DVD wont play on Laptop

[toonmilo]

Hello, any ideas why a DVD will not play on my laptop. It WILL play Cd's. I have put the disc in and the drive starts to make noises as though its about to run but then the noise stops. I then go to windows explorer and click on the DVD 'd' drive but it says nothing is in there?

Do you think there is anything in my settings that need looking at.
It is a brand new laptop with a cd/dvd re-writer
Hope you can help

[Ethel]

Have you tried different dvds? Is the region correct?

[Whickerman]

are you sure it's not just a cd-rom drive

[Whickerman]

Also, have you loaded the dvd player software?

[toonmilo]

Yes i have tried different dvds.

How do i tell if if it is just a cd rom drive?

What software would i need to download to play dvds?

[Whickerman]

Sorry for the delay - my network card died and i needed to fit a new one (on a bank holiday weekend...)

If there's a dvd mentioned in the title of the drive when you click into 'my computer' then you're probably ok. Try downloading real player or power dvd.