XP media center edition DVD decoder

[BonKerz]

Does XP media center not come with a DVD decoder or am I missing something?

 

[TheEmperor]

My version came wth PowerDVD which worked fine. My laptop was a reinstall and didn't come with one, but VLC still plays DVDs just fine from it.

 

[EricB]

Does XP media center not come with a DVD decoder or am I missing something?

it doesn't. what video card do you have?

 

[atomic tofu]

you specifically need just an "mpeg 2" decoder...that is to keep things simple

dl Vista Codec Pack....don't have to of course

I put that on my sisters machines, my xp and vista machines, desktop and laptops (but I am surprised the laptop mention said it didn't have one...my included a separate install for a dvd player)


there are numerous ways to play dvds on your system if you were not given a codec...codec packs or standalone players

now I'm wondering...is it XP that doesn't have built in dvd playback but XP Media Center does?
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005: Watch DVDs
old article even says media center does:
PC World - New Media Center OS Plays Well

I can't recall because I always put vista codec pack and mpc on everything

 

[EricB]

take the advice from a person who had every version of media center since 2002.

it doesn't come with one. now if you have a ati or nvidia card I can tell you the best one to use. avivo and nvidia pure video decoder use hardware instead of software to decode so you will always have a better picture. hardware kick software but by a tenfold. I use to use hardware dvd decoders (real magic. $300.00) before ati and nvidia came out with these.

 

[BonKerz]

ah ok, yeah i have a 8800gt

 

[peterhuang913]

Is Avivo just the converter or does it also include the DVD decoder?