dell inspiron 3200
- Thread starter paddle
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I
Igorian
Hi.
Can you give a little more info. Is it that it won't play them at all or is the quality poor?
What software are you using to play the DVD?
Can you give a little more info. Is it that it won't play them at all or is the quality poor?
What software are you using to play the DVD?
You need DVD playing software in order to play a DVD. Pop a DVD video into the drive, then try opening Windows Media Player. Go to the "Playlist" menu (at the top). If you have a DVD decoder installed then you will have an option to play the DVD you have in the drive.
If there is no option there, or it is there but doesn't work, have a look on your "Start" menu for DVD software.
It does sound like you don't have the software required, as it would usually be set up to autorun when you stick a DVD video in there. If this turns out to be the case, pop back and I am sure someone will have some advice on which is the best DVD software player to use.
If there is no option there, or it is there but doesn't work, have a look on your "Start" menu for DVD software.
It does sound like you don't have the software required, as it would usually be set up to autorun when you stick a DVD video in there. If this turns out to be the case, pop back and I am sure someone will have some advice on which is the best DVD software player to use.
I
Igorian
I agree, on re-reading the post (DOH!) it looks like you lack software. You'll find a variety of players on the net. Try searching for DVD Player Software. Some are free, some are try b4 u buy. WinDVD is ok I believe.
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Ooooh, I don't think your processor is quick enough. A mate of mine couldn't play DVD video with a desktop that had a P2 processor of the 233 or 266MHz variety. 450MHz is really the minimum you need in my experience (my old P2 450MHz would just about play with software).
There is a surprising amount of work in decoding a DVD video. In a standalone DVD player this is done by specialised chips that are designed purely for this purpose. On a PC you are asking the CPU to do this whilst running everything else at the same time. So you need a powerful processor.
Sorry to break the bad news. But on the positive side, those little portable DVD players with TFT screen start at about £150 now so are ideal for taking along for portable purposes.
There is a surprising amount of work in decoding a DVD video. In a standalone DVD player this is done by specialised chips that are designed purely for this purpose. On a PC you are asking the CPU to do this whilst running everything else at the same time. So you need a powerful processor.
Sorry to break the bad news. But on the positive side, those little portable DVD players with TFT screen start at about £150 now so are ideal for taking along for portable purposes.
I
Igorian
Yes, the 64MB RAM won't be helping either. Not too sure about portable players. Good for the purpose, but who wants to watch a DVD on a screen that size!
Well, for a mouse it would be like a proper cinema is for us.
I certainly wouldn't mind it. My brother manages with a much smaller screen. He has a 512mb or 1GB memory card in it, which he loads TV programmes or movies onto. Easy process, he just "rips" it from his DVD (yes, I know, fair use laws don't exist in this country but I doubt they would really prosecute someone who spends £2K a year on DVDs, for this kind of activity). Then he can sit on the train, watching the first half of a movie on the journey into town, the second half on the journey home. All on his mobile.
I certainly wouldn't mind it. My brother manages with a much smaller screen. He has a 512mb or 1GB memory card in it, which he loads TV programmes or movies onto. Easy process, he just "rips" it from his DVD (yes, I know, fair use laws don't exist in this country but I doubt they would really prosecute someone who spends £2K a year on DVDs, for this kind of activity). Then he can sit on the train, watching the first half of a movie on the journey into town, the second half on the journey home. All on his mobile.
I
Igorian
Geez, you'd have to be a serious telly addict!
Hi,
My Dell Dimension XPST600R came with 'InterVideo WinDVD'. DVD playing software.
Have 98Se, running 600 P3, NVIDIA TNT2 M64 vid, 640Mb ram (768 max), 20Gbhd 17" Monitor ..... 5yrs old, well hammered, never a problem, internal RW CD with separate DVD player. Even the two USB sockets are in use with no problem, + the old external Zip drive.
I must say, I have been well impressed by Dell equipment, I have onscreen help and good sized manuals, referring directly to my machine.
Have an even older Dell 150 Pentium running 2 HD and a CD player ... Still runs perfectly well.
May not seem to have the bells and whistles of some .... but thus far has had the legs of 'em all ... very well pleased.
P
My Dell Dimension XPST600R came with 'InterVideo WinDVD'. DVD playing software.
Have 98Se, running 600 P3, NVIDIA TNT2 M64 vid, 640Mb ram (768 max), 20Gbhd 17" Monitor ..... 5yrs old, well hammered, never a problem, internal RW CD with separate DVD player. Even the two USB sockets are in use with no problem, + the old external Zip drive.
I must say, I have been well impressed by Dell equipment, I have onscreen help and good sized manuals, referring directly to my machine.
Have an even older Dell 150 Pentium running 2 HD and a CD player ... Still runs perfectly well.
May not seem to have the bells and whistles of some .... but thus far has had the legs of 'em all ... very well pleased.
P
I have one thing in particular against Dell's, certainly Dell's of the 1998-2001 period (the only ones I have had experience with). Their custom BIOS seemed to interfere with certain ATX operations; both such computers I knew lost their ability to power down automatically no matter what the OS and BIOS settings were. Also they both decided to forget how to signal the monitor to switch off automatically and wouldn't save the changes.
Apparently now they use more generic equipment, no longer does one need to buy a special DELL adapted PSU!
Apparently now they use more generic equipment, no longer does one need to buy a special DELL adapted PSU!
Never had a problem with either of my Dell PCs.
Both power down properly, and all the available
modes: Standby, Monitor and Hard drive power down etc ... All work properly.
If the PCs are running Dell specific power supplies, then I am happy, the 600 p3 model (1999) has been switched on and off at least 4 times a day, throughout it's life, and has just about all it's ancillary sockets filled with external devices. I just followed the advice in the manual for settings etc.
I will buy Dell again.
I had better say here, I have used Norton Systemworks 2002 and in particular, Disk Doctor, Win Doctor and Speed disk ... plus updated NVC .. No problems. Is not too agressive in its registry cleansing activities ...
P
Both power down properly, and all the available
modes: Standby, Monitor and Hard drive power down etc ... All work properly.
If the PCs are running Dell specific power supplies, then I am happy, the 600 p3 model (1999) has been switched on and off at least 4 times a day, throughout it's life, and has just about all it's ancillary sockets filled with external devices. I just followed the advice in the manual for settings etc.
I will buy Dell again.
I had better say here, I have used Norton Systemworks 2002 and in particular, Disk Doctor, Win Doctor and Speed disk ... plus updated NVC .. No problems. Is not too agressive in its registry cleansing activities ...
P
Good to see you are happy with them! Since they have become an online-only retailer (that is the impression I get from their TV ads) they have probably become more competitive in the price/performanc stakes.
The problems I mentioned are from dealings with 2 Dell PCs. The only Dells PCs I have worked with, but it is obvious that doesn't apply to the whole Dell output. Otherwise there would be a lot of warranty claims!
The ones I used were a P3 450MHz and a P3 500MHz.
The problems I mentioned are from dealings with 2 Dell PCs. The only Dells PCs I have worked with, but it is obvious that doesn't apply to the whole Dell output. Otherwise there would be a lot of warranty claims!
The ones I used were a P3 450MHz and a P3 500MHz.
I remember pricing up the components, separately, for various PCs ages back, the interesting thing was how many of the better parts populated the Dell case, as I say not the very best, but far from the worst !!
Not many include the manuals and all the cd's.
Just bunged away my first PC, an MJN 386 with maths co-pro and again, twin hard drives the original being ..85MB, 8MB ram, 14" monitor .... from around 1989ish ..... 1.4 and 5.25 floppy drives.
Guess what ? It was still working, except the on / off button stuck on !!
Must admit I stripped all the screws, brackets and handy looking bits and bobs including the two floppy drives !
Twas a neat little mini-tower m/c, MJN went bankrupt about 3 mnths after I bought it ... phew !
P
Not many include the manuals and all the cd's.
Just bunged away my first PC, an MJN 386 with maths co-pro and again, twin hard drives the original being ..85MB, 8MB ram, 14" monitor .... from around 1989ish ..... 1.4 and 5.25 floppy drives.
Guess what ? It was still working, except the on / off button stuck on !!
Must admit I stripped all the screws, brackets and handy looking bits and bobs including the two floppy drives !
Twas a neat little mini-tower m/c, MJN went bankrupt about 3 mnths after I bought it ... phew !
P
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