yup as above...looks like we are getting closer to the root of the problem.i watched batman begins dvd last night and used my default player windvd7.nothing happened! sick feeling in my stomach as i wondered if it was a return of the old prob that had me re formating etc.so i tried realplayer which worked and i watched the film.so this morning i had time to check out why windvd7 failed and hey..realplayer throw the towel in too and also winmedia player! aaaaaarrrrrrhhhhhhhh!!!!