Blu-ray on a laptop

Knipples · 12-11-2009, 10:02

My sister has a newish laptop and one of the reasons she bought it was because it had the capability to play blu-ray DVD's.

However she went to play "Watchmen" recently and it said she needed to update the quickplayer so she could play it. There's nothing wrong with the DVD because she played it in my parents blu-ray player.

She did the update with no success, then she rang the helpline she pays warranty for (because its still under warranty) and they told her to update two other things and if that didn't work she would have to do a reinstall of everything on the PC (but that means she has to bung her pics and files somewhere else's obviously - something she could do, but doesn't want to unless its a last resort)

Is there anything else she could download which she could then use to play the blu-ray?

Davey_Pitch · 12-11-2009, 13:12

I've not used Blu Ray on a computer, but I would suspect that rather than using Media Player or Quicktime she'll need some proper Blu Ray software, much like PowerDVD. I've never used any of the software though so I'm afraid I wouldn't know which one to suggest.

leowyatt · 12-11-2009, 13:22

how about VLC?

divine · 12-11-2009, 13:28

BluRay playback on PCs is still a bit of a problematic affair and as far as I know, due to licensing costs only software like PowerDVD-HD will be able to do it, I don't think stuff like VLC can yet. Even with the right software it can be a right work up and half the time just not work at all.

Mark · 12-11-2009, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by leowyatt

how about VLC?

Unlikely to happen. VLC would never get licensed past the AACS and BD+ hurdles. Of course there are ways around those, and maybe in future VLC might use them, but I doubt it.

Knipples · 12-11-2009, 18:12

So is PowerDVD something she needs to buy or can it be downloaded from somewhere for free?

divine · 12-11-2009, 18:17

Buy. It often comes with BluRay drives though.

Has she ever watched any BR films on it? They should have provided some sort of playback software really...

Knipples · 12-11-2009, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by divine

Buy. It often comes with BluRay drives though.

Has she ever watched any BR films on it? They should have provided some sort of playback software really...

Yeah she has, but the quick player always worked, this blu-ray came with a note inside though that said she might need to update the quick player to get the blu-ray to play, which she has done but it hasnt fixed it.

divine · 12-11-2009, 18:27

Well if Quickplayer did it before it should still be able to do it by rights, she shouldn't need PowerDVD.

edit - just looked, Quick Play (supplied with HP) is just a stripped down version of PowerDVD anyway.

Mark · 12-11-2009, 18:32

The version of Quick Play that she has may have been hacked (and thus had its AACS key revoked), hence the need for the update.

Seems a bit silly to have to buy a new version when the old one is supposed to work, but that's what happens sometimes.

12-11-2009, 13:12	#2
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	I've not used Blu Ray on a computer, but I would suspect that rather than using Media Player or Quicktime she'll need some proper Blu Ray software, much like PowerDVD. I've never used any of the software though so I'm afraid I wouldn't know which one to suggest. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

12-11-2009, 13:22	#3
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	how about VLC? __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

12-11-2009, 13:28	#4
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	BluRay playback on PCs is still a bit of a problematic affair and as far as I know, due to licensing costs only software like PowerDVD-HD will be able to do it, I don't think stuff like VLC can yet. Even with the right software it can be a right work up and half the time just not work at all. __________________

12-11-2009, 18:17	#7
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Buy. It often comes with BluRay drives though. Has she ever watched any BR films on it? They should have provided some sort of playback software really... __________________

12-11-2009, 18:27	#9
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Well if Quickplayer did it before it should still be able to do it by rights, she shouldn't need PowerDVD. edit - just looked, Quick Play (supplied with HP) is just a stripped down version of PowerDVD anyway. __________________

12-11-2009, 18:32	#10
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	The version of Quick Play that she has may have been hacked (and thus had its AACS key revoked), hence the need for the update. Seems a bit silly to have to buy a new version when the old one is supposed to work, but that's what happens sometimes.