Herong's Tutorial Notes on CD/DVD
Dr. Herong Yang, Version 2.14

Playing Movie DVD with Windows Media Player

This section describes a tutorial on how to play a movie DVD with Windows Media Player.

Of course, movies on DVD can be played on stand alone DVD player devices. But it can also be played on computers with DVD player software.

Windows systems has a built-in DVD player software called Windows Media Player. On my Windows XP system, I can use following steps to use Windows Media Player to play a movie DVD:

  • Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Windows Media Player. The Windows Media Player screen shows up.
  • Insert the movie DVD into the CD driver. Windows Media Player will read the DVD and load all video segments on the DVD.
  • A list of all playable items on the movie DVD will be displayed on the right side of the window.
  • Click the Play button to start playing the movie on the DVD.

Windows Media Player Playing Movie DVD

If Windows Media Player failed to auto-load the DVD, you can select menu Play > DVD, VCD or CD Audio to tell it to read the DVD in the CD drive again.

Sections in This Chapter

What Is DVD?

What Is DVD-Video?

DVD Video (Movie) File Directory Structure

"Big Fish" - Movie DVD File Directory

Playing Movie DVD with Windows Media Player

Copying VOB Files - Copy Protection Error

Dr. Herong Yang, updated in 2007
Playing Movie DVD with Windows Media Player