StarDestroyer.Net BBS

OK, here's the story. Yesterday I got a new power supply with three of the big 4-pin plugs on each lead, and my friend's new hard drive came with a free IDE extender card. So, I decided to put two IDE devices in that had been sitting around collecting dust: an old ZIP-100, and my Pioneer DVD-ROM.

Both of them apparently work fine, can read media, etc. But every time I try to play a video with PowerDVD, the computer goes tits up and does a hard freeze, which can only be fixed via the reset button. I'm not sure if it's a software problem, a hardware problem, the fact that the DVD-ROM is on the controller card, or what.

Any help appreciated. And I'm going to have a VERY low tolerance for any smartasses in this thread.

Have you tried reinstalling it or checking for driver updates?

Was pdvd already installed before you put your new/old stuff in and connected them up? If so, i'd suggest reinstalling it, but that's my answer to everything...other than that...dunno, check the jumpers?

Yeah, WinDVD has occasionally gone on the fritz for me, and a reinstall pretty much took care of it each time.

Try updating the graphics drivers, they are the key element that interfaces with PowerDVD. If that doesn't work, you might want to think about a repair install of Windows XP (not a reinstall, just a repair install which leaves your links, programs and other shit alone) and make sure your sound drivers are okay (I've heard of problems with the older Audigy drivers and PowerDVD).

Just to make sure, have you tried playing the DVD with Windows Media Player? Try it to help you debug this. It should play so long as a DVD decoding app is installed (PowerDVD for instance).

Hmm, Windows Media Player works. But PowerDVD doesn't, even after a complete un/re.

Mabye Windows is just being a jerk.

Have you tried patching PowerDVD to the latest 4.0 release? That might help.

WMP uses whatever DVD filters it finds on your machine (PowerDVD installs one), so in the meanwhile you can use that.

Which OS? If NT based, how about an ASPI update? I know PowerDVD is VERY fussy about it.

Put only the hard drive(s) on the PCI controller card and leave everything else on the motherboard.

Hethrir wrote:Which OS? If NT based, how about an ASPI update? I know PowerDVD is VERY fussy about it.

Gah, ASPI. The PowerDVD devs should leave well enough alone and use the native method of accessing the DVD-ROM </rant>