a question for the techies

[cornerofmadness]

Is it possible for netflix to be doing something to their discs that disables them from playing in computer dvd player? (maybe as an effort to curtail pirating?) The last two discs I've gotten can not play in the computer but are fine in my dvd player. Yes I cleaned them. Thoughts? suggestions?

sometimes they're discs from the same set. disc one works, disc two doesn't

Comments

[jennawaterford.livejournal.com]

No. They can't after-market-block DVDs from playing. It may be something the manufacturer is doing. Also, a computer DVD drive is more complex than a disc-player, so it may be detecting issues the player doesn't. Have you tried just cleaning them? Rental discs are often pretty dirty. (You can just wash them under the tap with lukewarm water and a little soap and pat dry with a towel.)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah I thought of the dirty issue too. MY GOD what do people do to these things. The dvd player is fine with it but the computer doesn't even know the disc is in...

[jennawaterford.livejournal.com]

Right, but the DVD on your computer is a DVD-Rom drive and is not the same as the one that is on a for-tv player, so it will behave differently. A little dirt makes a huge difference. Try that. And if it works on your DVD player, then it may just be that it doesn't like your computer or that your computer's drive is dirty which can happen from playing dirty DVDs!

The circle of dust.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah i know that much about the players. And i did clean these things

what I can't figure out is why do some of them in the same series work and others don't. It's all part of the same set

[myfeetshowit.livejournal.com]

Lasers readers can get out of alignment, and be more easily thrown off-track by dirt or scratches. Your DVD player may be more stable than your PC player. There is another possibility.

I've had a similar problem with HBO series DVDs. I tried to research the problem, and I think (I think), it has to do with double-layering the information. One episode is actually laid down over another.

I think it's a newer technology, so your DVD player might have the tech where your computer doesn't, if they are even a few months apart in creation. Some discs in a set might play because the layering might not be done on every one of them.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

nah, they're both equally old and it's disc coming out of the SAME set. it makes no sense at all

[renegadekitsune.livejournal.com]

Uhh...It might be an encoding issue. =/ That's a manufacturing problem.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

entirely possible

[lunatic-0.livejournal.com]

It could be DRM. I remember something about Sony producing DVDs with DRM that made them unplayable on some types of DVD drives. Also its possible if you have an older drive it may not grok the exact dvd format.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

it's 2 1/2 years old and played #1 in this set but not #2 which is the mysterious part

Yeah my friend at work mentioned the Sony thing and I can see them doing that to keep people from ripping it