start fiddling about, I get a panel up, but my question stops at disc entry and nothing happening. If somebody will give me a clue what to do to coax this disc into action, then I will be overjoyed to give you details of any error messages if I get some.

John

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "How 'bout this John?

Excerpt from http://www.videohelp.com/play: Note: 1)"browse" refers to using Windows Explorer, 2) to "associate", follow the prompts that windows should give when it doesn't know what to do with the .dat file

Give it a whirl.

Report out on results." }-

The link you gave does not exist - see screenshot.
What do I do now ? Damn it everybody, all I want is to play a VCD - is that such a problem ?
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[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "How 'bout this John?

Excerpt from http://www.videohelp.com/play: Note: 1)"browse" refers to using Windows Explorer, 2) to "associate", follow the prompts that windows should give when it doesn't know what to do with the .dat file

Give it a whirl.

Report out on results." }-

Browse ? Browse what ? The Windows Media Player comes up with the crap I showed in my screenshot earlier - there `aint no Browse.

At the risk of repeating myself over and over again - when I put the damned disc in the slot - NOTHING happens and on opening WMP all I get is that crap shown in my previous screenshot.

HOLY MOSES ! Should it be this difficult to get an answer on how to play a CD on a computer ?

Any more of this and I will coax my CD player to simply make love to my TV and view it in that way and sod the computer.

Is it possible to get some guide on this path :-

Insert CD>Menu>Select action - Play video>Menu - pause, stop or end>Watch video>Menu - End>Press button and extract CD.
GOD ! That does not seem to be a world shattering experience. All I want to know is how to do it. Piece of cake really.

John

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "Pretty much ;D Though from the looks of things he isn't getting any, the computer is probably just sitting there as dumbfounded as he is, lol. But anyway, @John: Just follow Crofts' instructions and you'll be set. Or, if the gods are against you and that fails, download VLC player and be done with it." }-

I installed VLC and got nowhere. Nothing played, no clear instructions on what to do next and all I have now is yet another crap program on my system to dump with still no CD play. This is getting ridiculous. Unless I get a sensible and workable solution, I will forget CD playing on computers as a bad memory. I did expect my Wilder's friends to resolve my problem, but it is not looking good so far. Disappointed.

All I need is to pop my disc in the slot and see it play. I do not wish to embark on an M.Sc in order to do it.
Not a lot to ask - Computer meet disc - Computer play disc. Is there no media player that simply plays my disc on popping it into the slot without having to go through an elaborate and unexplained sequence of manual and mental contortions ?

John

[yeow]

have you tried if these menu selection work?

[stapp]

When you have the disc in the drive John and you open 'My computer'' does it show your cd drive as having a disc in it when you hover you curser on the cd disc icon?

[crofttk]

-{ Quote: "The link you gave does not exist - see screenshot.
What do I do now ? ..." }-Why so coy, John? Just follow the damn instructions I gave you. You don' need no steenkin' webpage which I already excerpted for you and which, incidentally, displays fine for me in IE8.

Start/All Programs/Accessories/Windows Explorer. Alternatively: Start/Run and enter "explorer" in the box and hit enter.

[Page42]

-{ Quote: "Excerpt from http://www.videohelp.com/play: Note: 1)"browse" refers to using Windows Explorer, 2) to "associate", follow the prompts that windows should give when it doesn't know what to do with the .dat file" }-
-{ Quote: "The link you gave does not exist - see screenshot." }-
Just drop the colon that got appended to the end of the link. Not that hard to figure out. ;)

[crofttk]

-{ Quote: "Just drop the colon that got appended to the end of the link. Not that hard to figure out. ;)" }-Ooooops, my bad! You're right, it doesn't work for me as it's posted with the colon and, for that, I sincerely apologize! Anyways, I'm not sure there's anything of much use to JB on that page other than what I excerpted.

[Boyfriend]

-{ Quote: "I installed VLC and got nowhere. Nothing played, no clear instructions on what to do next and all I have now is yet another crap program on my system to dump with still no CD play..." }-


Try following steps:

Open VLC --> Media --> Open Disc...

Select SVCD/VCD --> Click Play

If VCD is in proper format, it should play.

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "When you have the disc in the drive John and you open 'My computer'' does it show your cd drive as having a disc in it when you hover you curser on the cd disc icon?" }-

Hello Stapp,

Seems to be a big NO. The disc is inserted, but no confirmation and a panel telling me to put one in. See below.
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[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "have you tried if these menu selection work?" }-

Thanks for that, but my Media screen has NO toolbar at the top - your grey one. See my post 9.

John

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "Try following steps:

Open VLC --> Media --> Open Disc...

Select SVCD/VCD --> Click Play

If VCD is in proper format, it should play." }-

Followed that and got this - see below :-
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[LowWaterMark]

We need to take a step back here...

John, I realize that you "just want it to work" and are frustrated by it seeming so complicated. Unfortunately, there is clearly something odd wrong here that will require debugging to get it sorted out.

When I look at the replies you've made above, I have to wonder if your CD drive is working at all. The image you uploaded in post 23 is concerning. If you have a CD in the drive but Windows does not see it, then that's the problem and no swapping of media players is going to fix that.

You need to debug this in steps. First, the issue might be the format of the VCD versus what your drive actually supports. Do you have any regular, old software CDs handy to test with? If so, stick one of those in the CD drive and see if Windows sees that. If it does, remove that one and put the VCD back. If Windows still fails to see the VCD, then you are probably out of luck as maybe your CD drive is too old and does not support the format needed.

If Windows won't even see a regular software CD, then the drive itself is not being recognized at all for some reason. There are debugging steps you can take for that, too, but, first you have to find out if the CD drive will see "any" CD at all. Old software CD? Old music CD? any CD?

Anyway, start here with this basic debugging step before adding or removing more media players or codecs.


Note for others to tell where I'm heading with this: Problem could be old drive not able to read newer format - out of luck; or, the drive itself is simply offline - maybe fix it by deleting it from device manager and letting windows rediscover it; or it's a hardware problem; and so on...

[Dundertaker]

Hmmm....Maybe there is a problem with the autorun.ini file of the VCD. I make VCD/DVD's /slideshows of my family using Wondershare products / Cyberlink Power Producer/Power Director..maybe the creation was not configured to autorun or something....or as LowWaterMark said might have problem with CD drive....

I have experienced VCD/DVD's not playing when created with Nero 7 before..the reason why I shifted to Wondershare/Cyberlink products.

VLC gives an error like that...can you try KMPlayer..?

Open KMPlayer. Right-click on window. Open >select the drive your VCD is in or Open Video CD.

Just a suggestion..:)

[John Bull]

@LowWaterMark

Now THAT is a very acceptable post and I certainly like the progressive logic. I myself think there is more to it than messing around with players.

Not being a disc enthusiast, I have no other discs than the 3 I have tried and failed with. I do have some old program discs, one is my Broadband initial loader. I do not wish to upset my system, but can I put that one in without it doing any damage ?

That disc DID play albeit a few years ago, so it should do now. If it does not, then something has changed since. A clue is that my PC had the disc unit replaced professionally by a very competent and commercial company about 2 years ago and I have not tried it since. Surely they would not have released it without testing ? They are far too reliable to do that.

Thanks for taking an interest LWM and for those words of wisdom. i feel really embarrassed causing so much trouble over a subject that everybody else takes as a routine daily event.

John

[LowWaterMark]

-{ Quote: "Not being a disc enthusiast, I have no other discs than the 3 I have tried and failed with. I do have some old program discs, one is my Broadband initial loader. I do not wish to upset my system, but can I put that one in without it doing any damage ?" }-An old program disc should be okay to try. Even with auto run capability on, if it recognizes the disc, at worst you'll get a dialog box saying what the disc is and asking you to click something to continue. You can just hit cancel and press the eject button to get it out. But, you definitely need to find out if the drive is even working before you try anything else.

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "An old program disc should be okay to try. Even with auto run capability on, if it recognizes the disc, at worst you'll get a dialog box saying what the disc is and asking you to click something to continue. You can just hit cancel and press the eject button to get it out. But, you definitely need to find out if the drive is even working before you try anything else." }-

What a help - I will try that LWM.

The CD-ROM is showing up in Device manager so the drive presumably is recognised.
John
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[John Bull]

LATEST

I am sorry to hog my own thread, but I have to give you as much information as I can so you are able to help me.

After trying 4 commercial discs and each one failing to show any pictures, I used a Samsung CD-ROM that I last used over 2 ears ago. It is a program that creates a library of downloaded digital camera pictures and produces an album for manual viewing. It is a very good and easy on-screen reference.

Well, surprise, surprise IT WORKED !.

I have no idea what to make of this situation where 4 fail and only 1 works, but am hanging my hat on all you helpful people to give me your opinions, based on what has been said to-date. If I can give you any more information which may help, please ask. I would really love to know what is wrong and would be delighted to get it all working properly.

Many thanks to everybody for their efforts so far.

John ???

[LowWaterMark]

Okay, so you put in an old software CD and your PC saw and accessed it fine. But, none of these "picture" CDs can be accessed at all? What I'm wondering is if Windows can even see the disc contents, regardless of being able to run anything or see any images. As people said above, CD discs simply contain files like every other kind of computer media. If Windows sees literally nothing at all when one of those picture CDs is loaded, then, I question whether they are either compatible with your drive, or simply badly burned in the first place.

As a side thought, do you have a DVD player in your house, at your TV? You could always try putting them in there to see what it sees on the discs. (DVD players will even play old audio CDs. At least mine does.)

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "Okay, so you put in an old software CD and your PC saw and accessed it fine. But, none of these "picture" CDs can be accessed at all? What I'm wondering is if Windows can even see the disc contents, regardless of being able to run anything or see any images. As people said above, CD discs simply contain files like every other kind of computer media. If Windows sees literally nothing at all when one of those picture CDs is loaded, then, I question whether they are either compatible with your drive, or simply badly burned in the first place.

As a side thought, do you have a DVD player in your house, at your TV? You could always try putting them in there to see what it sees on the discs. (DVD players will even play old audio CDs. At least mine does.)" }-

Thanks LWM again,

I put an Epsom printer program disc in and it worked. A Hewlett Packard one did not.

Do you think I have a driver problem or some DVD element missing ? My WMP is the latest update and no alerts show up.

Yes, I do have a CD player, but it is disconnected at present due to wiring problems with hooking up a Cable Set-top box, an HD/Freeview TV and a CD unit. Something I will have to sort out when I get round to it - a Mr.Micawber manana job. I will ask a neighbour to see if they play.

John

[LowWaterMark]

-{ Quote: "I put an Epsom printer program disc in and it worked. A Hewlett Packard one did not." }-It really sounds to me like your drive is just not able to access those discs at all. In fact, one disc readable out of 5 or so, is pretty bad. If it was a codec issue, then whatever media players you use would at least try to access the video and then throw an error message. What you seem to be experiencing is a media reading failure.

In post 23 you seemed to have been in either Windows Explorer or My Computer, looking at the D: icon when you had physically placed a disc in the drive, but, Windows couldn't see or access it. If you try each disc, one at a time, and when the disc is loaded and spinning, you double click the D: icon it'll either open a folder containing the files on the disc (good, the disc is usable), or, do nothing or give an error, and show no content at all (bad, drive can not read the media at all - bad disc? bad drive? who can say?)

That's what I would do, just to be sure. Try loading each disc and double clicking the CD drive icon to see if you can access it. If you can't access a disc contents at all, it's a physical issue of some sort, not a media player or codec problem. If lots of discs are not readable and you can somehow confirm those discs are okay (try on another computer or CD/DVD player), then the conclusion must be either bad drive or maybe dirty drive? I've never actually cleaned a computer CD player myself. Never needed to. Maybe others can advise you about that.

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "have you tried if these menu selection work?" }-

See my screenshot. The large panel against PLAY is the same as clicking PLAY on the toolbar. Your R/H panel is not there. Obviously something wrong - any clues ?

When I click OPEN, the second panel comes up. Seems to be something missing re.DVD video. Folders 1,3,5 are empty.

John

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[dbknox]

I think that most of us when reading your original post thought you could see the ".dat" file and just couldn't play it. Not the case.
John can you tell us how the Video CD was made that is was it maybe produced with a Vista or windows 7 machine?
If so, many people have had troubles migrating media between operating systems. If this is the case there are programs that can pull data off disks that your player may not be able to see. One such program is called "Isobuster".
It is free for what you would what to use it for.
I know another program to load on the computer!!!

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "I think that most of us when reading your original post thought you could see the ".dat" file and just couldn't play it. Not the case.
John can you tell us how the Video CD was made that is was it maybe produced with a Vista or windows 7 machine?
If so, many people have had troubles migrating media between operating systems. If this is the case there are programs that can pull data off disks that your player may not be able to see. One such program is called "Isobuster".
It is free for what you would what to use it for.
I know another program to load on the computer!!!" }-

Hello DB and thanks.

Everybody has been superb on this matter and I have learned so much, but my gut tells me there is nothing seriously wrong, just something probably elementary that is missing - I could be wrong of course.

My suspicion rests on the fact that I can find NO DVD references of importance, no folders, no files, no nothing. It is all music, which is what the person I bought the PC off seemed to be fascinated with.

The DVD`s that will not play are all commercial discs you can buy at any stores. They are films. I have no doubt that if they are placed in a standard CD player, they will all play with no problems.

The disc that started my marathon was made I am sure using Windows 7 and that will not play either - it is the one of my best friends funeral.

John

[John Bull]

Attention all

I ran a Microsoft Decoder Check and this is what came up.

225407

I guess THAT is the answer after all. What do I do now ? Can I download the Windows XP Media Player Decoder from some official Microsoft site ?

John

[LowWaterMark]

-{ Quote: "The DVD`s that will not play are all commercial discs you can buy at any stores. They are films. I have no doubt that if they are placed in a standard CD player, they will all play with no problems." }-John, do you really mean that the discs that will not play are DVDs (like current movie DVDs you'd rent or buy in the store?) and not CD-ROM discs? Your device manager screen shot above says your CD drive is a "SAMSUNG CD-ROM SC-152L". That is only a CD reader/player unit. It does not handle DVDs.

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/samsung52xCDROM/

Knowing the exact type of disc you are trying to access is key here. If those are actual DVDs then your CD player will never be able to access them. It's the physical capability of the drive that is the limiting factor. A CD-ROM unit can not access a DVD at all.

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "John, do you really mean that the discs that will not play are DVDs (like current movie DVDs you'd rent or buy in the store?) and not CD-ROM discs? Your device manager screen shot above says your CD drive is a "SAMSUNG CD-ROM SC-152L". That is only a CD reader/player unit. It does not handle DVDs.

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/samsung52xCDROM/

Knowing the exact type of disc you are trying to access is key here. If those are actual DVDs then your CD player will never be able to access them. It's the physical capability of the drive that is the limiting factor. A CD-ROM unit can not access a DVD at all." }-

A million thanks for that LWM.
The discs that do not play are just commercial DVD`s except the one on the funeral which was created by a friend on a Win7 PC which also does not play.

Looks like I am finally sunk. I thought that WMP could play any discs and that it depended on the drive and codec installed. As I have never used the disc unit at all except for a few suppliers program discs which did play, I have no knowledge at all about this subject, but have learned a lot from this thread. It puzzles me how the widespread downloading of films etc. from the web is common practice and I am stumped.

Upstream without a paddle eh ? I will have to hook up my CD player after all.

I can only gratefully thank yourself and all the other posters for the generous help and information given to me. It really has been a great effort.

John

[LowWaterMark]

Actually John, a simple thing you can do is go to an office supply store or computer store and buy an external DVD drive. They hook up via USB cable and they are not expensive at all. Then, you will have the ability to load, play and maybe even write DVD media (if you buy a writer drive) yourself. Then "Bob is your Uncle". But sadly, a CD-ROM drive can not read DVD media no matter what drivers or codecs are loaded. It's simply a matter of older technology being replaced by a newer generation.

[dbknox]

-{ Quote: "Actually John, a simple thing you can do is go to an office supply store or computer store and buy an external DVD drive. They hook up via USB cable and they are not expensive at all. Then, you will have the ability to load, play and maybe even write DVD media (if you buy a writer drive) yourself. Then "Bob is your Uncle". But sadly, a CD-ROM drive can not read DVD media no matter what drivers or codecs are loaded. It's simply a matter of older technology being replaced by a newer generation." }-
But a cdrom will play a VCD disk.
I have burned data CD's with the vista burning program and none of my friends XP machines would play them. While every thing I copied using Nero played fine.
Two things to try if you have a friend with windows 7 ( or Vista) try the disk in their machine. Or download a free copy of isobuster and you will see what is on the disk.
Best of luck to you, John.

[LowWaterMark]

Yes, a CD drive can play a VCD, but, John has updated his statement and said the discs that won't play appear to be actual DVDs. So, a pure CD-ROM drive can not play those. :-\

[John Bull]

I am not into entertainment - music, films, games etc. - on the computer. The only entertainment I get is wasting Wilder`s time on stupid questions. I have never used my CD-ROM for anything other than Read-Only program inserts and operated under the naive impression I could pop any CD into the slot and away it would fly. Until NOW.

If I had known what I do now, I could have Googled the question "Can a CD-ROM play DVD`s" and the first item would have told me NO.

Now I know that a standard DVD or CD cannot be played on a CD-ROM but can be played on a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo. DVD and CD drives use lasers of different wavelengths to read discs.

I am told that DVD and CD drives use lasers of different wavelengths. A CD-ROM drive has only one laser, the type that reads CDs.

CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drives have both types of lasers and lets you read and write CDs but only read DVDs. And DVD burners have both, allowing you read and write both DVDs and CDs.

Apparently if the CD-ROM is DVD-ROM enabled (usually the most modern units) all is well for playing a DVD, if not it will not.

It is all too high-tech for me.

This has been made clear by LWM in his excellent posts, compiled in a logic and dialogue I have not seen since I left industry some years ago and other coverage of my thread has been impeccable.

Ah well, back to the old CD Player. It has been an interesting journey and I am really sorry to have led you all up the Yellow Brick Road on a Wild Goose Chase, but the information you have given me is gratefully received and I have leaned a great deal.

I thank you all.

John

[ABee]

-{ Quote: "The only entertainment I get is wasting Wilder`s time . . .

I could have Googled the question "Can a CD-ROM play DVD`s" . . .

It is all too high-tech for me. " }-
I believe you.

You could also have Googled the question "Are VCDs and DVDs the same thing?"

But of course if you do those things, nobody's time but yours gets wasted.

[crofttk]

So much bandwidth devoted to JB not being able to play DVDs on his CD-ROM?

Do we have confirmation that the friend's funeral is indeed on a VCD or are we to assume it is on a DVD and the starting premise of this thread was a red herring after all, i.e., a waste of time?

GIGO

[Dundertaker]

Wow...

Along that line...I tend to agree..on whether the VCD that JB is trying to play is indeed a VCD...might be SVCD...and as dbknox also stated(and in addition to it..) the software that used to make the JB's "VCD".

It's okay that JB did not know about the ins-and-outs of CD/DVD players/burners..members are here to help in anyway. All just assumed that he did already know that "ins-and-outs".

:)

[dbknox]

-{ Quote: "Wow...

Along that line...I tend to agree..on whether the VCD that JB is trying to play is indeed a VCD...might be SVCD...and as dbknox also stated(and in addition to it..) the software that used to make the JB's "VCD".

It's okay that JB did not know about the ins-and-outs of CD/DVD players/burners..members are here to help in anyway. All just assumed that he did already know that "ins-and-outs".

:)" }-
Well said !

LowWaterMark I guess I misunderstood John, I thought he meant that the "test disks" he was using were DVDs and that his original statement of having a VCD was still correct.
John we are all here trying to help each other and many times a person learns form the answers posted here, including the "teachers".
Glad everything is sorted out.

[crofttk]

-{ Quote: "...many times a person learns form the answers posted here, including the "teachers".
Glad everything is sorted out." }-A valid point. An exchange of questions and answers is not totally without value just because they didn't directly solve the original problem.

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "So much bandwidth devoted to JB not being able to play DVDs on his CD-ROM?

Do we have confirmation that the friend's funeral is indeed on a VCD or are we to assume it is on a DVD and the starting premise of this thread was a red herring after all, i.e., a waste of time?

GIGO" }-

Croftie,

I always appreciate your posts, they are very informative and helpful, but there is no need to waste your time on JB anymore. Plenty of other posters give their comments willingly.

I have already tried to explain my problem in a most grateful and thankful manner. What more is expected of me ? If I do not know the difference between a CD, DVD, VCD or CD-ROM, it is not a crime.
Neither to I know too much about the love life of the Octopus.

Let me just make a fundamental point which it appears you are not capable of understanding - Forum`s are platforms where both specialists and ignoramus like myself ask questions. The rest of the community attempt to answer them. That is what it is all about. God man, it is a mixture of knowledge exchange and fun. Nobody is paying us.

NOBODY wasts their time on a Forum, they simply take part. If a poster is not so experienced as you and asks a question which to a person of your unquestionable and exceptional knowledge is deemed stupid - you do not tell them they are an idiot - you help them and understand that not everybody in the world is as intelligent and gifted as yourself.

Please refrain from answering any more of my posts, I do not find it very comforting to be considered an ignorant fool who is out to waste the time of distinguished Forum members like yourself just because I misunderstand some PC jargon or the difference between discs.
Perhaps your supporters will also take notice of my wish.

I am sorry to have to finish on this note but I find your attitude to my obvious deficiency in PC knowledge resentful.

My sincere gratitude to all other posters is as I have already expressed previously. Waste of time ? Not at all, if this thread has helped just ONE person, it can never be a waste of time. AND that ONE person is me, I have learned a lot from it and will never again be found guilty of wasting peoples time on a matter of disc variations.

John

PS - A "Red Herring" is an expression used to describe an evasive means of deception, popular with politicians - I am sure you do not really infer that was my intention.

[yeow]

Hi John, I do hope u get to watch the video - one way or another. I also think LowWaterMark is likely correct.

About this other minor point, my 2nd screenshot does have the R/H panel - when I right-click on certain WMP locations. Software-wise, I don't think anything is wrong with your player.
-{ Quote: "The large panel against PLAY is the same as clicking PLAY on the toolbar. Your R/H panel is not there. Obviously something wrong - any clues ?" }-

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "Hi John, I do hope u get to watch the video - one way or another. I also think LowWaterMark is likely correct.

About this other minor point, my 2nd screenshot does have the R/H panel - when I right-click on certain WMP locations. Software-wise, I don't think anything is wrong with your player." }-

Yeow,

LWM is a superb person who makes his points in a very logical and intelligent manner. I have never been more impressed than reading his posts on a subject, he is so factual and logical. My admiration is beyond reproach.

My problem was that I thought that the CD-ROM disc player on my computer could accept any disc. Events have shown that it cannot.

What I do not like is people assuming that everybody is a PC specialist. I am interested but only up to a certain point. Life does not dictate that the only feature that matters is a thorough knowledge of computers.

There are other pleasures and I could make those who think I am a ~ Snipped as per TOS (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/faq.php?faq=wilders_tos#faq_wilders_tos_1) ~ on computers dissolve in a heap when confronted with my own particular skills in engineering.

Thanks for your comment.
John

PS - the funeral ? I have hooked up my CD player/TV/Set-top box to play the disc, so my computer aspirations have been consigned to the garbage bin.

John

[crofttk]

Dear John,

I intend to answer any of your posts in any manner I please, within the bounds of the TOS, despite any diatribe you post targeted at me. You are free, of course to put me on ignore, if you can figure out how to do it. The mods and admin will likely rectify any steps I take outside of the TOS.

I have never considered you an ignoramus, I was not the first to use the phrase "waste of time" and if you had read my post #49 which was one of contrition you may have realized my post prior to that was simply a query of the real nature of the alleged VCD you were having a problem with.

I understand you don't seem to catch all the nuances in my posts or those of others so all I can say is try not to paint everything you read in a negative light and have a good day.8)

P.S. As I alluded to in post #49, it's not all about you, even when it's your own thread.

[ABee]

-{ Quote: "I have never considered you an ignoramus, I was not the first to use the phrase "waste of time" . . . " }-The O.P. is only now contrite in his assessments of his own knowledge because he's been self-outed in so many of his threads and posts.
So now he's the "poor and unnecessarily maligned victim".

Previously, he was self-described thusly:

-{ Quote: "I have been a PC pundit for over 5 years. I am extremely conversant with user systems . . . " }-

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=275198

He was more than willing to offer advice and opinions on things of which he knew little to nothing, and took great umbrage to anyone challenging his knowledge or opinions, just as he now takes great umbrage to anything he thinly-skinned takes as a slight to him in any way-- such as your previous post.

He doesn't respond to my posts because he doesn't see them, having already added me to his 'ignore' list for having had the bald temerity to question his knowledge.

This is how he rolls-- post something he agrees with, and you're swathed in praise and lauded for your sagacity and great knowledge.
Disagree with him, his viewpoint, or his claims, and you're told how ignorant and senseless you are and added to his 'ignore' list.

When I now post in his threads, it's generally only to impart something which may possibly be of value to someone else who might happen to chance upon the thread.

[Page42]

-{ Quote: "He doesn't respond to my posts because he doesn't see them, having already added me to his 'ignore' list for having had the bald temerity to question his knowledge." }-
Oh trust me, he sees them just fine. One must be logged in for the ignore feature to work, so Sensitive John is putting on a big play for us all when he carries on as if he hasn't read certain posts. His form of "shunning" is amusing, while at the same time very telling. It demonstrates how largely incapable he is of interacting in a constructive forum environment.

A very high percentage of Sensitive John's threads go down in flames, self-ignited by a man who divides membership as either for him or against him. He is a very poor advertisement for this forum. People who don't know the personal history see his antics and actually think people are being mean to him.

From what I have seen of this thread, from beginning to end, I am of the opinion that even a small amount of research on the OP's part would have given him the answer he needed.

The drama that he brings to the thread is unfair to the people who have taken the time to try to help him.

[Ocky]

Apologies to all and to the OP - but I can't help myself and may or may not be punished. ;D

He..he..he post #13 http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1697439&postcount=13

BTW There was a time when I also didn't really understand the salient differences between
a VCD SVCD etc. Was scared to ask anybody in the flesh, so joined Wilders. :argh:

[ABee]

-{ Quote: "There was a time when I also didn't really understand the salient differences between
a VCD SVCD etc. Was scared to ask anybody in the flesh, so joined Wilders. :argh:" }-We can all say the same. Not a single person on this Earth was born with computer knowledge already inherent in their brain.

Nobody knows it all, and there's not a thing wrong with asking questions, learning, and increasing knowledge.
The day I can't learn something is the same day I'd like to be laid in my grave.

There are also many different ways to go about the business of learning, many different ways to present yourself, and many different ways to interact with people.
Individual choices are made in those.

[LowWaterMark]

-{ Quote: "Nobody knows it all, and there's not a thing wrong with asking questions, learning, and increasing knowledge.
The day I can't learn something is the same day I'd like to be laid in my grave." }-And with that good point, we'll close this thread now.