ok! you just reinstall windows XP, everything is ok, all drivers are installed, no yellow (!) on any of your devices. but you cant play DVD’s in windows media player. I suppose your DVD player is OK and I dont have any issue with it before you reinstall windows. When you try to play a DVD it tell you codec Missing or cant find codec or similar message related to codec.

What is codec?

“A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal.[1][2][3][4] The word codec is a portmanteau of “compressor-decompressor” or, more commonly, “coder-decoder”. A codec (the program) should not be confused with a coding or compression format or standard – a format is a document (the standard), a way of storing data, while a codec is a program (an implementation) which can read or write such files. In practice, however, “codec” is sometimes used loosely to refer to formats.

A codec encodes a data stream or signal for transmission, storage or encryption, or decodes it for playback or editing. Codecs are used in videoconferencing, streaming media and video editing applications. A video camera’s analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts its analog signals into digital signals, which are then passed through a video compressor for digital transmission or storage. A receiving device then runs the signal through a video decompressor, then a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for analog display. The term codec is also used as a generic name for a video conferencing unit.” From WikiPedia

there are out there 100′s of codec’s some are free when others cast 100′s of dollars.  som of the free one you may need to install before you can play your dvd’s are what  named K-Lite Mega Codec Pack you can download it from CNET . just remeber before you download it, most free software they try to send some extrat software you may not need. but anyway this software can resolve the problem.

Please remeber this is a free help information. Use it AS IS. We are not reponsible forany damage or data lost you may have by using one of our free article. If you dont agree this terms and conditions. please just close this window or hit Alt + F4