can't play any DVD using any software

Asked by sajidwasif

Since I installed Ubuntu, I haven't been able to play any DVD's. I can play the files I burn on a disk but not in DVD format. The Totem player gives me an error "can't read source". RealPlayer says "doesn't support format, check for update". When I do, the website says that my installation is up to date. Sometimes I go to to the directory and try to open it with different applications. There's either no action or in some cases, it's worse and if my chosen media player is already open, it simply closes. No Further progress afterwards. I would appreciate the effort.

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said :
#1

Play mp3 and dvd under Ubuntu

First please install https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

You need to have extra repositories enabled..

Please first enable the multiverse repository:

Open System → Administration → Software sources → [ Tab Ubuntu software ]
enable "Software restrictecd by copyright or legal issue ( multiverse )"
Close and confirm the repository reload.

Type the following command in a terminal (applications → accessories → terminal)

sudo aptitude install vlc

To get better dvd playback first you need to add the medibuntu http://www.medibuntu.org/ repository to your /etc/apt/sources.list file:
here howto add https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu here the medibuntu available software list http://packages.medibuntu.org/

Then to install:

sudo update
sudo aptitude install libdvdread3 libdvdnav4 libdvdcss2 non-free-codecs gstreamer0.10-pitfdll w32codecs ubuntu-restricted-extras

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

Hope this helps

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Gord Allott (gordallott) said :
#2

unfortunatly because of local laws and patents encrypted dvd (commercial dvds) playback software can not be included with ubuntu by default, you can enable playback of commercial dvds by following this guide: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs

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