[Dinaki]

HelloIt's been a week now that I no longer can watch a movie from my laptop.When I insert a DVD into the tray and the movie starts, the picture gets jerky and choppy, the same thing happens with the sound coming out from the movie. I checked several DVDs always with the same mal functionning.I contacted the manufacter which is Gateway and I was been told to watch movies from Safe Mode. I don't think this is right.Can you please tell me what is wrong? I only had this laptop one year and very few times the CD/DVD is been used.Dina

[smax013]

[quote name='Dinaki']Hello> > > > It's been a week now that I no longer can watch a movie from my laptop.> > When I insert a DVD into the tray and the movie starts, the picture gets jerky and choppy, the same thing happens with the sound coming out from the movie. I checked several DVDs always with the same mal functionning.> > > > I contacted the manufacter which is Gateway and I was been told to watch movies from Safe Mode. I don't think this is right.> > > > Can you please tell me what is wrong? I only had this laptop one year and very few times the CD/DVD is been used.> > > > DinaHave you installed anything new recently? Some new application or such?What do you use to watch the DVD (i.e. which piece of software)?When you say that you have used the DVD drive a very few times, how few do you mean?Have discovered any other problems? Have you run anti-virus, anti-spyware, etc software recently? Any suspicious email or gone to some let well know website (and potentially been hit with some malicious download)?You also might want to watch the process list to see what processes are grabbing processor time while trying to play a DVD. Assuming that you are running WinXP (likely assumption for a 1 year old computer), then do control-alt-del to bring up the Windows Task Manager. Switch the window to the "Processes" tab and click on the "CPU" column until you get the non-zeros at the top of the column. Which processes are getting something other than zero...preferably the larger numbers? This could tell us if something else is running that you might not be aware of and that is hogging processor cycles.I will note that I had a similar problem with my old Compaq laptop. For quite a while watching DVDs would work fine. Then at some point the DVD software that came with the laptop did not work well. It would skip on occasion (sometimes quite badly). I tried booting up the computer with as much of the memory resident programs turned off (which is kind of what Gateway is having you do by booting into Safe Mode) and re-installing the DVD software. Eventually, I discovered the DVDs would play back better if I used Windows Media Player rather than the specific DVD software that Compaq had provided. But, I never really did figure out what the problem really was. It has since become a non-issue for me...I got a new laptop and gave that one to a relative. But, before I gave it to the relative, I wiped the computer clean and did a full restore using the disks supplied by Compaq. To date, my relative has not mentioned any problems playing DVDs but I don't know how often they do such things.

[mphenterprises]

Hi Dinaki. In addition to what smax013 posted, have you attempted to update the drivers for the laptop...specifically the audio and video drivers?[quote name='smax013']Eventually, I discovered the DVDs would play back better if I used Windows Media Player rather than the specific DVD software that Compaq had provided.Very good point. I have five players at my disposal - Winamp, JetAudio, VLC Player, QuickTime, my Zune player for my Microsoft Zune mp3 device, and the default player that came with my video card. If I find that one of the players does not play a file properly, I go to another one.

[Thomson]

Hi dinaik i would suggest you to update ur DVD driver.

[Dinaki]

I have read your answers with great enthousiasm. My problem is still present even though I installed the video drive update available from the manufacturer web site, thank you for that info.mphenterprises. By the way mphenterprises, I too own a Zune and it's brown :)Dear smax013, let me answer at your questions the best I can:the only new software I installed is the Zune software, but even before the movies were starting to get "shakey"I do run two times per week my anti-virus program (Windows Live OneCare) and the Add-Aware programNo suspicious e-mail that I knowI honestly don't know how to use "the process list" and give you the answers dear (remember that I am clueless with computers).Now to my last reply, I believe Thomson your approach to help me comes close. As I have described to member smax013, Dinaki is cucu (have no idea) with computer technology).Thomson dear, can you please tell me the steps how in this good earth, I will be able to to update my DVD drive?On the Gateway web site, there was not any DVD drive updates available.Thank you very much all of you trying to assist me, I realy appreciate your answers.

[smax013]

[quote name='Dinaki']I have read your answers with great enthousiasm. > > My problem is still present even though I installed the video drive update available from the manufacturer web site, thank you for that info.mphenterprises. By the way mphenterprises, I too own a Zune and it's brown :)> > > > > > Dear smax013, let me answer at your questions the best I can:> > the only new software I installed is the Zune software, but even before the movies were starting to get "shakey"> > I do run two times per week my anti-virus program (Windows Live OneCare) and the Add-Aware program> > No suspicious e-mail that I know> > I honestly don't know how to use "the process list" and give you the answers dear (remember that I am clueless with computers).> > > > Now to my last reply, I believe Thomson your approach to help me comes close. As I have described to member smax013, Dinaki is cucu (have no idea) with computer technology).> > Thomson dear, can you please tell me the steps how in this good earth, I will be able to to update my DVD drive?> > On the Gateway web site, there was not any DVD drive updates available.> > > > Thank you very much all of you trying to assist me, I realy appreciate your answers.The one question that you did not answer was what software you use to watch the DVDs. If you are using something other than Windows Media Player, then I would suggest trying that and seeing if the DVD will play better using that software. You would do this my quitting what ever DVD application that opens up when you put in the DVD (more than likely there is an application associated with watch DVDs that starts automatically when your computer detects that you put in a DVD to watch). Then start up Windows Media Player. Your DVD should play in it, but you might have less control than a "full" DVD player (things like frame advance, pause, slow motion, etc).

[mphenterprises]

[quote name='Dinaki']By the way mphenterprises, I too own a Zune and it's brown :).Mine is black. I love just about everything about my Zune. The only problem I have is that when I watch a movie, I get a glare. Do you happen to know if there is an anti-glare screen or anything like that?> {quote:title=Dinaki wrote:}{quote}can you please tell me the steps how in this good earth, I will be able to to update my DVD drive?What is the model number of your computer? if you would like to try to investigate on your own, try Drive Guide.com. After a free registration process, you can download a utility that will tell you what drivers you need to update, including the DVD drive firmware.

[Dinaki]

Well, welcome to the social mphenterprises:)I have no idea and I am sorry that I cannot tell you about the anti-glare for the Zune screen.To answer your question mphenterprises, this is my laptop model number:*Gateway MX6450Please, if you have time, can you "do the invastigation" for me? I wouldn't know what to search in there. I am afraid to install something that is not right for my laptop.smax013, thank you also for answering so quick to me. I forgot to tell you what software I use to watch movies.I have tried watching movies with both, Windows Media Player 11 and Cyberlink. In both those, the results are absolutely the same, choppy and shakey scenes as well with the sound.Example, I insert the DVD, WMP starts, few seconds after the movie commences, the shakey and jerkey parts starts. I click Stop and then close WMP.I open now CyberlinkPower DVD, click start to play and when the movie commences, the shakey and jerky parts starts, I click Stop and then close Cyberlink.Need to mention here that in both applications, if I let the movie continue (with the shakey screen and sound) my computer stop responding, it locks. What I am trying to say that I cannot even have control of the mousse. I will have to push the little blue bottom to close the computer (I know doing so it is very bad)

[mphenterprises]

[quote name='Dinaki']my laptop model number Gateway MX6450> > Please, if you have time, can you "do the invastigation" for me? I wouldn't know what to search in there. I am afraid to install something that is not right for my laptop.:-) Okay, well, I usually would prefer one to do the research on his or her own. The reason being, If there is ever a time when you need something else, you will have the knowledge and resources to do some basic troubleshooting on your own.Before I do any "research" for you, this is starting to sound like a video card issue. Have you installed a video card or are you using the standard video card that came with your laptop?

[Dinaki]

Hello mphenterprisesI have not installed a video card (don't even know how to). I believe also that the video card is integrated with the motherboard.Answering your question, the card is still the same as I purchased the notebook one year ago.Just to give you a tip, I have also updated the video card last night from Gateway

[mphenterprises]

Okay...I will check for your DVD firmware update but my gut is leaning towards video card failure...give me a bit and we will see what we can get. :-)

[Dinaki]

Thanks a million :)

[mphenterprises]

Dinaki...click on the PM button in my message and send me your Serial Number information. I am on Gateway's site right now.

[mphenterprises]

Okay, click on this link to get to the latest firmware for your dvd drive.When was your computer manufactured? It should be listed in the same place that your serial number is listed. If your computer was manufactured before 2006, this link is the latest firmware for you.

[Dinaki]

Oh Lord, I am shakey myself now after I read this at the page you sent me:Warning: Using an incorrect Firmware version might cause system failures. Do not install this software unless you are certain that it has been designed for your device. (and that's in red):unsureWhat should I do?

[mphenterprises]

:lol: Dinaki, breathe please....lol do not worry. First...read the rest of the paragraph. Your computer will tell you if you already have firmware that outdates the one in the link.Second, please take a look at the bottom of your laptop...look at the manufactured date. If that date is before January 2006, the firmware within the link is the latest version.Third, look at the lettering of the firmware you provided me "PA48" with the firmware in the link "PX47." Normally, there is a systematic order. So, that being said....the "PX47" firmware should be the latest.Remember to breathe...:wink:

[Dinaki]

:(there's no where in the back ot front a date ( I even check the the little book that came with) for a manufactured date.There's a sticker that says Windows Media Center Edition 2005.

[Dinaki]

mphenterprises guess what?:D:D:D{size:24px}it worked[/size]I just put a DVD and let it play for few minutes, the picture and sound are perfect.From the bottom of my heart, I thank you very much.God bless you and your family

[mphenterprises]

LMBO Well well, I am so glad :-)Remember, next time you have an issue....troubleshooting is the best...but we are all here to help. Also, thank Thomson....this was originally his thought.... :-)

[Dinaki]

Indeed, how silly of me.Tompson, I am taking a quote from William Shakespeare to really thank you:I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.