I can not play dvd's on my ubuntu installation.

Hello,

Please open a terminal and report the output of this command:
apt-cache policy libdvdread3 libxine1-ffmpeg libdvdcss2

Hello Albs,

Have you got lidvdread3 and libdvdcss2 ?

Check it with 'dpkg -l | grep <package>

For libdvdcss2, you must have Medibuntu in your /etc/apt/sources.list

See www.medibuntu.org for more informations.

libdvdread3:
  Installed: 0.9.7-2ubuntu1
  Candidate: 0.9.7-2ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 0.9.7-2ubuntu1 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com feisty/universe Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
libxine1-ffmpeg:
  Installed: 1.1.4-2ubuntu3
  Candidate: 1.1.4-2ubuntu3
I ran the command in the terminal window and this is the message I got:
Version table:
 *** 1.1.4-2ubuntu3 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com feisty/universe Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
libdvdcss2:
  Installed: 1.2.9-2medibuntu2+build1
  Candidate: 1.2.9-2medibuntu2+build1
  Version table:
 *** 1.2.9-2medibuntu2+build1 0
        500 http://packages.medibuntu.org feisty/free Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     1.2.9-1 0
        500 ftp://ftp.videolan.org dapper/universe Packages
albert@albert-laptop:~$

Thanks

Albert

Did you try the "ogle" player ?

Leszek,

I did try the ogle play with the same result. Can you think of any thing else?

Thanks for your time and help

Albert

Hmm

Maybe you need the ubuntu-restricted-extras package.
Please type this in a terminal:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

what kind of file are you trying to play ? is it a normal dvd ?

Informations about restricted formats can be found here if that still don't work:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

Leszek,

Thanks!!! I found and installed the restricted extras pkg. any and all players are working great!!!
I would like to ask one more favor. I would like vlc to start when a dvd is inserted. I went to the preferences and found multimedia for the removable drive and add vlc but I do not know the syntax to get the player to start auto. if this is not to much to ask I would appreciate the help.

Thank you again

Albert

Hi Leszek,

Thank you for your help. The package you recommended worked. Now all players work fine. I would like to use vlc for DVD's . I added vlc in the multimedia tab of removable drives and vlc opens but the movie does not start. If you don't mind helping me a bit more. What is the syntax to auto start?

Thanks again

Albert

Thanks Cesare Tirabassi, that solved my question.