Free dvd decoder?

[DesperateHousewifeToo]

Have just received a new laptop this am.

Have managed to get my broadband and anti-virus stuff going so can get on-line (patted self on back for that.

With our last laptop, we watched dvds a lot and it just started playing them without downloading anything new.

With this one, it says it cannot play them as there is no dvd decoder.

My question is can you download one for free and are they any good? If so, from where. Or should I pay for one (which one?).

TIA

Try VLC Media Player it supports various file types, including various MPEG streams.

Will this enable us to watch bbc i-player too. Or is that a separate problem?

Am a technophobe so answers in simple terms please!

I-player is a separate issue. I-Player uses Adobe Flash.

Install the latest version of Flash & Shockwave.

Visit this page - Shockwave and Flash will then auto detect which version is installed, and prompt download if a new version is available.

Then visit the iplayer website and try to watch something.

If you want to download to your system for watching later, you need Iplayer Download Manager. Only available for MS Windows, and you need to know which version you have... XP or Vista are the two options.

Thanks Nick, great help.

A mate has taken on the dvd decoder task - seems to think it should be on there but will sort it out if not.

Will now be able to fix the lack of i-player which would have been a disaster if we could not have used it!

The dvd and i player solves many arguments about what to watch between the dcs in our house!

Maybe you just need to download x-vid codec, had to do this with my new laptop