Can't "See" DVD-ROM Discs

Harpo · 12-26-2006, 12:45 AM

Hello

I have a DVD burner, and when I put a DVD-ROM into it, I get a link to it on my desktop, but if I try to open it I get an error message "invalid url". I have even tried my distro DVD and get the same thing. Why would this be, and how do I correct this situation so that I may view DVD contents? I am using Suse 10.0.

Harpo

jschiwal · 12-26-2006, 03:15 AM

Which desktop are you using.

How does your fstab entry for the dvd look like?
Here is a similar line on mine (SuSE 10.1)

Code:

/dev/cdrom      /media/cdrom    subfs   noauto,fs=cdfss,ro,procuid,nosuid,nodev,exec,iocharset=utf8 0 0

Another possibility is something like this:

Code:

/dev/scd0 /mnt/cdrom subfs fs=udf:iso9660,ro,iocharset=iso8859-1,umask=0 0 0

This is from the /usr/share/doc/packages/submount/README. You might want to take a look if your /etc/fstab entry uses subfs.

Notice the filetype entry shows subfs. SuSE uses udev and submount to mount removable media.
I have only seen that error when selecting a DVD device in K3b.

Something tells me that you may have a problem with a "Universal Device Identifier" rather than a url.
for example:

Code:

udi = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_152e_2507_P02051117113737_if0_scsi_host_scsi_device_lun0'
  info.bus = 'scsi'  (string)
  info.linux.driver = 'sr'  (string)
  info.parent = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_152e_2507_P02051117113737_if0_scsi_host'  (string)
  info.product = 'SCSI Device'  (string)
  info.udi = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_152e_2507_P02051117113737_if0_scsi_host_scsi_device_lun0'  (string)
  linux.hotplug_type = 1  (0x1)  (int)
  linux.subsystem = 'scsi'  (string)
  linux.sysfs_path = '
...

Try as root, "udevmonitor --env" and see if there are any surprises there. Using udevinfo may help in checking out the hal config.
ex:

Code:

udevinfo -q env -p '/sys/block/hdc'
ID_TYPE=cd
ID_MODEL=HL-DT-ST_DVD+RW_GCA-4040N
ID_SERIAL=
ID_REVISION=1.19
ID_BUS=ata
ID_PATH=pci-0000:00:08.0-ide-1:0
jschiwal@hpamd64:/var/lib/hardware/udi> grep 'pci-0000:00:08.0-ide-1:0' * -R
org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/storage_model_HL_DT_ST_DVD_RW_GCA_4040N:hwinfo.unixdevicelist = { '/dev/hdc', '/dev/dvd', '/dev/disk/by-path/pci-0000:00:08.0-ide-1:0', '/dev/cdrecorder' }

It would be nice if the SuSE documentation did more to explain where the udev helpers like "hald-subfs-mount" are triggered. The documentation says that I did have a problem for a time with permissions after inserting a usb pendrive. I started submountd and then I was OK.
Also make sure that the dbus daemon is running. The hal library uses it extensively.

Larry Webb · 12-26-2006, 08:51 AM

This may be helpful if you don't have this file as by reddazz

If you need to play encrypted commercial dvds, you need to download the libdvdcss rpm from videolan.org (not providing a direct download link because in the United States where LQ is based, this is probably prohibited).

Harpo · 12-26-2006, 09:24 AM

Sorry, I'm using KDE 3.5. Here is my fstab printout which looks exactly like the one above:
/dev/dvdrecorder /media/dvdrecorder subfs noauto,fs=cdfss,ro,procuid,nosuid,nodev,exec,iocharset=utf8 0 0

Here is the result of using udevinfo:
linux:/home/harper # udevinfo -q env -n '/dev/hdc'
ID_TYPE=cd
ID_MODEL=PLEXTOR_DVDR_PX-716A
ID_SERIAL=613334
ID_REVISION=1.08
ID_BUS=ata
ID_PATH=pci-0000:00:1f.1-ide-1:0

Does anyone see anything wrong with these?

Any help would sure be appreciated

Harpo

jschiwal · 12-27-2006, 05:33 PM

The udevinfo output and your /etc/fstab entry look OK.

Are you able to mount the disc manually? Does this happen with every DVD-ROM or just this one. I was wondering of the title might contain a forward slash or have a strange character encoding. You might try changing the subfs filetype entry:
"fs=udf:iso9660". This would mount either data DVDs or Mac DVD discs.

Also, try right clicking on the DVD icon and select properties. The url mentioned could be refering to the helper program that is configured to start when you click on the disc. If the disk isn't a blank, open up the Konsole and check in the /media directory to see if the disk was mounted. Or right click on the icon and select mount. The udev system will differentiate between CDROMS, CD-R/W, DVD & DVD-Rs. You can configure which program(s) that the KDE dialog that pops up suggests. So I could suggest to play an audio CD using one program, to play a Video DVD is you inserted a DVD-ROM or to suggest K3B if it is a blank disc. I don't know, but maybe the helper program to open the disc isn't installed and that is the reason for the error message.

Anyway, I'm wondering know if the problem could be with KDE and not the underlying configuration.

Harpo · 12-27-2006, 06:29 PM

Well, further to this issue, I think this is something weird. When I insert a CD-R into the drive it opens up like it is supposed to, I then insert the DVD that I am trying to see (it happens with all DVD's however)it now works fine. I can view the DVD just fine. When I restart my computer, I can't just put in the DVD and have it work. I have to insert a CD first, and then go back to the DVD. Anybody have any ideas on this one? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Harpo

jschiwal · 12-27-2006, 09:45 PM

I had two additional thoughts before I saw your last response. The second one may not be valid given the information you provided.

Some of the protocols like media:/, lan:/ and smb:/ require a service to be running or they won't be recognized. Also check the KDE Configuration under services or protocols. As well, browse through the Software installation and see if there are any uninstalled KDE packages that would install a service or protocol that you may need.
Do you have Firefox as your default browser. When you double click on the DVD's icon, you may be trying to run something like "$BROWSER %u". If Firefox is your default browser, it will not recognize protocols like sysfs:/sr0. ( Forgive me, but I am not home now so I took some liberties in protocol names. )
If memory serves, that is the message I got when I entered smb:/ into Firefox by mistake. ( However, it may have said "unknown protocol" instead. )

---

Looking at some further Google results, I think that the phrase "Invalid URL" is a standard KDE error message.

edvdrmark · 12-28-2006, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpo

Well, further to this issue, I think this is something weird. When I insert a CD-R into the drive it opens up like it is supposed to, I then insert the DVD that I am trying to see (it happens with all DVD's however)it now works fine. I can view the DVD just fine. When I restart my computer, I can't just put in the DVD and have it work. I have to insert a CD first, and then go back to the DVD. Anybody have any ideas on this one? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Harpo

That's exactly the same what I experience with my Plextor px-712A. I hope someone knows a cure.
Ed