Playing DAT Files with Windows Media Player

<< VCD (Video CD) Standard

<< Herong's Tutorial Notes on CD/DVD

This section describes a tutorial on how to play DAT files directly with Windows Media Player.

The real audio and video items are stored as DAT files in the MPEGAV directory on the VCD. You can actually copy a DAT file from a VCD and store it on your computer hard disk, and play it later. Here is what I did to save a DAT file and play it directly with Windows Media Player.

1. Insert my VCD into the CD drive.

2. Copy D:\MPEGAV\MUSIC03.DAT to C:\temp\MUSIC03.DAT.

3. Start Windows Media Player. Click menu File > Open and select C:\temp\MUSIC03.DAT. This audio and video item plays.

4. Click menu View > Skin Mode. You will see the audio and video item played in a very nice looking smaller window.

Sections in This Chapter

What Is VCD?

Movie VCD File Directory Structure

File Directory Structure on an Example Movie VCD

Playing Movie VCD with Windows Media Player

Playing DAT Files with Windows Media Player