Hi Ztoracat,
slight progress -- realised I wasn't in the right folder. So I typed the verify and it came back good "sha256sum.txt can be trusted" Now to compare the sum of my iso image: in the same folder I typed:
Am I doing it right?

Hi Ztoracat,
I got it! I misread the instructions. Now to compare.

OK my iso image checked out so I have a good DVD iso. Is it possible to check the system on the computer or do I lose the image when I install?

You can check your hard drive integrity with smartmontools look for it in synaptic Once you install from either dvd or usb than it not an image.

From a being able to use mint on the desktop what occurs? I want a general view of how the install functions aside from dvd issues. I know re-installing is a big step.

Dave, what I really want to know is if the Linux installed on my computer is OK or flawed, and so the cause of the problems that I am having, like the --now only occasional--hanging and, of course, the problem with VLC and SMPlayer. For example, VLC will play less complex DVDs like a set of Italian lessons, but not a film like "Luther".

The Linux was installed using a thumb drive and a programme like Rufus. Also when I tried the last re-installation I removed the remnants of Windows 10, and I wonder if in doing so I "damaged" something.

My next question is why do I still have that first partition of 560 MB in a FAT format? I read somewhere that it is buried in the computer and difficult to remove [or can't remove]. Is that so?

Finally, by testing for hard drive integrity with smartmontools, I am essentially doing what I want to know, that is:hard drive integrity" = unflawed Linux operating system. Or are we discussing two different things: the hard drive [physical] and the operating system [software]. If they are different how do I test for the software? I tested the integrity of the software [image integrity] for the DVD, but can I do the same thing either for the operating system on my hard drive or on the thumb drive? Before I wipe the drive clean and re-install, I want to make sure that there is something wrong. Otherwise I am just repeating the cycle.

Frankly I never used US installers for my Linux installs. I always have used DVD ISO. On the subject of verifying your HDD install there is really no way to perform this. That is idea of the checksum of the iso image before installing on a HDD. With the ubs installer did you perform a checksum before the install than? If not there is no way to know if it was flawed. What made you decide to use an usb installer?

With the program smartmontools this checks the HDD for errors and bad sectors. if it did not flag anything than you are ok.

The FAT 560 MB partition is most likely the recovery for windows 8 which was what the system purchase with. If you remove this partition than you can never recover back to windows 8. now if you what to try to remove this you can with gparted. I do not know if gparted will even see it you can try.

Movies like Luther have CSS copy protection and your Italian lessons does not have CSS protection. If you can play the Italian lessons with no problem that that tell me that libdvdcss2 has issues in your system. What libdvscss2 does reads and bypasses the CSS protection which enables playback. I bet you can play audio CD's in that case.

I have two systems with Linux mint 18, and I can play dvd movies on both my systems and I did not install the libdvd-pkg. I just installed libdvdcss2. That you cannot bugs me to no end. Just though of something look in “Start Menu” >> ”Sound and Video” >> ”Install Multimedia Codecs” <--do you see that? Let me know if you do or not.

Thanks Dave you cleared up a lot for me.
But first to the USB. No reason other than it was, or so it seemed, simpler and the drive more robust. I didn't think there was any difference. Secondly, no I didn't do an ISO checksum because I didn't really know how to and didn't think it was necessary. As it is for the DVD, it took me an evening reading and trying until I finally learnt how to do a checksum. I now have all the instructions written down in case I have to do it again! It's all these hurdles one has to jump over to use Linux -- great for tech savvy people but I am a dumb user used to Windows doing everything for me. It's been quite a hill to climb, but if I get there I will be free from Windows!

I am going to do a smarmontools check to see if there is anything wrong with the hard drive. That removes one more unknown.
I will also try an audio dvd, but it is a home-made one.

I went to the Start menu [you mean Menu at the left hand bottom corner?] and selected but I didn't see . I then went to the terminal and typed and here's what happened:

TheBut I'm not sure if that would be the same "start"?

There should no need to go to the terminal for this. You should see a green M with menu next to it on the panel. I have attached a picture of my mint desktop. You should have the green M in the left bottom corner. Look in the menu for the below. I called start menu sorry i am still in windows.
Start Menu” >> ”Sound and Video” >> ”Install Multimedia Codecs”

Attached Thumbnails

 

Hi Dave,
Here is what I got when I clicked on Menu > Sound and Video:
Brassero;
Clementine;
mpv Media Player
PulseAudio Volume Control
SMPlayer
Video
VLC media player
XCFTburn

No "Install Multimedia Codes".

No worries I was wondering. OK I need just information from synaptic. Go to menu than search for synaptic than used dvdlib for the search synaptic what you should have installed is below. This is concerning the DVD playback issue. What is below is what I have installed on my desktop. I want to compare mine with what you have installed.


libdvdcss2 version 1.2.13-0
libdvdnav4 5.0.3-1
libdvdread4 5.0.3-1

VLC version 2.2.2 weatherwax

I have installed:

Libdvdcss2 version 1.4.0.1 -local
Libdvdnav4 5.0.3-1
Libdvdread4 5.0.3.1
Libdvd -pkg
Libdvdcss - dev

VLC 2.2.2.5

It seems I am outdated with vlc, and libdvdcss2, and able to play dvds and you have a newer versions of vlc and libdvdcss2 than I do. and can not. As i mentioned in another post I did not install libdvd-pkg on my desktop.

RenH I did not expect this. Do the versions you have installed match the versions that synaptic has listed? When I posted today I got all mine from my synaptic list. It might be that I have my update policy different than you. Mine is set not to break my system which why would vlc not get updated. Right now I am shocked my mouth is hitting the floor.

I might post this on mint tomorrow and see if anyone has ideas why you can not play dvd and I can. I am think Bug somewhere in the new versions of one of these packages.

Thanks Dave. I tried to use synaptic but came up blank for the libdvd files so I had to turn to Software Manager to get them.When I selected the one available to download it said that it was already installed. I looked at the version numbers, which I copied down and compared to what you had. Honestly, I'd be happy to find out it is a bug, because I then won't have to re-install mint. Just the thought of re-installing all my files...!

As soon as I get a bit of time I want to read up on using smartmontools. Next there must a way of checking the integrity of my linux operating system ... at least I hope I can find something.

I rechecked that our vlc versions are the same I have 2.2.2.5 as well. The issue must be the libdvdcss2 versions. that is the only this I can figure is the issue here. I do not think it is a bug now. I did post this issue on the mint forum see if members have ideas as the cause of the versions being different. Again smartmontools are only for the hard drive integrity that is what is was designed for.


Update

I looked at my libdvdcss2 etc on this laptop IBM T500 which is running Linux Mint 18 mate. I have the same versions as you do. And I can play dvd movies this move is Pacific Rim and I used smplayer. I find it odd that Linux Mint 18 cinnamon has older version of libdvdcss2 than mate.

Libdvdcss2 version 1.4.0.1-local
Libdvdnav4 5.0.3-1
Libdvdread4 5.0.3.1
Libdvd -pkg
Libdvdcss-dev

+

VLC 2.2.2.5

I am trying to narrow down the possibilities. Just in case something is wrong with the drive I thought I would use smarmontools. Then I want to see [find out if I can] if there was or is something wrong with the operating system. Finally, and only in desperation, I would uninstall Mint and re-install from the live DVD I made [and checked].