Copy-protected DVDs & linux

oneandoneis2 · 12-27-2005, 02:02 PM

I'm hoping this doesn't fall foul of the forum rules, but I think it's OK. I understand if it gets killed tho

Simple enough question: I own several copy-protected DVDs (Yay Xmas presents

). Unlike non-protected DVDs, I can't watch them on my Linux PC.

I've no interest in distributing copies of the movies, but I would like to be able to WATCH them. Since I paid for them & all.

Google searches are ambiguous. Can anybody give me a definitive answer as to whether a copy-protected DVD can be watched on Linux?

Keruskerfuerst · 12-27-2005, 02:31 PM

you need to install libdvdcss.

oneandoneis2 · 12-27-2005, 03:19 PM

I've already got that - version 1.2.9

That and libdvdread were installed by Gentoo when I installed Mplayer. Unless I have to do some extra legwork to get them working, they don't work

amosf · 12-27-2005, 05:04 PM

Some of the newer distros (like suse) ship with disabled versions of xine and mplayer that can't play dvd's, but in your case you may just need the w32 codecs. Have you installed those?

It does work in the end... I play protected dvd's on my mandrake box all the time... But in mandr* here...

oneandoneis2 · 12-28-2005, 04:27 AM

I'm using Gentoo, so it shouldn't be a crippled Mplayer problem. I've got the W32 codecs & compiled Mplayer to use them.

Ah well. At least I can take it as read that it can work and start trying to find out how to get it working now. It was looking without knowing if it was even possible that was getting me down.

Cheers!

oneandoneis2 · 12-28-2005, 05:33 AM

Hah! Fixed it!

I hadn't got libdvdread in my USE flags. Enabled that, re-emerged, and Boom! I can view copy-protected DVDs!