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Feb 13, 2021 · Here are a couple of solutions for how to play a DVD on a laptop without a disk drive. These tips work for desktop PCs, too. 1. Use an external DVD drive. Shop HP External Drives Now. External drives are affordable and plug-and-play ready. Simply connect one to your computer through an available USB slot, wait for the installer to finish, and ...
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- How to play DVDs on Windows 10 with pre-installed software
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How-to
By Mark Knapp
last updated 25 November 2021
Watch movies on your computer
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
How to play DVDs in Windows 10 seems simple enough. You just insert a DVD and press play, right? Surprisingly, there’s no built in DVD playing capabilities in Windows 10. These days, that might seem to make sense since most machines come without a disc drive, but if your computer comes with a DVD drive or you own and want to use an external DVD drive, playing a DVD might seem needlessly confusing.
If you've purchased a computer with a DVD player built in, odds are very good that it came with its own software for playing DVDs. Since Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 don't have the support built in, computer makers that add DVD players are almost sure to add that support in themselves before shipping out the product.
So, here's what you should do:
•Step one: Search for the built-in DVD player software.
If you still have your computers user manual, there may be instructions for playing DVDs in it. You can also search on the manufacturer's website to see which media/DVD playing software they installed.
Another possible way for finding the software is to open the Windows search bar and type in "movies" or "DVD" and see what results pop up. The pre-installed software is likely, though not guaranteed, to appear.
You may even get the software to launch automatically just by putting a DVD into your computer's DVD drive.
If you're using an external DVD drive or can't find any already installed software for DVD playback on your computer with an internal DVD player, you're never out of luck.
While Microsoft does have a paid option for playing DVDs in Windows 10, you can get by with a great free option. VLC Media Player is the best free video player for countless reasons, and it just so happens to support DVD playback. You can download VLC here. You may also try any software that came bundled with an external DVD drive, as they often come with some.
•Step one: Launch VLC
•Step two: Insert your DVD
Playback may begin automatically. If it does, you're good to go. If it doesn't, perform the following steps:
•Step three: Select Media > Open Disc, or press Ctrl + D with VLC as the active window.
As good as VLC is, we can understand if you're wary of using a third-party software, so we'll provide instructions on Microsoft's software.
•Step one: Try Windows Media Player.
Launch Windows Media Player with your DVD inserted. In the navigation menu on the left side of Windows Media Player, you may see your DVD show up. Select it, and try to play it. If your computer came with a pre-installed DVD decoder, the DVD may play. If this doesn't work, try out next step.
•Step two: Try the Windows DVD Player app.
You can get the Windows DVD Player app here or by searching for it in the Windows Store. This is a $14.99 app, but you can use it in a trial mode that can help you confirm it will work with your DVD drive.
To download the Trial version, select the three dots next to the Buy button, and select Free Trial. Once it's installed, run it and insert a DVD. If the app determines it is compatible with your device, you can select the Buy Now option to get the complete app and use it to play DVDs.
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Mar 18, 2021 · Updated on March 18, 2021. To watch a DVD on your Windows 10 computer, you only need two things: a DVD drive and either a DVD player app or a DVD player desktop program. You need a program or app to play the DVD on your PC, regardless of what DVD drive you own; Windows 10, unlike some of its predecessors, no longer ships with a built-in DVD player.
- Anita George
Jul 9, 2015 · To create a DVD or Blu-ray disc image, you'll need to "rip" the contents from the disc and save them to your local drive. Two things are needed for this: plenty of disk space (ripped DVDs are as large as 15 GB depending on the compression used, while Blu-ray can take up 50 GB) and some disc ripping software. A HDD of at least 1 TB in capacity ...
- Christian Cawley
- Deputy Editor
- Microsoft’s Windows DVD Player. The Windows DVD Player app sold in the Microsoft Store is a barebones affair, but it works (at least most of the time). You may first want to check out the seven-day trial version.
- VLC Media Player. Developed by the folks at VideoLAN, VLC Media Player is a versatile multimedia player; it can play music and videos stored on your PC or home network, as well as DVDs, CDs, and Blu-ray discs.
- 5KPlayer. 5KPlayer can play high-def videos, DVDs, and even online radio stations. A built-in Apple AirPlay feature lets you stream audio and video from your iPhone.
- Kodi. A free and open-source program, Kodi is a multi-talented player that can handle stored videos, music, games, and DVDs. By attaching a personal video recorder to your computer, you can even access live TV and radio.
Oct 17, 2023 · Launch VLC player by searching for it from the Start menu. Select it when you see it in the results. Put the DVD into your HP laptop's DVD drive and close it. It should automatically play when you do, but if not, select Media > Open Disc . Your drive should be auto-selected, but if not, use the Disc device drop-down menu to select your DVD ...
Jun 9, 2023 · Firstly, find a computer with a DVD drive or a laptop with an external DVD drive and insert the DVD you want to copy. Next, run WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro and click on " DVD Disc " to select the DVD file you want to copy. Click " Ok " to start analysis. The program will load all the DVD videos into the ripping list with the main movie marked.
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