How to play DVDs and Blu-ray discs in Windows 8 - mullengazincomed79

When you set u Windows 8 on your system, you gain get at to a add up of new features. Some are absolved upgrades all over preceding versions of Windows—the modern system-wide look, for instance—while others are more controversial "go with-grades," rather than clear improvements. There's one thing that's a crystallise-cut downgrade, though: Videodisk playback.

Piece in the beginning versions of Windows enclosed a disembarrass, built-in Videodisk player, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 accept nobelium much functionality. It can nonmoving read information DVDs, but if you want to play that copy of Bouldered IV you got for $2 on clearance at Mark, you're out of luck.

Luckily, you've got plenty of options for restoring DVD-playback functionality to Windows 8, for loos. Here's what we recommend:

Choice 1: Just try it!

Before you do anything else, check to make sure that you really can't play a DVD in your data processor. If you bought a boxed Windows 8 laptop or desktop computer with a DVD drive, the manufacturer will almost surely have pre-loaded it with DVD playback software. Pop a DVD in and experience if it plays!

Option 2: Download VLC

VLC plays DVDs, and it plays them free of charge.

If you're upgrading to Windows 8 or built your own PC from scratch, you'll in reality have to download software to watch DVDs. Fortunately, thither's a loos, fast way to get DVD playback in VLC, a powerful media player from VideoLAN.

When you want to ascertain a DVD, open VLC and—with the Videodisk in your ride—pawl Carte du jour, then Visible Disc.

VLC's a handy curriculum to have on any new system, anyhow, as it's competent of opening virtually whatever audio Beaver State visual file format, including quite some that Windows Media Player can't handle. If you want to play Blu-ray discs, there's a codec pack of questionable legality (and hit-and-overlea functionality) available. Alternatively, you could download a premium program such as CyberLink's $55 PowerDVD 12, which plays both DVDs and Blu-electron beam discs without a hitch.

Microsoft didn't do away with Videodisc playback in Windows entirely—they impartial stirred it to the for-pay Windows Media Essence pack, which costs $10.

If you have the basic adaptation of Windows 8, you can't download Windows Media Center without also paying $100 to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro. If you're impartial looking for DVD playback and could wish less about Windows 8 Pro's other special offerings, we'd recommend just leaving with the VLC alternative above.

Be warned: While Windows Media Sum handles DVDs like a pro, itcan't fiddle Blu-ray discs whatsoever.

Actually downloading the Windows Media Center Pack is a fairly Byzantine process involving the Search charm, obscure settings options, and compensable for product keys. Microsoft's Add features to Windows 8.1 Thomas Nelson Page can walk you through the entire process of buying both the Windows 8 In favor of and Windows Media Marrow Pack upgrades. When you're done, your computer will restart and install Windows Media Center, including DVD playback.