CD playback Error message "Windows cannot read from this disk" on Inspiron 8000/XP

Twotees,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
I found the following information on the web, that may help.
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Problem:
I cannot play WMV files

Symptom(s):
After exporting a movie in WMV format, you cannot play it.

Cause:
WMV files may not work with some versions of Windows* Media Player and the Windows* operating system.

Solution:
To update the files needed to play a WMV file, try this:
Open your Internet connection
Start Windows Media Player: click Start,Programs,Accessories,Entertainment,Windows Media Player.
Open the WMV file in Windows Media Player. The required files for Windows Media Player should updated automatically. Alternatively, upgrade to Windows Media Player version 7.1 or later, which will also install the required files. The latest version of Windows Media Player is available from Microsoft's web site.
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Thank you for the suggestion.

I should have mentioned I am already using WMP 9.0.

Since my external Yamaha drive plays WMVs ok with WMP, I am stumped!!

The problem sure seems like a software conflict.

Twotees,

Ok so let me clarify this...
1.It only happens when playing WMV files located on a cd.
2.It only happens if you are playing those files from your internal drive.
3.It does not happen when the files are on the hard drive, or from a cd being used with your external drive.

If that is the case, that is truly strange.
Try installing some different video codec's like: XVID Codec, DIVX Codec, or Nimo Codec Pack.
Then try playing the files to see if the problem still happens.
You can download and find all these video codec's here.

Here are some other troubleshooting steps you may want to try.
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--Disable Auto Insert Notification.
Win2000 and XP
Open My Computer.
Right click on your CDROM drive and click properties.
Click the Autoplay tab.
Choose the media format file type, such as Music file or Video file.
Click on the red circle for Take No Action.
Click Apply and Ok.

--Confirm that DMA is enabled.
Win2000 and XP
Click on Start, Control Panel, System.
Click the Hardware Tab, Device Manager button.
Click the + next to IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.
Right click on the Primary IDE Channel and click properties.
Click the Advanced Settings Tab.
Make sure that Transfer Mode is set to DMA if Available.
You must also repeat these steps for the Secondary IDE Channel listing.

--Turn off indexing for the drive.
To verify if a CD, DVD, CDRW drive has been indexed, perform the following;
Right Click on My Computer and choose Manage
Click the plus sign next to Applications and Services
Click the plus sign next to Indexing Service
Click the plus next to System
Select Directories
A list of directories that have been indexed will appear in the window to the right. Look for any entries that include the Drive letter of the optical device, such as D:\
If an entry for an optical device exists, perform the following action;
1. Double click on the appropriate entry
2. Select the Radio Button for No under the Include in the Index? Section
It is suggested that a reboot is performed at this time.

--Update your bios file to the latest version.
Go to the main Dell Support site:
https://support.dell.com/register.aspx
Input your service tag number and click "Sign in to Standard Support".
Click the Downloads button.
Under the "Select Your Download Category" section, choose "Flash Bios Updates".
Then click GO.
Click the Dell XXXX XXXX System Bios link that comes up.
Click the Dell XXXX XXXX System Bios link that comes up again.
Click on the file name XXXXXX.EXE for FLOPPY version.
Click Download Now Using HTTP.
Save the file to your desktop.
Put a blank formatted floppy in the floppy drive.
Double click the file to create the bios update boot floppy.
Once that is done, leave the floppy in the drive and reboot the system.
The bios will be updated when the system boots to the floppy.

--Try upgrading the drives firmware revision.
Find the model type of the drive.
Then go to the Dell downloads page and put in the model type of the drive to see if there are any firmware updates for it.
Go to the main Dell Support site:
https://support.dell.com/register.aspx
Input your service tag number and click "Sign in to Standard Support".
Click the Downloads button.
Put the drive model in the search box and click GO.
If there is a firmware updated listed, download it, create the update disk, and update the drives firmware.
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Question:
How do I find out what model of Hard Drive, CDROM, CDRW, DVDROM drive I have?

Answer:
Win2000 WinXP:
Right click on My Computer, click on properties.
Click the Hardware tab.
Click the Device Manager button.
Click the + next to DVD/CD-ROM drives.
You should see your drive listed, an example would be: Lite-On LTN483S 48X MAX.
The drive model number would be "LTN483S"

--Another way to tell is to check the system registry.
You can use the steps below that are listed for checking the drives firmware revision.
An example of a drive listing in the registry would be:
IDE\CdRomLite-On_LTN483S_48x_Max_________________PD03____\5&261012d&0&0.1.0
The drive model number would be ""LTN483S""

Question:
How do I find my DVD drives firmware revision in Windows XP:
Right click my computer,manage,expand storage,removable storage,libraries
right click on your drive,properties,device infomation.
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--Uninstall any 3rd party programs.
If you installed any 3rd party programs before the problem started, (Roxio Easy CD Creator, Nero Burning Rom, Intel Application Accelerator), then uninstall the program and reboot the system.
Also reinstall your DVD decoding application such as PowerDVD, or WinDVD.
If the application is corrupt, reinstalling it will solve the problem.

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Your clarifications are correct.
This is an unusual situation but your suggestions appreciated and I'll pursue each one. Thanks very much. I'll let you know the results.
(Happy New Year!)