The Energon Pub

Hi! I am trying to play a Japanese Transformers Masterforce DVD on my Dell computer. It acts like it is going to play the DVD through Windows Media Player, but then it displays a codec error? What is that? And how do I get my computer to play this DVD? Is there a series of code numbers I can key in to unlock this codec? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Just use VLC media player.

Codec means Code Decode.

It's a set of drivers which contain the algorithms necessary to put the video stream together.

It acts like it's going to be play through Windows Media Player because that is what the default setting is in windows. There are lots of video programs you can use to play DVD's and video files. You can set windows to play whichever one you want.


Now I can't tell you why you get a codec error with this DVD. I would have to know more details about the DVD, which would require knowledge in computers and Windows on your part.

My guess is this:

If it gave you a codec error, it's probably because the video is in a compressed format for space storage, which means it is technically unplayable. You need the codec to Decode it so it is playable. Do you follow me?

Now most professional DVD's are not in some crazy compressed format. They are uncompressed and put plainly onto the disc so it can be played anywhere. This DVD might have a compressed video file on it, so again you need to Decode it with the codec. Hell, are you sure it's a DVD? Or is it a CD with video files on it?


You can download codecs. I recommend going to the DivX website. Just type that into google. It has all the necessary codecs needed to play the majority of modern video files, all in one easy download, complete with a pretty good player. Download it and use it to play the DVD. Open the DVD in Windows Explorer by right clicking on the icon and selecting browse. This will show you the contents rather than playing it.

But that might not be what you need. Again, I would need to have a detailed description of the exact file contents of this disc. Where did you get it? Does it have the DVD logo on it? Or it is some random disc you bought off ebay?


And also, it's not a Dell codec problem. Dell is just a manufacturer. Your computer is a Windows computer, or a "PC" though that's misleading because PC just means Personal Computer, so even a Mac is a PC. Don't tell people you have a Dell. Tell them you use Windows.

How do I recover lost files after I have just downloaded a new codec pack? They just disappeared.? I have since uninstalled the codec pack, but I still cannot find these files. What should I do?

I personally suggest using Media Player Classic. It really handles subtitles and foreign stuff better than VLC. Just my $0.02.

Google for the Combined Community Codec Pack, that turns Windows Media Player into a media powerhouse that'll play just about and video and sound file, and it comes with Zoom Player, a pretty good video player just for this sort of thing.

TIP: Look at the date of the original post and last post ... this was bumped by a spambot. I think it's safe to say that after 4 odd years the issue has been resolved. Thanks anyway for trying to help out!