Problems Playing DVD's

jlacroix · 08-03-2005, 11:40 PM

I'm pretty sure that Ubuntu cannot play video dvd's, due to the incredibly large number of problems I am having with it, and the fact that none of my friends can play DVD's either, but I am going to give it one last shot before I switch to another distro. (I love Ubuntu, but if it can't play DVD's, then I have no choice).

Here is what I have done to get it working:

1. I installed libdvdcss2, libdvdread, basically everything that so much as has the word "DVD" in it.

2. In turned on DMA, but I have to do this every single time I login with hdparm, because adding it to the end of that file (forgot the name of the file in question) makes my computer say "/dev/hdc no such file or directory" when it boots so I have to do it manually every time in Konsole.

Anyway, I tried Mplayer, Xine, Totem, Totem-xine, and VLC and they all have the same problem. The dvd will play for quite some time and then crash out. Some dvd's don't make it passed the intro screen, some will last an hour into the movie and fail out.

Xine gives me this error:
"the source can't be read. maybe you don't have enough rights for this, or source doesn't contain data" That's the error it gives me when it crashes out. For example, I tried playing Spiderman 2 and when selecting a scene I get that immediately. With Dragonball GT, I can play an episode all the way through but it will fail if I let it go by itself. (If that makes sense).

Mplayer:
MPlayer crashes instananeously with signal 11. Mplayer will play all video files fine (even wmv files) but not dvd's.

Vlc:
I forgot what it does, but that player is worthless to me anyway.

Totem-xine:
Crashes at the same points as Xine, but says something about trying to play a dvd without libdvdcss (Although lbdvdcss is installed, and I even tried reinstalling it).

I went through the unofficial ubuntu guide several times and searched google and nothing helps. For the heck of it, I changed the jumpers on my dvd drive so that it is set to master, but still nothing.

When I open Xine in a terminal, here is the output all the way from when I start playing it to when it crashes. In this example I played Spiderman 2, I chose scen 38 in scene selection, and then it crashed.

Code:

This is xine (X11 gui) - a free video player v0.99.3.
(c) 2000-2004 The xine Team.
libdvdread: Using libdvdcss version 1.2.8 for DVD access

libdvdread: Attempting to retrieve all CSS keys
libdvdread: This can take a _long_ time, please be patient

libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.VOB at 0x00000200
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_0.VOB at 0x00001680
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB at 0x00012968
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_02_0.VOB at 0x002e2940
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_02_1.VOB at 0x002e2960
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_0.VOB at 0x002e3c20
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB at 0x002e3c40
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_04_0.VOB at 0x0030a5e0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_04_1.VOB at 0x0030a600
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_05_0.VOB at 0x0031c480
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_05_1.VOB at 0x0031c4a0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_06_0.VOB at 0x0033f480
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_06_1.VOB at 0x0033f4a0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_07_0.VOB at 0x00343d80
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_07_1.VOB at 0x00343da0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_08_0.VOB at 0x0034fb20
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_08_1.VOB at 0x0034fb40
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_09_0.VOB at 0x0035e700
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_09_1.VOB at 0x0035e720
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_10_0.VOB at 0x00368320
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_10_1.VOB at 0x00368340
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_11_0.VOB at 0x00374780
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_11_1.VOB at 0x003747a0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_12_0.VOB at 0x003810a0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_12_1.VOB at 0x003810c0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_13_0.VOB at 0x00387c40
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_13_1.VOB at 0x00387c60
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_14_0.VOB at 0x00395b60
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_14_1.VOB at 0x00395b80
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_15_0.VOB at 0x003983c0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_15_1.VOB at 0x003983e0
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Found 15 VTS's
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
jeremy@Athlon:~$

PLEASE someone help.

Shaddy · 08-04-2005, 02:37 AM

I'm wondering you said vlc is worthless for you. I play all Files/DVD with VLC, it works with all videos (Kubuntu). Tried to configure VLC?

CouchMaster · 08-04-2005, 11:30 AM

hdparm -d1 /dev/hdc

jlacroix · 08-05-2005, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CouchMaster
hdparm -d1 /dev/hdc

Yeah, thats the terminal code I used, it turns it on temporarily. However, when you reboot you have to run that command again.

VLC is worthless because it doesn't fix the problem I'm having, plus its slower than molasses.

CouchMaster · 08-06-2005, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jlacroix
Yeah, thats the terminal code I used, it turns it on temporarily. However, when you reboot you have to run that command again.

VLC is worthless because it doesn't fix the problem I'm having, plus its slower than molasses.

You're right! I didn't notice that on mine until you mentioned it.
I even went in and edited everything in the hdparm.conf file that said hda to hdc and you still have to manually turn it on to play a DVD - maybe someone can answer this.

christine_lewis · 08-06-2005, 02:27 PM

You could add the line to /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh
Then you won't have to type it yourself when you reboot.

NomadX · 08-06-2005, 04:37 PM

It has been quite some time since I've messed w/ DVD stuff under linux... at that time, every player I tried had problems of one kind or another.. I eventualy found a player called Ogle ... it was the only one to work right away, but worked poorly (I forget just why)... in the doc's I noticed the author hung out on IRC and I got him to help me.... regardless if it fixes your problem I'd give it a try since it was a better player...

good luck

CouchMaster · 08-06-2005, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by christine_lewis
You could add the line to /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh
Then you won't have to type it yourself when you reboot.

OK christine_lewis, add hdparm -d1 /dev/hdc to /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh?
Are you sure...?

christine_lewis · 08-06-2005, 09:27 PM

Yeah. There's probably a config file that can be modified too (and that might be a better option if you can figure out what it is and how to modify it), but adding hdparm -d1 /dev/whatever to the end of bootmisc.sh will have it executed on boot, every time the system boots into Ubuntu, regardless of which user ultimately logs in, etc.

The one reason I can think of not to do this is if the drive doesn't work in other situations if you do. (I'm assuming that everything still works after you play a DVD?) If you're worried that this will mess something up you can back stuff up first (definitely make a copy of bootmisc.sh before you change it anyway), but I don't think you're in danger of doing anything too awful to your system.

If you try it, lemme know if it causes problems.

Cheers
-Christine

CouchMaster · 08-07-2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by christine_lewis
Yeah. There's probably a config file that can be modified too (and that might be a better option if you can figure out what it is and how to modify it), but adding hdparm -d1 /dev/whatever to the end of bootmisc.sh will have it executed on boot, every time the system boots into Ubuntu, regardless of which user ultimately logs in, etc.

The one reason I can think of not to do this is if the drive doesn't work in other situations if you do. (I'm assuming that everything still works after you play a DVD?) If you're worried that this will mess something up you can back stuff up first (definitely make a copy of bootmisc.sh before you change it anyway), but I don't think you're in danger of doing anything too awful to your system.

If you try it, lemme know if it causes problems.

Cheers
-Christine

That worked just just slicker than owl snot! Turns itself on now ever time I boot..!

/dev/hdc:
IO_support = 0 (default 16-bit)
unmaskirq = 0 (off)
using_dma = 1 (on)
keepsettings = 0 (off)
readonly = 0 (off)
readahead = 256 (on)
HDIO_GETGEO failed: Invalid argument

Been watchin 'Sweet Home Alabama' all morning...

mipia · 08-08-2005, 08:32 AM

I wouldn't ever want to turn traffic away from this fine site, but the forums on the Ubuntu site have a lot of questions regarding this same with some answers that seem to have solved similar problems. Just letting you know your options. Good luck with that.

CouchMaster · 08-08-2005, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mipia
I wouldn't ever want to turn traffic away from this fine site, but the forums on the Ubuntu site have a lot of questions regarding this same with some answers that seem to have solved similar problems. Just letting you know your options. Good luck with that.

I frequent the Ubuntu site quite often - I just find this one easier to use for some reason!

Simon Bridge · 10-11-2005, 04:39 PM

jlacroix: still dvd issues though?

I've seen a little hint that suggests reinstalling totem-xine after libdvdcss2 has been installed. This would look like something for you to try - since xine seems not to recognise that the css libs are installed.

This sort of thing can be a problem with pre-compiled packages. They do not always link in the libraries you need for full functionality - especially for very moral distros like ubuntu. (The use of libdvdcss is a bit of a grey area...)

There are other things like maybe your DVD's are not for your zone? They play in multi-zone dvd players but maybe not in locally (for you) zoned ones? This would lead to the "perhaps you don't have the rights to play this dvd" messages.

MPlayer installed from binary debs will lack some functionality. The best thing is to look over the www.mjmwired.net site for the FC3 source installation guide. Yes I know. Install all the dependencies by apt-get instead of the rpm/source-compile sugegsted there but do the actual mplayer install from source.

Note: if you run mplayer from terminal (gmplayer) you get more information about what is going on.

andrew4558 · 10-11-2005, 06:04 PM

To JLacroix
Based on the errors you gave, I think you haven't installed libdvdnav or your dvd drive does not have a sym link to the /dev/hdc . Make a new /dev/dvd or whatever and link it to the /dev/hdc .

jlacroix · 10-11-2005, 08:23 PM

I have done all of that, I changed out my DVD drive to one with CD/RW built in, and it works fine now. However, my old DVD drive works fine with Fedora, so I know the drive isn't defective. I think Ubuntu just doesn't like my old drive but likes my new one.