MINT 12 - DVD's won't play..

[msd123]

MINT12 Gnome 32 bit.
Tosh Satellite Pro Laptop
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T20N drive

(updated to reflect responses so far)

Symptoms
- blank DVD's detected and mounted ok
- video DVD's not detected
- VLC says "DVDRead could not open the disc /dev/sr0" and terminal window error is "could not open /dev/sr0 with libdvdcss"
- dmesg doesn't show anything special
- cat /etc/mtab shows no entry for the DVD
- Nautilus File Manager doesn't show anything when the Video DVD disk is in the drive
- Software Manager says I do have libdvdcss2 installed.

Things that haven't worked
- adding my account to the "disk" group
- running "regionset" (region was already set to 2, as required)
- flashing the drive to a later release (worked fine but made no difference)
- running Gnome-player as Root

Anything I've missed ?

[xenopeek]

Probably your dvd drive is not at /dev/sr0. Insert a video DVD, and after it spins up run the following command from the terminal:

Code: Select all

cat /etc/mtab

Share the output here. Probably on the last line of output you can see where the video DVD is mounted.

[AlbertP]

Did you use a Mint version without codecs? In that case please install libdvdcss from the repository or use the Install Codecs option in the menu.

[msd123]

I thought vieo DVD's weren't mounted anyway ..? No sign of the DVD in /etc/mtab

Code: Select all

fred@fred-Satellite-Pro-L40 ~ $ cat /etc/mtab
/dev/sda7 / ext4 rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=600 0 0
proc /proc proc rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev 0 0
fusectl /sys/fs/fuse/connections fusectl rw 0 0
none /sys/kernel/debug debugfs rw 0 0
none /sys/kernel/security securityfs rw 0 0
udev /dev devtmpfs rw,mode=0755 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620 0 0
tmpfs /run tmpfs rw,noexec,nosuid,size=10%,mode=0755 0 0
none /run/lock tmpfs rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,size=5242880 0 0
none /run/shm tmpfs rw,nosuid,nodev 0 0
binfmt_misc /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc binfmt_misc rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev 0 0
gvfs-fuse-daemon /home/fred/.gvfs fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon rw,nosuid,nodev,user=fred 0 0


According to Software Manager, I already have libdvdcss2 installed.

Thanks for the help so far.

[Midnighter]

Does the dvd show up in the nautilus file manager?

[msd123]

No, the File Manager doesn't show anything when the Video DVD disk is in the drive

[slider]

I just happened upon this thread, so I thought that I might lend a hand if needed. I've read what you have listed being done so far, so please bear with me.

What happens when you try and play an audio cd through this same optical drive?

Have you tried completely disconnecting the drive then re-connecting it?

Reboot your computer and run

Code: Select all

inxi -d

and post the output.

Insert a DVD video and run

Code: Select all

inxi -d

and post the output.


(we are looking for /dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0 or something similar)
Run

Code: Select all

cat /etc/fstab

and

Code: Select all

cat /etc/mtab

and post the output again.

Run

Code: Select all

cat /etc/group

and post the output.

Have you tried to run the DVD using the terminal with your favorite video player software as the command call? If you can do that then post the output.

Thanks,

S

[msd123]

After all this, its starting to look like its just a dodgy drive..

I put an audio CD in, so as to answer Slider's question, and it worked (it didn't a few days ago) . I got the popup selector dialogue and it played with Banshee.

So I then tried a DVD and that worked too ! So I ejected it & tried another, but that didn't work.

After a dozen reboots and much fiddling, it seems that (now, at any rate - am sure it wasn't like this before but I haven't changed anything) one DVD always manages to play and the other never does. The one that won't play on the Mint laptop always plays first time on my XP desktop so its not a faulty disk. Comparing the 2 disks, they both look about the same - clean with some minor scratches.

The only thing that might have changed is the battery. The testing just now was with the charger connected. I can't be sure it was connected before, so is it possible that the DVD player only works optimally on a full battery ? I can test this by repeating the above with mains power off.

As its a laptop I can't easily remove the DVD drive.

Code: Select all

fred@fred-Satellite-Pro-L40 ~ $ inxi -d
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 60.0GB (6.6% used) 1: /dev/sda TOSHIBA_MK6037GS 60.0GB
           Optical: /dev/sr0 model: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T20N dev-links: cdrom,cdrw,dvd,dvdrw,scd0
           Features: speed: 24x multisession: yes audio: yes dvd: yes rw: cd-r,cd-rw,dvd-r,dvd-ram


(the output was the same before/after)

Code: Select all

fred@fred-Satellite-Pro-L40 ~ $ cat /etc/fstab
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    nodev,noexec,nosuid 0       0
# / was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=70ec7bd8-c876-4946-92a4-1296284eab23 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=5e480c36-b8e5-4dd1-afc4-26d65d54a4dd none            swap    sw              0       0


last line in the next lot is a hit

Code: Select all

fred@fred-Satellite-Pro-L40 ~ $ cat /etc/mtab
/dev/sda7 / ext4 rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0 0 0
proc /proc proc rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev 0 0
fusectl /sys/fs/fuse/connections fusectl rw 0 0
none /sys/kernel/debug debugfs rw 0 0
none /sys/kernel/security securityfs rw 0 0
udev /dev devtmpfs rw,mode=0755 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620 0 0
tmpfs /run tmpfs rw,noexec,nosuid,size=10%,mode=0755 0 0
none /run/lock tmpfs rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,size=5242880 0 0
none /run/shm tmpfs rw,nosuid,nodev 0 0
binfmt_misc /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc binfmt_misc rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev 0 0
gvfs-fuse-daemon /home/fred/.gvfs fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon rw,nosuid,nodev,user=fred 0 0
/dev/sr0 /media/CRIBB udf ro,nosuid,nodev,uid=1000,gid=1000,iocharset=utf8,umask=0077,dmode=0500,uhelper=udisks 0 0


Code: Select all

fred@fred-Satellite-Pro-L40 ~ $ cat /etc/group
root:x:0:
daemon:x:1:
bin:x:2:
sys:x:3:
adm:x:4:fred
tty:x:5:
disk:x:6:fred
lp:x:7:
mail:x:8:
news:x:9:
uucp:x:10:
man:x:12:
proxy:x:13:
kmem:x:15:
dialout:x:20:fred
fax:x:21:
voice:x:22:
cdrom:x:24:fred
floppy:x:25:
tape:x:26:
sudo:x:27:
audio:x:29:pulse
dip:x:30:
www-data:x:33:
backup:x:34:
operator:x:37:
list:x:38:
irc:x:39:
src:x:40:
gnats:x:41:
shadow:x:42:
utmp:x:43:
video:x:44:
sasl:x:45:
plugdev:x:46:fred
staff:x:50:
games:x:60:
users:x:100:
nogroup:x:65534:
libuuid:x:101:
crontab:x:102:
syslog:x:103:
fuse:x:104:
colord:x:105:
scanner:x:106:colord
messagebus:x:107:
lightdm:x:108:
nopasswdlogin:x:109:
mlocate:x:110:
ssh:x:111:
avahi-autoipd:x:112:
avahi:x:113:
netdev:x:114:
bluetooth:x:115:
lpadmin:x:116:fred
ssl-cert:x:117:
admin:x:118:fred
pulse:x:119:
pulse-access:x:120:
utempter:x:121:
rtkit:x:122:
saned:x:123:
vboxsf:x:124:
sambashare:x:125:fred
fred:x:1000:


vlc run from terminal while DVD was in drive AND icon was on desktop (i.e. all ok)

Code: Select all

vlc
VLC media player 1.1.12 The Luggage (revision exported)
Warning: call to srand(1332875493)
Warning: call to rand()
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_ADDRESS")
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_BUS_TYPE")
[0x97bb92c] main libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")
Blocked: call to setlocale(6, "")

(process:2030): Gtk-WARNING **: Locale not supported by C library.
   Using the fallback 'C' locale.
"sni-qt/2030" WARN  20:11:33.893 void StatusNotifierItemFactory::connectToSnw() Invalid interface to SNW_SERVICE
Warning: call to rand()
Warning: call to rand()
Warning: call to rand()
Warning: call to rand()
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Using libdvdcss version 1.2.11 for DVD access
libdvdnav: DVD Title: CRIBB
libdvdnav: DVD Serial Number: bd7f3c8a       
libdvdnav: DVD Title (Alternative): CRIBB
libdvdnav: Unable to find map file '/home/fred/.dvdnav/CRIBB.map'
libdvdnav: DVD disk reports itself with Region mask 0x00c00000. Regions: 1 2 3 4 5 6

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 0x0000012e
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_0.VOB at 0x0000016d
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Get key for /VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB at 0x00000b95
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
libdvdread: Found 1 VTS's
libdvdread: Elapsed time 0
Warning: call to srand(548866)


[Midnighter]

If it won't show up in the file manager, then I'd be suspecting faulty drive also. I've had this issue before.

[slider]

msd123

Well done! Nice usable output.

The only thing that might have changed is the battery. The testing just now was with the charger connected. I can't be sure it was connected before, so is it possible that the DVD player only works optimally on a full battery ? I can test this by repeating the above with mains power off.

I agree with you on this. Some systems power schemes can have an effect on hardware as battery power declines. Check your current power scheme that is user set in control panel main menu.

Testing with and without outboard power connected should give you the best clue.


Some other things noticed:

You are not in groups: audio or video. Perhaps new group disk takes care of this. Not sure, would have to research. Since you can already play and access the drive I believe that you are OK.

Your fstab (static) normally should show an entry for an optical drive if it is connected properly and working during install. Perhaps this has been changed from default behavior on newer systems? We could add this as a test? (would need more research)

Your mtab should show an entry for the drive only when it is mounted (which it clearly does). Would need to disseminate entry fields further if needed (research).


Suggestions: (Keeping it simple for now - test)

You can try cleaning the read "IR sensor" with something like a soft, clean cotton swob dipped in isopropyl alcohol and then letting it air dry for a minute or two before using. Very gently wipe the swob on the lens a couple of times making sure not to leave any cotton fibers behind. I've had this work wonders many times believe it or not! May or may not work, but it is worth a shot.

After cleaning perform the playing tests again using multiple discs and with and without outboard power connected.

Track your results and then post back.

Thanks,

S

[AlbertP]

By the way, does the laptop have a DVD drive from Matshita? Those drives often have problems with region code protected DVD's.

Laptop DVD drives are easy to replace. Usually just one screw on the bottom of the laptop holds it into place.

[msd123]

I think the manufacturer is Acer.

I don't have any isopropyl alcohol so I'll have to see about getting some.

Still think its suspicious that one disk plays and the other doesn't - hard to see how power could be the cause of that.

I also intend to try out with a bigger variety of DVD disks (only been using 2) to see if a pattern emerges.

Thanks to all.

[slider]

I think the manufacturer is Acer.

To see who manufactured the drive itself try

Code: Select all

sudo lshw

(should be listed under "cdrom") or

Code: Select all

wodim --devices

or

Code: Select all

inxi -d

should work as well, but on some devices may not list the model name an such.

I don't have any isopropyl alcohol so I'll have to see about getting some.

I highly recommend it, after all this is just simple rubbing alcohol and is exactly what is also included in some cleaning kits that are sold.

Still think its suspicious that one disk plays and the other doesn't - hard to see how power could be the cause of that.

Power not so much as the timing of when you were trying to do something, although this is unlikely. I have seen this exact problem of one disc playing well then trying another and having it fail/hangup on desktops. The cleaning procedure described fixed the issue in a matter of minutes. I can't guarantee this will fix yours, but it is a very cheap test to perform and is certainly worth a try IMHO.

I also intend to try out with a bigger variety of DVD disks (only been using 2) to see if a pattern emerges.

Absolutely!

S

[msd123]

The vendor is displayed as "HL-DT-ST" whoever that may be.

I just tried a total of 6 DVD's - each of them pukka videos of TV series which play fine on my standalone DVD player.

I tried each disk twice - once on battery and once on AC.

5 of them won't play at all, and the 6th plays every time

I'll still try cleaning the drive, but its hard to see how dirt could produce that pattern.

I have found a couple of unresolved threads which appear to show similar symptoms, here and here.

[AlbertP]

HL-DT-ST appears to be a code used by LG drives (HitachiLG-Data-Storage).

[msd123]

I bought a CD/DVD disk cleaner and - you guessed it - it won't play !

In my XP PC, the disk brings up a DVD menu with a voiceover giving you cleaning cycle options, but in the Laptop it just spins for a bit and gives up.

Looks like I'll have to get the screwdriver out