CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[kschmit2]

Register to remove this ad. It's free!

These are the instructions to completely remove PDVD from your system:

(1) Uninstall PowerDVD (by following steps):

(a) Start --> Programs --> CyberLink PowerDVD (uninstall it). Check the registry for any existing PowerDVD keys and delete them using steps (b) and (c).

(b) Start --> Run (keyin ""regedit"") --> HKEY_Current_User --> Software --> CyberLink --> PowerDVD and/or PDVD (delete the folder)

(c) Start --> Run (keyin ""regedit"") --> HKEY_Local_Machine --> Software --> CyberLink --> PowerDVD and/or PDVD (delete the folder).

(d) Search and delete folder named CyberLink and PowerDVD, if exists. Restart your system.

[macgyver655]

Your problem may not be a key issue, but a software version for your model issue. There are various post's on similar issues with the GGC-H20L and the included bundled software. This link is for a newer version. It is not the newest (which I have a copy of the newest) but I believe its newer then the one that came with your unit. But its up to you what you want to do. LG certainly is not standing behind its product since they included the software with the unit, and Cyberlink is also not standing behind their's if the software is not fully compatible with the unit. So if they wont help solve your problem, somebody does, right? Well what ever you decide, Good Luck.

[WanMan]

I will try this version this evening. Not sure how to check the installed version because of the Trialware serial pop-up prevents me from getting to some place to check the version. Maybe the readme?

[scottap]

Is your integrated graphics HDCP compliant and are you outputting to an HDCP compliant device on the other end (HD Fury, Moome card, etc.)? In theory you're supposed to be able to output over VGA without HDCP support, but I had mixed results using that drive and PowerDVD. I also found that I got more consistent results when I downloaded AnyDVD/HD (it has a 30-day free trial). Another quirk I found with this setup and ATI drivers, at least for HD-DVD (not so much for Blu-ray), is that the monitor displaying the video had to be designated the primary monitor in the device manager if you're using a multiple monitor setup.

[macgyver655]

After you download, install and insert the key code, you should have fully functional software with an icon on your desktop. I have verified this as a working product on a PC with less then required specs. If if loads up fine then that part should be good.

I would then go into device manager and see if under dvd drives it has your model of dvd player. If not then you have to update the driver and locate it off the software disk. I haven't been able to find drivers for this, even from LG's website, so you have to get them off the disk, unless someone else knows where they might have them. If your not sure how to do this I'm sure someone could help guide you if I'm not on later. Without these drivers your CPU cannot recognize your device properly and will not play HD DVD's. Good Luck.

[WanMan]

Ok, this morning I nuked and paved again. I reformatted a smallish partition of 55GB and installed Windows XP Professional along with Service Pack 2. I then installed the Abit driver set, rebooting after each driver install. I then installed the PowerDVD from the posted link and used the serial therein. I have not installed anything else other than 7-Zip to unRAR the RAR files that PowerDVD was archived in.

BTW, I am glad I am performing this last attempt as I discovered I had left Batman Begins in the GGC-H20L drive. Oops.

ANyway, I rebooted after installing PowerDVD and tried a regular DVD first. Naturally I was prompted for, and entered therein, the serial, but got past it and the program actually launched. That was a good news until I noticed something really funny going on. What I am observing is the worlds worst choppiness condition imaginable. Heck, it reminded me of trying to play Halo 3 on Live on launch day. Yikes!

Without anything in the tray, the drive is reported in My Computer as DVD-RAM Drive. With a regular DVD in the tray I get the movie title (Flags of our fathers), and I can Open the volume manually and navigate through the disk (look in the Video_ts folder, etc.).

I then ejected this regular DVD and put in an HD DVD (Batman Begins). I can see the blue LED indicator trying to read the dick, but give up. The drive in My Computer then changes to CD-ROM Drive. I think this is a response of an inability to read whatever native filesystem the movie is authored in. For S&G, I went back into the PowerDVD folder, located the three registry keys, Merged them, and rebooting now ... please standby ...

[WanMan]

Post UDF driver install-initiated reboot presented the following Windows warning:

[macgyver655]

OK, looks like Powerdvd is working. Now, did you go into device manager and see if your combo drive is listed under DVD/CD Drives? (Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager, DVD/CD Rom Drives). Remember, Windows has to recognize your drive to play it.

[macgyver655]

One other thing, what device do you have your PC hooked up to? PC Monitor or HD display. And how is it hooked up? VGA or HDMI.

[WanMan]

Ok, I uninstalled the UDF driver that someone posted in this thread, rebooted, searched the Internet, found another UDF 2.5 and installed it and could now navigate the filesystem of the HD DVD and Blu-ray disks. I then tried to Autoplay directly from My Computer, but that did not get a response (Movie Titles were seen).

I manually launched PowerDVD, selected the appropriate drive and the application came up followed by a pop-up asking me to download and install an upgrade in order to play HD DVD and Blu-ray disks. Guess what? I did exactly that. An hour later I had rebooted [again] and Flags of Our Fathers (DVD), Batman Begins (HD DVD), and Casino Royale (Blu-ray) and they all played inappropriately.

The DVD played with severe choppiness. Almost like frames were dropped or pausing in the image. Nothing smooth at all. The HD DVD and Blu-ray exhibited a kind of Fast Forward playback that I briefly remember experiencing before (and today) when trying to play streamed videos off of YouTube and Google Video. Almost like there is a timing or clock issue with the computer.

As for the display, I am using the VGA out on this motherboard and a breakout cable into the RGBhv input on an analog ViewSonic G225f running at 1600x1200. Maybe the video chipset (R600?), the refresh rate, etc. is producing a combined observed condition.

BTW, I have previously tested this monitor with great success. On another curious experiment I connected the Toshiba HD-A2 to the HDfury and fed that into the same input on this computer monitor. Looked great. But, I think I am about to put this to rest. Way too much effort for minimal results.

[WanMan]

Success!!!!

The final problem turned out to be resolved when I entered the BIOS of the motherboard and reset them to factory default. When I originally put together this motherboard, there was a known issue with SPD reporting timings incorrectly. I now remember setting those DRAM timings manually (4/4/4/12 insstead of the SPD 4/5/4/5/15).

BTW, this must have affected the clocking for the motherboard overall as it affected streamed video (Google, YouTube), too. I have now tested DVD (Flags of our Fathers), HD DVD (Batman Begins), and Blu-ray (Casino Royale) with normal playback.

[macgyver655]

Great Glad to hear sucess. Lets us know how you like the drive.

[WanMan]

Mac, thanks for pointing me to that software. In reflection, I wonder if I had missed a previous occurrence of a pop-up from Cyberlink denoting a required patch upgrade. Either way, without another serial key it would never have become functional in any manner. LG needs to address this and provide me with something or I'll never be legit on the software side.

Thanks again for everyone's input on this. Now I can install the drive inside the cabinet.

[WanMan]

FYI:

Well, I let about 75% of Batman Begins play with occasional scene jumping by me. No problem. Tried the same with Casino Royale and I kept running the airport scene and the next think I know BSOD. I was able to repeat this over and over using various playback resolutions. From the tiny default 800x600 screen resolution on up to 1600x1200. I have no problem playing this back on the PS3.

I am going to go play with something else now and relax.

[lite426]

Sorry to bump this old topic, but I am having the same problem. I've tried the UDF 2.5 driver someone posted on this thread but it didn't work. Windows disabled it saying it will 'cause Windows to become unstable'. But you said you found a different version that worked -

[greg_mitch]

So is this drive bunk then? I see it is getting cheaper.

[WanMan]

I found it easier, but a less flexible, to just get a PS3.

[Mark_A_W]

[WanMan]

For most of you, the software solution was extra. Please let it be known that my comments were on the packaged product not meeting expectations. How many had to use software other than what was included in the box? So, by the time you figure into the cost of a retail software package it became a questionable point as a solution.

Of course, if one bootlegs the software ...

[greg_mitch]

So the drive actually comes with BD playing software?

I figured it would need PDVD or something like this.

Already have a PS3 but need a BR upstairs in the HTPC. I might wait a bit more.