Any DVD-ROM, DV-R/RW drive will read data DVDs without any added software
since they are recorded as standard data. Movies are stored in an encoded
format and require an audio/video decoder to change the encoded bits back
into a movie with sound. In past days the decoder was often a hardware card
(as CPUs were slower and RAM more expensive than they are today) but most
modern PCs use software decoders today. Windows does not come with these
decoders so you have to install the software decoders - usually as part of a
package like WinDVD that provides both the decoders and a movie player
program.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
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"PSYCHOPIXIE" wrote in message
...

Is playing a dvd that holds a piece of software different to that of
playing a dvd that plays a film? The reason I'm asking is that I have a
dvd player for my pc (its a bit jumpy so I keep my cd rom installed) and
I fitted it and happily used the dvds I had but I haven't tried to play
a film yet so will I need additional software or must I already have it
if it played the dvds in the first place?