DVDs, software and Hardware on PC

[WoodrowFan]

Is it possible to have the correct hardware to play a DVD on a PC but not have the correct software necessary??

[democracyindanger]

1. yes

[WoodrowFan]

2. thank you

I was told that this wans't possible. :eyes: and I wanted to make sure I wasn't nuts////

[hobbit709]

3. If you bought a DVD drive

it should have a CD with drivers for the DVD player with it. You can also download players for DVD

[RoyGBiv]

4. Depends ...

OEM drives are typically shipped without a DVD decoder, as are many pre-built machines. Even Windows Media Center Edition doesn't have a DVD decoder with it. That's "extra."

The K-Lite codec pack has a DVD decoder in it (Intervideo or Cyberlink derivatives), as well as codecs for just about every format of video file in existence. This is free but not strictly legal in the US. Copyright/patent laws. You can by the DVD, but legally you also have to have purchased the hardware to view it from a company that paid a licensing fee.

[hobbit709]

5. Every DVD drive I've bought in

the last 4 years has either PowerDVD or Intervideo included in the box. I've bought Pioneer, Samsung, Emprex, Memorex and a couple in a plain brown wrapper.

[RoyGBiv]

6. You're lucky then ...

Or do you buy from storefronts?

OEM drives don't come in a box, except the shipping box.

I've probably purchased a hundred or more drives from stores like Newegg and TigerDirect in the last couple years. One of those had PowerDVD, and it was an accident. They sent me the retail version rather than the OEM, apparently because they ran out of the OEM version before packing my order. Of course I'm paying $100 for what CompUSA sells for $200, so it's a fair tradeoff. :-)

Anyway, just noting the possibility. By definition OEM doesn't include software of any type. Some of it does occasionally come with some software, but that's atypical.

[hobbit709]

7. Here in Austin

You can buy them cheap. Half the time you can get a dual layer dual format burner for under $50. I've never bought a drive online because here you canalways get them for less.