Hello,
A new member, I fear I have already erred in sending a blank message.
However, I purchased a Pioneer 106 DVD burner, not being aware of the significance of the term OEM and have struggled since. I am using Windows XP Pro with Nero 6.
My first question is whether the instument can be regarded as fully operative if I can write and read jpeg files to a DVD+RW disc?
I have tried to play commercial DVDs but, although I can hear the sound track, the screen is black. When attempting to play selected scenes from the menu, the first frame freezes on the screen. Several people far more knowledgeable than I said the Pioneer was faulty but, to my embarrassment, the replacement behaved in the same way!
The latest suggestion is that my video card is poor and this sounds a distinct possibility. I was loaned a card to operate in conjunction with mine, marked DVD 8300, v 2.0, but it was for Windows 95/98 only.
So my second question - do members think updating the video/graphics board advisible? and what does one buy? I understand there can be compatibility problems. According to AIDA 32, I have a Matrox Graphics Mystique (2MB) (which may just as well be in Mandarin to me). I have a Belkin Dongle that allows me to play my home videos with Windows Movie Maker but the board may not be adequate for commercial discs?
I would very much appreciate expert opinion.

Regards and many thanks,

Ran.

1. Viewing a DVD in your PC requires a windows compatible mpeg2 decompressor. This comes, usually, with an external hardware decoder, or you have to buy it seperately yourself. PowerDvd is an example of such a program.
In your case what is the program you are using? Is it one that cme with your dongle?

Please note that once you have the decoder installed, you can see DVD video even through windows media player.

2. For proper video playback you will need a 8.x or later DirectX compatible graphics card. Most newer players impose this requirement. It might be the case that these DirectX drivers are incompatible with older graphics cards.
This is also an area of more research fro you.

I expect we will get more help from the other readers of these forums.
Good luck.

(in reply to Randall_1)

Hello again,
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I was attempting to play rhe commercial DVD with "PowerDVD".
VideoWave 3 SE came with the dongle but that also was blank when trying to play a section of edited home video. I could use Windows Movie Maker to at least display the clips.
I haven't tried "burning" , if that's the correct term to use, here, because I was worried that the Piuoneer might be faulty when it failed to play the Commercial disc.
Thank you for the response. I'll Google the DirectX subject and see what emerges.

(in reply to Randall_1)