toshiba dvd driver

[mastermiaow]

I have a toshiba sd-c2102 dvd rom drive on an IBM Thinkpad 600e. But I do not have the proprietary driver for this (only the generic win 98 driver). So the windvd software does not recognise the drive. Does anyone have the driver in question? ( I have looked on TP driver site and Toshiba sites with no success).

[NooNoo]

This is the technical manual for it (http://sdd.toshiba.com/cda/localcache/8200000001c90000004c0000000100000000.pdf)

here is the much friendlier use manual (http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=/818200000007000000010000659800000955/81820000011e000000010000659c00000401/8182000000e2000000010000659c00000407/8182000003a1000000010000659c00000a08)

Software Driver

Toshiba’s DVD-ROM Drive is "plug n’ play". In Windows, when you apply power to your computer and boot-up, the system will recognize new hardware, and begin installing Window’s ATAPI driver. If you prefer using DOS, download the ATAPI driver from our web site.


As you can see from the quote, it needs no drivers.... what you may be lacking is a decent aspi layer you can get one right here (http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/driverdetail.html?sess=no&language=English+US&cat=%2fOperating+System%2fMicrosoft+Windows+98&filekey=aspi_471a2.exe)

[mastermiaow]

very useful to finally find details about the player. (looked all over Toshiba uk site!)
I did as instructed and downloaded aspi layer from adaptec. Files were unzipped to adaptec folder and I clicked on the "aspiinst" application file and then rebooted. I now have APIX.VXD version 4.71.2 and WNASPI32.DLL version 4.71.2. But problem persists. I haven't read dvd rom manual yet but my understanding is that because the current driver associated with dvd player is a generic windows 98 cd driver (Microsoft 4-23-1999), this does not have capabilities to play dvds (unlike the XP driver). I used to be able to play dvds but when I reformatted the correct "driver" was lost.
Any ideas?


This is the technical manual for it (http://sdd.toshiba.com/cda/localcache/8200000001c90000004c0000000100000000.pdf)

here is the much friendlier use manual (http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=/818200000007000000010000659800000955/81820000011e000000010000659c00000401/8182000000e2000000010000659c00000407/8182000003a1000000010000659c00000a08)


As you can see from the quote, it needs no drivers.... what you may be lacking is a decent aspi layer you can get one right here (http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/driverdetail.html?sess=no&language=English+US&cat=%2fOperating+System%2fMicrosoft+Windows+98&filekey=aspi_471a2.exe)

[NooNoo]

"the driver" is the same driver that is used to drive your hard disk. Having a general look for Thinkpad drivers, there may be quite alot of utilities that you should have, but have not installed. type your full model number in ibms support page (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/all_download_drivers.html) and see what else is available to you.

[mastermiaow]

"the driver" is the same driver that is used to drive your hard disk. Having a general look for Thinkpad drivers, there may be quite alot of utilities that you should have, but have not installed. type your full model number in ibms support page (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/all_download_drivers.html) and see what else is available to you.

I thought I had all the latest TP drivers but will check again - I am pretty sure I have updated all audio and video drivers but I will look at anything do with the hard disk.
In the original quote from manual it mentions the system "installing Window’s ATAPI driver" - is this the same as the generic cd driver that I have (Microsoft 4-23-1999) or is it something else? The only thing I could find under "ATAPI"was Necatapi.vxd - is this it?

[NooNoo]

You are looking for ide or chipset or motherboard drivers. These are the drivers that drive the hard drives and cds etc. They also tell windows what to do with the other stuff thats onboard - apart from sound and video.

Alternatively post your full 7 digit model number and I will have a look for you.

[mastermiaow]

You are looking for ide or chipset or motherboard drivers. These are the drivers that drive the hard drives and cds etc. They also tell windows what to do with the other stuff thats onboard - apart from sound and video.

Alternatively post your full 7 digit model number and I will have a look for you.

My machine number 2645 AL3 (Thinkpad 600E) but there did not seem to any drivers specifically for the three cats you suggested.
This was the address I used:
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/dlsearch.wss?rs=0&q=&pcd=2645al3&tc=SP00PYY&dc=D430&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&lang=en&sort=rk&atrn=SWPlatform&atrv=Windows+98&cc=us&p=1

I'd be interested to see if you find anything different.

You didn't reply to my query about ATAPI driver so I assume I have the correct one.........

[NooNoo]

I agree, no ide drivers... but there is this (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&context=SP00PYY&q=tp+600e&uid=psg1MIGR-4GV37K&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&cc=us&lang=en) and there are a number of "supplemental files for ..." updates but you haven't said which windows you are running... there is also a bios update (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&context=SP00PYY&q=tp+600e&uid=psg1DSHY-46HLKQ&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&cc=us&lang=en) that may improve windows ability to correctly identify the device.

One thing has occured to me, you say you are using windvd - it may be an oem version tied to a particular drive make and model other than yours.

[mastermiaow]

I agree, no ide drivers... but there is this (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&context=SP00PYY&q=tp+600e&uid=psg1MIGR-4GV37K&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&cc=us&lang=en) and there are a number of "supplemental files for ..." updates but you haven't said which windows you are running... there is also a bios update (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&context=SP00PYY&q=tp+600e&uid=psg1DSHY-46HLKQ&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&cc=us&lang=en) that may improve windows ability to correctly identify the device.

One thing has occured to me, you say you are using windvd - it may be an oem version tied to a particular drive make and model other than yours.

I have Win98se
Definitely no problem with BIOS as I have latest.
Background to this problem is that when reformatting hard drive I forgot to backup software and therefore lost the powerdvd player that was on the machine. I had bought machine second hand and did not have either the software CD or the TP windows OS CD (I just used a generic windows 98se CD- before it ran on Wind98) Since then I have downloaded both powerdvd and dvdexpress successor. Both programmes reported that the DVDs they attempted to play were not CSS encrypted. After trying with 8 or 9 DVDs I realised that the problem was elsewhere! So I uninstalled these programmes and got my money back.
I then got onto the TP 600 forum and someone sent me a copy of the TP dvdexpress software from the original TP software CD. He also sent me a copy of Windvd that works fine on his Thinkpad.
This guy has winXP and the CD driver on this can play DVDs unlike that on 98.
I did have DVD update you pointed to and ran it again but made no difference.
When I attempt to play with DVD express the light comes on on the drive and I can hear disc going round but the title and chapter settings stay at .00. Also the DVD does not start the program automatically which was the case before. The CD facility works fine and starts up automatically when a CD is inserted.
I assume I am missing some vital link that comes on TP windows98 CD but not on the generic one? I thought that maybe my friend with XP could send me the XP CD driver but is this compatible with Windows 98?
I have been advised that maybe I just need to reformat again?

Any comments gratefully appreciated.

[confus-ed]

Ummmm ... much confus-ed-ness .... lets get this straight - if your DVD works in windows 'anyhow' (so even as a cd) then it doesn't need any additional drivers (other than chipset drivers, maybe, but they'll improve IDE transfer - so also ATAPI transfer, as the ATAPI device, your DVD, is connected via IDE to your computer)

I think you are short of some encoder/decoder codec (this is the bit you don't get free & why you really have to pay for DVD s/w - there are ways around this, but we'll put them aside for now) ... this is the bit that 'translates' DVD stuff into a stream that your IDE interface can handle. (that's a 'pants' explanation, but for now its all you are getting :D ;) )

Lets have a bash with some 'other' software & see if it persists ... try this - 'free trial' (http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/products/product_main.jsp?ProdId=28) or there's a 'huge' list here (http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/playback.html) (some of them 'must' also have 'trial' offers?)

This :-
One thing has occured to me, you say you are using windvd - it may be an oem version tied to a particular drive make and model other than yours.
May very well hold water, but trying some trial or other, that hopefully isn't hardware tied, should clear up whether its that or not.

[mastermiaow]

Ummmm ... much confus-ed-ness .... I think you are short of some encoder/decoder codec (this is the bit you don't get free & why you really have to pay for DVD s/w - there are ways around this, but we'll put them aside for now) ... this is the bit that 'translates' DVD stuff into a stream that your IDE interface can handle. (that's a 'pants' explanation, but for now its all you are getting :D ;) )

Lets have a bash with some 'other' software & see if it persists ... try this - 'free trial' (http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/products/product_main.jsp?ProdId=28) or there's a 'huge' list here (http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/playback.html) (some of them 'must' also have 'trial' offers?)

This :-

May very well hold water, but trying some trial or other, that hopefully isn't hardware tied, should clear up whether its that or not.

OK Friday night spent a long time with a mate having a bash to make the ruddy thing work. Via DVD express, we opened up the the video folder (titles video_ts) of the dvd in question "princes bride" (well known dvd that should be able to played by any dvd player on the market). In the video_ts folder of the dvd, all the video files with the suffix .vob and .bup had a generic windows icon next to them and were not being recognised ie you could click on one of these files, press open, hear the disk going round and then nothing. Also , the dvdexpress programme automatically looked for MPEG files, you could point it to other file types via the drop down list of files of type and there was a category for DVD files but only those with suffix .ifo.
Via Windvd, when looking in the Video_ts folder of the dvd, the same files had the generic windows icon against them and could not be opened. Unlike dvdexpress there were no suffixes listed after the file names. Windvd only listed "media files" in the "files of type " category.

Secondly we tried to add .bup and .vob files to the registered file types under settings/folder options/file types. We clicked new "file type" and put .vob in the associated extension box. However we were unsure what to choose from the drop down menu for content type (MIME) - there were a number of video file types listed. Of those that were not mpeg or quicktime, video avi, video/x-ivf, video/x-la-asf, video/x-ms-asf were listed. We chose one of these four at random and put in "play" under action and used browse to locate dvdexpress as the the application associated with this file type. We tried a number of permutations with content type and between dvdexpress and windvd and at one point I was able to open one file in dvd express which turned out to be a still image but we were never able to play the dvd using play buttons in either program. It would be helpful to know category under content type I should put for .bup and .vob.
I am pretty sure there is no problem with the software even though the above indicates the software is unable to recognise certain file extensions. The reason is because I have tried with 4 different types of software - 2 which I downloaded and paid for. Powerdvd was one of them!
The two I am currently trying were copied from the original programmes and work fine on another Thinkpad. The dvd express software is what comes with all thinkpads with dvd players on them. I just can't believe that the software is at fault if 4 different programmes are all unable to play dvds on my computer!

[confus-ed]

I can smell the frustration burning away from here ! ... bear with us :)

When you went to http://www-1.ibm.com/support/dlsearch.wss?rs=0&q=&pcd=2645al3&tc=SP00PYY&dc=D430&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&lang=en&sort=rk&atrn=SWPlatform&atrv=Windows+98&cc=us&p=1 you said you didn't find anything you needed ... well I think you need an 'inf' patch to fix up 98 to recognise your thinkpad's inards (chipset) correctly. Lets add that & see if it helps - hopefully it will (I don't want to cause you more 'pain' !)

Here's yet another link in this 'sorry' saga (http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-4FJ3SC)

This package is required when you install Windows 98 without the Product Recovery CD-ROM. If you use the Product Recovery CD-ROM shipped with your ThinkPad to restore the Windows 98 preload environment, you do not need this package.& if you read a bit further it says it applies to win98SE too ....

(ho hum - the simplest answer might be to 'borrow' a copy of the recovery cd from someone, strictly this might be illegal, but I never told you !;))

[mastermiaow]

I can smell the frustration burning away from here ! ... bear with us :)

When you went to http://www-1.ibm.com/support/dlsearch.wss?rs=0&q=&pcd=2645al3&tc=SP00PYY&dc=D430&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&lang=en&sort=rk&atrn=SWPlatform&atrv=Windows+98&cc=us&p=1 you said you didn't find anything you needed ... well I think you need an 'inf' patch to fix up 98 to recognise your thinkpad's inards (chipset) correctly. Lets add that & see if it helps - hopefully it will (I don't want to cause you more 'pain' !)

Here's yet another link in this 'sorry' saga (http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-4FJ3SC)

& if you read a bit further it says it applies to win98SE too ....

(ho hum - the simplest answer might be to 'borrow' a copy of the recovery cd from someone, strictly this might be illegal, but I never told you !;))

If I could borrow a thinkpad recovery CD I would but for the moment I am going to try the second link which seems on the button. Was this second link "Windows supplement file diskette" 1 of the 31 search results from the first link???? I couldn't find it there....
Is the inf patch you mention contained in this second link (I assume so)
I am a bit bamboozled by the following instructions which are subsequent to creating the diskette (quite straightforward):

Copy all the cabinet files and installation programs in Windows 98 Second Edition retail CD-ROM to your HDD as follows.
2.1. Make a temporary directory ( for instance, C:\WIN98) and make sure enough harddisk space is available to store the cabinet files and installation programs (the required free space vary depending on the language of Windows 98)
2.2.Copy all the cabinet (.CAB) files and installation programs from \WIN98 directory of Windows 98 CD.
Type "COPY src_cd:\WIN98\*.* tgt_drv:\tgt_dir" and press Enter
where
src_cd: Drive Letter of CD-ROM drive ( e.g. D:, E: ...)
tgt_dir: Drive Letter and Temporary directory
3. Copy updated INF files to the temporary directory
3.1. Type "COPY A:\W98SE\*.* tgt_drv:\tgt_dir" and press Enter. Where: tgt_drv:\tgt_dir is the drive letter and temporary directory made in 2.1. (e.g. C:\WIN98)
4. Start Installation from the temporary directory
4.1. Run "Setup.exe" in the temporary directory
4.2. Refer to the Windows 98 documentation and instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

Anyway I will have a go..wish me luck

[NooNoo]

These instructions assume you are working with dos or command line - I will translate for you.

2.1. Make a temporary directory ( for instance, C:\WIN98) and make sure enough harddisk space is available to store the cabinet files and installation programs (the required free space vary depending on the language of Windows 98)

you can ignore this one... we can do it in one step in the next bit


2.2.Copy all the cabinet (.CAB) files and installation programs from \WIN98 directory of Windows 98 CD.
Type "COPY src_cd:\WIN98\*.* tgt_drv:\tgt_dir" and press Enter
where
src_cd: Drive Letter of CD-ROM drive ( e.g. D:, E: ...)
tgt_dir: Drive Letter and Temporary directory

Put the windows 98 cd in the cdrom drive - if you have autorun, exit out of the screen that comes up
using explorer for your cd drive, right click the folder win98 on the cd, select copy. Now double click my computer, double click C drive, right click on a blank bit and select paste. The win98 folder will be copied directly.

3. Copy updated INF files to the temporary directory
3.1. Type "COPY A:\W98SE\*.* tgt_drv:\tgt_dir" and press Enter. Where: tgt_drv:\tgt_dir is the drive letter and temporary directory made in 2.1. (e.g. C:\WIN98)

Using explorer open the A: drive (dont forget to put the floppy in), click edit menu, select all, then edit menu, copy - Now navigate to your c:\win98 folder and on a blank bit of that folder, right click and select paste.

4. Start Installation from the temporary directory
4.1. Run "Setup.exe" in the temporary directory
4.2. Refer to the Windows 98 documentation and instructions on the screen to complete the installation.


When the copy is finished, double click the file setup.exe - follow the wizard.

[mastermiaow]

A big thank you to both of you.
Last night followed instructions translated by Noo noo and it worked! :-) I really can't understand why IBM instructions do not cater for non -command line users which must make up the vast majority of computer users.
I do have a few follow up questions which I hope you can answer.
1. confus-ed - How did you locate the supplement file diskette link in question? I did do a search on IBM but never found anything. It would be helpful just for my own search queries in the future.
2. I did already have the supplementary files in question in a drivers folder on my hard drive. Why did copying win 98 folder to C along with supplementary files and then reinstalling make such a difference? (After all I already had both win98 and supplementary files on my hard drive).
3. Although dvdexpress is working, Windvd is not -still doesn't recognise dvd. Is this normal - for one dvd decoder to work and the other not?
4. I had another look at opening the video_ts folder on the dvd, expecting to see that the .vob files and .bup files would have specific program icons next to them but they still had generic windows ones. I was able to open these files however - just still images or distorted video/audio clips. Also I could not find .vob or .bup in file types under folder options. Any comments?

[NooNoo]

A big thank you to both of you.
Last night followed instructions translated by Noo noo and it worked! :-) I really can't understand why IBM instructions do not cater for non -command line users which must make up the vast majority of computer users.
I do have a few follow up questions which I hope you can answer.
1. confus-ed - How did you locate the supplement file diskette link in question? I did do a search on IBM but never found anything. It would be helpful just for my own search queries in the future.
searching some sites is like trying to use a dictionary when you can't spell. If you put in your 7 digit number and search for all items, you will eventually find what you need.

2. I did already have the supplementary files in question in a drivers folder on my hard drive. Why did copying win 98 folder to C along with supplementary files and then reinstalling make such a difference? (After all I already had both win98 and supplementary files on my hard drive).
This essentially reinstalled the relevant components and registered them properly -thereby removing corrupted entries and files.

3. Although dvdexpress is working, Windvd is not -still doesn't recognise dvd. Is this normal - for one dvd decoder to work and the other not?
that pretty much confirms your copy of windvd is oem dedicated to a certain drive type.

4. I had another look at opening the video_ts folder on the dvd, expecting to see that the .vob files and .bup files would have specific program icons next to them but they still had generic windows ones. I was able to open these files however - just still images or distorted video/audio clips. Also I could not find .vob or .bup in file types under folder options. Any comments?
Interesting that, however all my vobs show up as ati fileplayer files, BUT click on them and it launches windvd... never bothered to find out why -it works :D
Not every vob file is a movie file. I don't know all the mechanics of it - I do know that dvd rippers do not rip every vob. I assume the others are things like chapter settings and menus and stuff. Perhaps someone into authoring can provide a decent explanation.

[mastermiaow]

I know this isn't specifically a drivers question. I have posted on Thinkpad forums without getting any answer so thought I would come back here as you proved so expert in your previous advice...:-)
What I wanted to ask was about playing through a TV. I have done this before without any problems. DVD express automatically resets resolution to 800 by 600 but this means that the all the edges of picture on the TV are cut off. So i get the full picture on the LCD but not on the TV. Admittedly I only have a 14" TV (I am in Europe so I have set neo magic advanced tab to PAL) but then my LCD is 13" so I am sure this is not the issue. I have tried to reset resolution to 640 by 480 but DVD express will not allow it even though this is the setting under display/settings/advanced/Neomagic tab that stops the image in preview screen under TV tick box from moving and when one can see the whole of the LCD display on the TV screen without having to move the mouse.
Any comments?

[NooNoo]

This sounds like a 4:3 or 16:9 translation issue.

4:3 is the older type of tv - 16:9 is the new widescreen and depending on your software, hardware and what it was recorded in depends on the display you get. Does it allow you to choose which format to display in?

[mastermiaow]

This sounds like a 4:3 or 16:9 translation issue.

4:3 is the older type of tv - 16:9 is the new widescreen and depending on your software, hardware and what it was recorded in depends on the display you get. Does it allow you to choose which format to display in?
When you say "it" I assume you are talking about the computer in which case the answer is no. Nor does the TV - just has a scart socket
I am visiting a friend on Friday who has the latest widescreen TV and will test it there. The DVD in question is in 16:9 format.
I have also tried to use windvd and now powerdvd (XP 4) without success - I know the latter is definitely not oem dedicated because I have the original CD and code. I also have checked that I have latest thinkpad video drivers etc. My intention was to use alternative decoders to get around problem of resolution being set to 800 by 600 (as happens with DVD Express). So it seems strange that DVD express can work and not the other two.......

[confus-ed]

To second guess Noo yet again (:)) .. she's talking about 'aspect ratio' ... that relates not to pixels but to the relative size of any image - this is a TV 'thing' not a computer thing ...

The only answer might be to set your destop resolution to 640x480, some video apps just use the destop resolution, not making reference to the fact that you are running it on a TV which doesn't really have a resolution, this is a weakness of the dvd player s/w or perhaps your video driver doesn't handle it properly ... but we had so much trouble getting the damn thing to work at all, I'm loathe to suggest we try anything more drastic until we at least see if that works !

Or you could try running it in a window on your tv & just stretch it (the window) to fit as best you can?

[mastermiaow]

To second guess Noo yet again (:)) .. she's talking about 'aspect ratio' ... that relates not to pixels but to the relative size of any image - this is a TV 'thing' not a computer thing ...

The only answer might be to set your destop resolution to 640x480, some video apps just use the destop resolution, not making reference to the fact that you are running it on a TV which doesn't really have a resolution, this is a weakness of the dvd player s/w or perhaps your video driver doesn't handle it properly ... but we had so much trouble getting the damn thing to work at all, I'm loathe to suggest we try anything more drastic until we at least see if that works !

Or you could try running it in a window on your tv & just stretch it (the window) to fit as best you can?

OK, the point with DVD express is that it automatically resets the resolution of the computer to 800 by 600 and it will not allow me to reset it whilst the program is running. As you say some video apps just use the desk top resolution and that is why I was trying to install an alternative to dvd express to see whether this would make any difference to the picture on the TV. (the picture playing on the LCD via DVD express is fine).
I think Noo Noo is probably right that any older non-widescreen TV would cut off the picture edges. I went into a shop and asked and I think the difference with a "normal" DVD player playing on non widescreen would be that I would have black bands at the edges of the screen but the whole picture inside that. The problem with what I have is that the actual picture is cut off... I am going back to London this Thursday and will try to use dvd player on my father's bigger non-widescreen TV and see if there is any difference.
However I am still flummoxed as to why I cannot use windvd or powerdvd on my laptop. (I was able to use non TP dvd decoder before the original windows reinstall that caused the problems). I have contacted makers of Powerdvd (I have original CD and reg no.) and will let you know what they say. I don't think this problem is linked to the TV out problem however but it does indicate that there is still "something rotten in the state of my computer..."
A last addendum I have just run a virus scan and found and deleted virus prmdiag32.exe and maybe this has something to do with it?

[confus-ed]

I don't think this problem is linked to the TV out problem however but it does indicate that there is still "something rotten in the state of my computer..."
A last addendum I have just run a virus scan and found and deleted virus prmdiag32.exe and maybe this has something to do with it?

I very much doubt that any virus could deliberately produce your symptoms, however it might explain why some apps won't install correctly...?

Lets try yet another download ... :rolleyes: (I bet you are sick of this ! :D) ... this ones an updated video driver, I dunno whether you got this one at some point or not ?!? ... TP 380Z,570/E,600E - Video driver (NM2200) for Windows 95/98/Me (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&q=600e&uid=psg1DSHY-3Y5LVT&loc=en_GB&cs=utf-8&lang=) (boy that IBM site is hard work ! ;) ) ...

You are gonna need to read this page too !, (sorry :sad: ) TP 380Z,570/E,600E - Symptoms corrected by the latest video update for Windows 95/98 (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=psg1MIGR-4GPMCT&loc=en_GB) ... lots of 'possibles' there if you read ;) (& understand!?)

Btw ... I know this isn't specifically a drivers question. I have posted on Thinkpad forums without getting any answer so thought I would come back here as you proved so expert in your previous advice...:-)

THIS is the best place to post any 'weirdness' question too ;), its not just drivers we try & fix here but any win-doze-iness too :grin:

[mastermiaow]

First how do you get all those jumping smilies? I only seem to have message icons to choose from....Is there a list somewhere or do you just type in the code?
Second why am I not getting notified on my email when you post a reply to my messages - this happened initially...
I very much doubt that any virus could deliberately produce your symptoms, however it might explain why some apps won't install correctly...?:
Well tried (again) to get powerDVD to work after deleting virus and it still didn't but it might explain why Palm desktop data (back up from my PDA) has all been deleted and also why Microsoft Word lost most of picture files. (I am also getting message on desktop at startup about Microsoft Draw Server and embedded images OLE not working) However could all this also be due to the reinstall that you supervised?
Lets try yet another download ... (I bet you are sick of this ! :D) ... this ones an updated video driver, I dunno whether you got this one at some point or not ?!? ... TP 380Z,570/E,600E - Video driver (NM2200) for Windows 95/98/Me (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&q=600e&uid=psg1DSHY-3Y5LVT&loc=en_GB&cs=utf-8&lang=) (boy that IBM site is hard work ! ;) ) ...
Hey i appreciate you doing all this scouting. However I do have the video driver in question - NeoMagic MagicMedia 256AV
You are gonna need to read this page too !, (sorry) TP 380Z,570/E,600E - Symptoms corrected by the latest video update for Windows 95/98 (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=psg1MIGR-4GPMCT&loc=en_GB) ... lots of 'possibles' there if you read (& understand!?)
I think I understand this page. As I have version 2.15.01Q I assume it corrects all the symptoms corrected by the previous versions as well....
Btw ... emm what does this mean again?
Anyway I am still waiting to hear from Cyberlink but I'll let you know when I do.
This is the best place to post any 'weirdness' question too, its not just drivers we try & fix here but any win-doze-iness too
yes,yes I love weirdness and computers so I'll keep it rolling (I would post zany, jumping smiley if I knew how).

[mastermiaow]

Well I hope you haven't given up on me :-)

I am now sure that the problem with the TV not playing the full picture is due to DVD express having resolution of 600x800. I am pretty sure that with another decoder that used desktop resolution I would be able to see full picture on TV screen.

However I am still unable to get powerdvd to work. I was able to use directdvd as a decoder before the problems caused by my installation of Windows98 se so I know that the Thinkpad is capable of working with dvd decoders other than dvd express.

This was the reply I got from Powerdvd:

Dear customer, Thank you for your e-mail. In regard of the error code, please kindly follow the steps below to uninstall PowerDVD and then re-install: (a) Start --> Programs --> Cyberlink Power DVD (uninstall it) (b) Start --> Run (keyin "regedit") --> HKEY_Current_User --> Software --> Cyberlink --> PowerDVD --> delete the folder. (c) Start --> Run (keyin "regedit") --> HKEY_Local_Machine --> Software --> Cyberlink --> PowerDVD --> delete the folder. (d) Re-install PowerDVD (e) Download the patch file and install: http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/download/dl_patch.jsp?dl_id=82&ProdId=28 And also, please check the following items: (1) For Power DVD, you need at least DirectX 8.1 or above version. You may download it from: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/downloads/default.asp (2) Update your DVD-rom firmware with your vendor at its official website For further question, be free to contact us.

This was my subsequent response
Thank you Sharon for your response. I followed your instructions a) b) c) uninstalling powerdvd and using regedit to delete specified files. I then reinstalled powerdvd and downloaded the patch file. On installing this I was asked to uninstall the previous version of Powerdvd. I do not understand this as without the original version how will any patch work? The patch seems to be a seperate powerdvd program: PDVDXP4_Trial_2417 with a 14 day limit. So I am a bit confused and can only assume that what I downloaded was not the patch in question even though I went to the right page: http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/download/dl_patch.jsp?dl_id=82&ProdId=28Please clarify what I have downloaded is correct. Anyway I did not uninstall previous version but went ahead and installed the patch on top of what I have. The same error code resulted when I tried to play the dvd.
Also I have Direct X 8.1
When you say update firmware I assume you mean get latest dvd driver from IBM Thinkpad site? I have also noticed that no player region code is specified under Powerdvd configuration/information - is this correct?

I installed the "patch" both with uninstalling original powerdvd and installing on top but this made no difference. Any comments?

I have checked and rechecked and I definitely have installed dvd video upgrade version 5.01.04.164 (TU514164) and latest video driver Neomagic version 2.15.01Q

As far as update for Toshiba CD drive sd-c2102 - does such a thing exist? ( I did find update for Toshiba SD-R1102 but no dice with the one I have)....

[NooNoo]

Flashing the firmware of any dvd drive can leave it inoperable.

BTW means By The Way....

Do you have a real magic card listed in device manager?

SD-C2102 support page (http://sdd.toshiba.com/cda/main.aspx?Path=/818200000007000000010000659800000963/81820000011d000000010000659c000003fd/8182000001f8000000010000659c000005ee/81820000024b000000010000659c000007ae)

[mastermiaow]

Flashing the firmware of any dvd drive can leave it inoperable.

Excuse the ignorance but I am not sure what "flashing" means. I think it means updating?

Do you have a real magic card listed in device manager?
Not that I can see unless it is hidden under one of the pluses....

SD-C2102 support page (http://sdd.toshiba.com/cda/main.aspx?Path=/818200000007000000010000659800000963/81820000011d000000010000659c000003fd/8182000001f8000000010000659c000005ee/81820000024b000000010000659c000007ae)
I looked at this page but there is no update option so I assume cyberlink's recommendation to update firmware cannot be applied in my case?

[mastermiaow]

I am now pretty sure that the reason I cannot play other dvd decoders is because I reinstalled using a generic windows 98 cd and apparently this is quite a common problem with IBM products despite using supplementary file that IBM provide.
So I am endeavouring to get hold of one of these CDs.
However a new problem has occurred in the meantime. I seem to be losing programs. First it was Microsoft word images from the image library,now I can't open any office program, Acrobat reader has disappeared, also Palm pda program and Arcsoft camera suite. Is this some sort of delayed reaction to my reinstall of a couple of weeks ago????

[NooNoo]

Are they still in program files? Or do you mean the icons are gone?

[mastermiaow]

Are they still in program files? Or do you mean the icons are gone?
Hello Noo Noo
I will describe the current situation. Most of my program files are on the D drive in program files folder. All of them have been wiped off apart from the avast antivirus program that I reinstalled on Sunday and placed in that folder. I assume therefore that they were wiped off then. The fact that the antivirus program disappeared prior to that along with MS office not opening (something about shell extensions), I put down to the OS reinstall I did a couple of weeks ago. At the time we were mildly suprised that so little if any software needed reinstalling and put it down to the windows folders being on the C drive seperated from programmes on the D drive. Would you expect to have to reinstall all software after an OS reinstall even if drives were partitioned?
Certainly I have had no problems with the avast anti-virus program up till now and wouldn't imagine its reinstallation would be solely responsible for wiping everything else off in that folder!

[NooNoo]

The reload would break the connections in the registry, the files in d:\program files would no longer be registered in the new registry. However, the program files will ALL still be there.

If they are missing then you have something else going on.... like someone deleting them, viral activity or something very strange.

[TripleRLtd]

Wow, this one has escalated.

[mastermiaow]

Well the good news is that IBM have agreed to send me a Thinkpad Windows 98 CD. Going back to the start, if DVD player could play 3rd party software before reinstall then hopefully if I do a reinstall with the TP CD I should be back to where I started all those moons ago.
I am also downloading Direct X 9.0b to see if this makes any difference.

The reload would break the connections in the registry, the files in d:\program files would no longer be registered in the new registry. However, the program files will ALL still be there.

If they are missing then you have something else going on.... like someone deleting them, viral activity or something very strange.

As far as the above is concerned, if connections are broken to the registry would it still be possible to open the programmes?
Also I checked with Norton disc doctor and win doctor and nothing was found apart from the shell extensions MS office mentioned previously. Maybe i should do another virus scan?

[NooNoo]

No, the programs would fail with some error or other.

[mastermiaow]

No, the programs would fail with some error or other.
Unfortunately IBM will not send me a TP Win98 CD for various bureaucratic reasons.
I did another reinstall as before but the existing programs are still functioning?
Are there various types of reinstall? This one just seems to overwrite the OS rather than deleting anything?
However powerdvd and windvd still don't recognise the disc in the drive as dvd - the disk starts spinning and brings up the programme interface but that is all.