My computer will not play dvd and I dont know if said computer has a dvd player or not.
I’m not sure whether you have a PC or a Mac, so let me show you how to check both systems to identify exactly what hardware you have installed. Surprisingly, it can be a bit tricky to do this, even though you’d think it would be easy…
On a Microsoft Windows XP system, the best way to identify your hardware configuration is to go to START –> Accessories –> System Tools –> System Information. Within the System Information program you want to choose Components then CD-ROM (which is confusing: if you are wondering if you have a DVD player, don’t give up; even DVD-ROM devices show up in this program as CD-ROMs). Here’s what I see on my system that does have a DVD player:
Even here the program really seems to want to show “CDROM” but when you look at the device itself you can see that it’s a Matshita DVD-R device, which means that, yes, it can play DVDs on my particular system.
On Windows Vista, we can try a different approach: select “Computer” from the Start menu (it’s on the right side), and right off the bat you’ll see our DVD device listed:
Even here, though, with the latest and greatest version of Windows, there’s confusion. Right click to get to properties…
and you’ll find that it can’t decide whether it’s a CD drive or a DVD drive:
Ah well, at least you know how to identify the kind of drive you have.
On Mac OS X it’s similarly easy once you know where to look. Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose “About This Mac”:
Now choose “More Info…” from the summary page shown:
and when you’re running the System Profiler application (that’s what it launches) just click on “Disc Burning” and you’ll see lots of info:
Okay, so that should show you how you can identify if you have a DVD capable drive on any of the three main operating systems. Hope that helps you out!
and, in this window you can opt for
How do you know if you can write dvd’s with that drive or not. Where would you go to get the drivers if you have a dvd writer and it is not working?
Dave, I need a DVD Rom for a computer that does not have one, My computer is a Intel Celeron processor with 998 Mhz and 356 MB of ram Windows XP service pack 2 What would be compatable, as I have no idea as what to buy to be able to play dvds on my computer.
you are GREAT but i still donot know how tostart the movie (.i know you donot have to say it outloud)
SO I READ EVERY THING I HAVE CD-ROM SO DOES THAT MEAN I USE DVD-R? OR CAN I USE DVD+R? OR BOTH ? I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOO CONFUSE!!!!!!!!
Dave,
I have to say, you can also use the method described for Windows Vista in Windows XP also, i.e:
1.Start -> My Computer
2.You will see the drive listed there under “Devices with removable storage”.
Mine currently shows DVD-RW Drive (D:)
🙂
Works on some systems, not all, Ken. Just like those ubiquitous stickers on the front of tower PCs that are supposed to tell you everything that’s inside but are in fact so jammed with geek PC jargon that they’re incomprehensible to just about everyone who sees them. 🙂
Ther’s always the “easy way” of looking at the drive’s drawer cover for a “DVD” logo. 🙂