DVDs freezing, music skipping

After installing Windows Vista, I can no longer play DVDs. I have tried every
player I have (Windows Media Player, Media Center, InterActive, even
RealPlayer) and the program will immediately freeze when it attempts to play
a DVD. If left to sit for say 10 or 15 minutes, it will try to play for a bit
just to freeze again. After contacting Dell support, they had me download a
codec with a new DVD player (PowerDVD trial) which got to the menu of one
DVD, but will skip and freeze from there. Other DVDs still freeze the
programs entirely.

Also, though I'm not sure if it's related or not, some MP3s will skip for a
second or two at random places.

Windows Media Player was never designed to play DVDs in any OS. Any CD/DVD
combo comes with a Power DVD disk to view DVDs. That works everytime and
solves the problem.
Mick

"BishoujoMagic" wrote:

> After installing Windows Vista, I can no longer play DVDs. I have tried every
> player I have (Windows Media Player, Media Center, InterActive, even
> RealPlayer) and the program will immediately freeze when it attempts to play
> a DVD. If left to sit for say 10 or 15 minutes, it will try to play for a bit
> just to freeze again. After contacting Dell support, they had me download a
> codec with a new DVD player (PowerDVD trial) which got to the menu of one
> DVD, but will skip and freeze from there. Other DVDs still freeze the
> programs entirely.
>
> Also, though I'm not sure if it's related or not, some MP3s will skip for a
> second or two at random places.

I have exactly the same problem with my new Vista loaded PC. As soon as I
open Windows Media Player, even before starting anything playing, the CPU
usage shoots up to 100%. Once I start playing a DVD or CD or mp3 files the
sound breaks up.

"BishoujoMagic" wrote:

> After installing Windows Vista, I can no longer play DVDs. I have tried every
> player I have (Windows Media Player, Media Center, InterActive, even
> RealPlayer) and the program will immediately freeze when it attempts to play
> a DVD. If left to sit for say 10 or 15 minutes, it will try to play for a bit
> just to freeze again. After contacting Dell support, they had me download a
> codec with a new DVD player (PowerDVD trial) which got to the menu of one
> DVD, but will skip and freeze from there. Other DVDs still freeze the
> programs entirely.
>
> Also, though I'm not sure if it's related or not, some MP3s will skip for a
> second or two at random places.

The DVD player came with my computer and without a PowerDVD disk. However,
the PowerDVD program that I was asked to install by Dell did not solve the
problem at all, as I mentioned. DVDs will still freeze up any program they're
played in, including PowerDVD.
I didn't know WMP wasn't meant to play DVDs, but before upgrading to Vista I
never had a problem playing DVDs on it or any other program.

"Mick" wrote:

> Windows Media Player was never designed to play DVDs in any OS. Any CD/DVD
> combo comes with a Power DVD disk to view DVDs. That works everytime and
> solves the problem.
> Mick
>
> "BishoujoMagic" wrote:
>
> > After installing Windows Vista, I can no longer play DVDs. I have tried every
> > player I have (Windows Media Player, Media Center, InterActive, even
> > RealPlayer) and the program will immediately freeze when it attempts to play
> > a DVD. If left to sit for say 10 or 15 minutes, it will try to play for a bit
> > just to freeze again. After contacting Dell support, they had me download a
> > codec with a new DVD player (PowerDVD trial) which got to the menu of one
> > DVD, but will skip and freeze from there. Other DVDs still freeze the
> > programs entirely.
> >
> > Also, though I'm not sure if it's related or not, some MP3s will skip for a
> > second or two at random places.