"snedunuri" wrote in message
...
I run Win XP with all the latest updates. When I try to play a DVD (that
used
to play ok) or any DVD for that matter, using Windows Media Player I get
sound but no video. Interestingly, Real Player says that it is unable to
play
the DVD at all and offers some ridiculous suggestions about lowering the
screen resolution and depth (which i already tried). Windows Support KB
suggested the codec may be corrupted, so i deleted it and installed a
different one (XP Codec Pack) but still no luck. Unf. I am unable to
restore
to an earlier System Restore point, b/c Windows said it couldn't find any
restore points. Any ideas?

This is new behavior. Everything *used* to be OK.

1) It is unwise to follow any advice from the well meaning but
unhelpful Andrew E.

2) For the time being download and use the established and free VLC
media player. It will play almost anything including your DVD's.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

3) Why do you have the outdated and almost obsolete Real Player?
Apart from Real media formats and some radio stations requiring it,
it is of no other value, it was left behind a long time ago and the free
version doesn't support DVD playback.

4) What codec did which KB article suggest was corrupt?
What exactly did you delete?
The playback of DVD's requires a specific decoder, which your PC
obviously had if you could previously play DVD's.
The XP codec pack (?) will not play DVD's, what directed you to
download that?

5) No system restore points? I suspect you maybe having other
problems with that PC apart from lack of DVD playback.

6) When using WMP for playback but with audio only, are there
any error messages - if so, what?

7) What version of WMP are you running?
This is a list of proven decoders (Note these downloads are
not free) There is also a link to an old decoder check up utility,
but that only discerns what decoders are installed and to detail
compatibility issues with WMP version 10.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...r/plugins.aspx
Discern from the utility or from add/remove programs what decoder(s)
your XP comp has installed.

8) Once you know which (if any) decoder is still intact on your PC,
and what version of WMP, then updating is the next step.

Post back with answers to above.