DVD +R viewer?
 

I have been gifted with a privately produced DVD that is encoded as a "DVD +R". Windows Media Player 9 will not play the files, which were apparently made with "Sonic CinePlayer." I could purchase the viewer from Sonic (I have downloaded their trial version. It's OK, but no big whoop), but I've always tried to be frugal about software.

I have downloaded the latest Ace Mega CoDecS Pack, but the best I've accomplished is to get Media Player Classic to run the video with no audio. I have a version of Power DVD that I could install, but have been fine without it until now.

System details: Athlon XP 1900, 256 meg DDR, GeForce4 video, SBLive 5.1 sound, 20 gb master HD, 40 gb slave HD, Pioneer 16x DVD, Lite-on CD-RW, DSL, WindowsXP Home Edition kept fully updated.

Does anyone know of a cost-free player for DVD +R? Is there a codec on Ace that I've overlooked, or possibly misinstalled?

We have some of the best and most unusual minds on the internet residing here. Your help is always appreciated!

is it a data or video DVD?
Do you have a regular DVD player around?

No, unfortunately. There is no free DVD codec for PC use. Your trial version or PDVD will operate for five minutes, then stop playback. Alternatively, there's a well-hidden Microsoft page that will allow you to upgrade Windows Media Player to play DVDs. It was $15 last time I checked, and not too many additional features.

Here's the link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win.../buypacks.aspx

For some reason, you may get an error page when trying to reach this URL. Just reload and it should come up.

How about trying another DVD Viewer?

I know that Real Player can now view DVD files, and there are other players that are "out there" that will view the files.

Some commercial DVDs even come with players that you can install from the DVD when you put it in the computer.

Just find a copy of Power DVD or something. I'm sure you can find it on file-sharing. Just make sure that if you use it, you buy it if it fits your needs ;)

Thanks. I have a copy of Power DVD on disc. I'll install it and see where that leads.

Lemme give you a heads up - I have multiple DVD burners: +RW, -RW, and RAM and I've found some issues with discs burned on each of them when used in certain brands of DVD drives. In computer DVD drives I have found that my +R/RW will not read in any COMPUTER Pioneer DVD drives - but they read just fine in Pioneer set top boxes. -R/RW won't read in any HP drives in my experience. I strongly believe this is where your problem lies - not in any codecs or viewers you may be looking for. Pioneer is strongly gunning for the -R/RW standard and I have both an A03 and an A05 - neither can read a +R/RW nor can my Pioneer 106s.

Interesting, but this does not explain why Sonic CinePlayer works just fine. I haven't tried Power DVD yet. I'll post my success or failure once I've had the chance.

Well, Power DVD worked. Thanks for the advice, all.

This was the first DVD that I had trouble viewing on my pc. Media Player never gave me any trouble before. Power DVD worked great. Think I'll use it all of the time.