Can't play encrypted DVDs in Linux Mint 12

[MountainX]

I'm trying to figure out why I can't play commercial DVDs. The error from MPlayer is:

Could not read DVD. This may be because the DVD is encrypted and a DVD decryption library is not installed.

As far as I can tell, I have the DVD decryption library installed. The only thing I'm not sure about is the regionset info. Here's the info from my system. Does anyone understand the issue?

$ dpkg -s libdvdcss2
Package: libdvdcss2
Status: install ok installed

$ dpkg -s libdvdread4
Package: libdvdread4
Status: install ok installed

$ uname -a
Linux ThinkPad_E520 3.0.0-14-generic #23-Ubuntu SMP Mon Nov 21 20:28:43 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ regionset
regionset version 0.1 -- reads/sets region code on DVD drives
Current Region Code settings:
RPC Phase: II
type: NONE
vendor resets available: 4
user controlled changes resets available: 5
drive plays discs from region(s):, mask=0xFF

[xenopeek]

Try it with VLC media player instead, that usually is more flexible with playing DVDs.

[MountainX]

This fixed it.

$ regionset
regionset version 0.1 -- reads/sets region code on DVD drives
Current Region Code settings:
RPC Phase: II
type: NONE
vendor resets available: 4
user controlled changes resets available: 5
drive plays discs from region(s):, mask=0xFF

Would you like to change the region setting of your drive? [y/n]:y
Enter the new region number for your drive [1..8]:1
New mask: 0xFFFFFFFE, correct? [y/n]:y
Region code set successfully!

[MountainX]

Oops - spoke too soon. The DVD's will still not play correctly. Now the video is blocky and unviewable.

[MountainX]

Try it with VLC media player instead, that usually is more flexible with playing DVDs.

I have the same problem with both VLC and MPlayer.

(BTW, I have another cmoputer with Linux Mint 11 and I am able to play DVD's in it. The one that won't play DVD's is a new install of Linux Mint 12 on a ThinkPad E520.)

[AlbertP]

It's also possible that your DVD player is to blame - some of them are very strict regarding region codes. You can see the drive's make and model in Disk Utility (gnome-disk-utility in the repository).

[MountainX]

It's also possible that your DVD player is to blame - some of them are very strict regarding region codes. You can see the drive's make and model in Disk Utility (gnome-disk-utility in the repository).

My DVD drive is a Matshita MatshitaDVDRAM model uj8aoas firmware 1.0

Interesting thing: I found that if I copied a DVD to an iso file I can then play it back. I'm copying it using this same DVD drive, so the drive can read the disk correctly.

[furches]

Same drive and exact same problem here.

[AlbertP]

Matshita drives often refuse to play region code protected DVD's correctly, and I don't think you can really solve that (apart from the ISO workaround). But perhaps you can replace the drive.

[MountainX]

Matshita drives often refuse to play region code protected DVD's correctly, and I don't think you can really solve that (apart from the ISO workaround). But perhaps you can replace the drive.

OK, thanks. The drive is in a ThinkPad, so probably not much chance of finding a replacement of a different brand.

[AlbertP]

What ThinkPad is it? Some of them also support other drives.

[MountainX]

What ThinkPad is it? Some of them also support other drives.

THINKPAD EDGE E520

Processor Intel® CoreTM i3-2310M (2.10GHz, 3MB L3 cache)
Chipset Intel® HM65
Display 15.6" (16:9 HD, 1366x768, LED backlit)
Memory 4GB DDR3 (1333MHz)
Weight 5.2 lb
Dimensions (WxDxH) 375x245x28 – 33 (mm) (14.76"x9.64"x1.10" – 1.29")
I/O (Input/Output) Ports and Slots VGA out
HDMI
Gigabit Ethernet
Microphone/speaker combo jack
4xUSB 2.0 (1 powered, 1 USB/eSATA combo)
4-in-1 card reader (MMC, SD, MS, MS-Pro, xD, SDHC)
34mm ExpressCard
Optical Drive Integrated tray-load DVD drive
Graphics Intel® HD graphics/Intel® HD graphics 3000
Audio HD audio, Stereo speakers, Built-in microphone, Combo headphone/microphone-in
WLAN Intel® abgn WLAN + WiMax, Intel® bgn WLAN
Bluetooth® (Optional) Bluetooth® 3.0
HDD Up to 320GB hard disk drive (with ThinkVantage Active Protection SystemTM) (7200rpm)
Webcam 720p HD low light-sensitive webcam
Battery 4-cell (2.2 Ah), 6-cell (2.2 Ah)
Battery Life 6 hours with integrated graphics, 5 hours with discrete graphics (6-cell)
Keyboard Full-size keyboard with numeric keypad
Navigation Multi-gesture touchpad
Colors Midnight Black
Others Fingerprint reader (optional)
Warranty 1Year Depot

[AlbertP]

This laptop does not seem to have an UltraBay so apparently the DVD drive is a normal SATA one which means any laptop (not ThinkPad Ultrabay) SATA DVD drive could be used to replace it.

[MountainX]

This laptop does not seem to have an UltraBay so apparently the DVD drive is a normal SATA one which means any laptop (not ThinkPad Ultrabay) SATA DVD drive could be used to replace it.

OK, thanks! I didn't know that.

[AlbertP]

By the way, you don't really need to quote if you're answering the last post in the topic.

[aimo]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Restr ... layingDVDs
Would that help?

[MountainX]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs
Would that help?

Thanks. I will try the fix suggested below from that link before I start looking for a replacement DVD drive.

Jerky Playback

If DVD playback is noticeably choppy or burning a CD/DVD is slower than it should be, then you may need to enable DMA transfer for the DVD drive. See the DMA (Direct Memory Access) page for details. The other (quicker) fix for this is to delete the ~/.dvdcss/ folder, if you have attempted to play a DVD without everything set up perfectly the incorrect CSS key will always be used. Deleting this folder causes the key to be rebuilt.

[AlbertP]

That page about DMA is completely outdated; today you don't have to worry about DMA on CD drives anymore.

[MountainX]

OK, thanks for the DMA info. The part of that that interested me was about "deleting the ~/.dvdcss/ folder." Is that still relevant? If so, I'll try it later tonight.