I have a Blu-Ray ROM drive on my PC, but the version of PowerDVD that came with it is playing fewer and fewer new Blu-Ray discs. I've downloaded and installed the very latest patch for it and that hasn't helped.
 
Does anyone know of, and can recommend, a really cheap (<£25/$40) or free player/software that I can load to play my Blu-Ray discs?
 
I've searched around the web but I either found stuff that modifies Windows Media Player (with downloadable codecs) or software that requires also having programs like SlySoft installed.
 
Cheers in advance 

Likkle bump... anyone?

I'd help ya if I could Steve!
 
(But I've only got this black-light-ray player from the 60's...)

My win8 lappy came with AsusDVD. Haven't used it much in honesty, but so far it has played everything I have thrown at it including unfinalized discs from other machines.
 
Here's some peeps talking about it, but the link they talk about isn't working for me.
 
http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/509263-new-asus-blu-ray-software-package-now-available-download.html
 
 

 
Thanks Paul, I'll look into that.
 
 

Did you check newegg.com or tigerdirect.com (or .uk) they usually have cheap drives and really good prices.
 
Good luck wiff it...
 
J

 
Thanks Julien.
 
I have the disc drive hardware on my PC, it's the software I'm after.
 
When I ordered this Dell, I opted for a Blu-Ray drive because it was quite a cheap option to add. The supplied software to play Blu-Ray discs was Cyberlink Power DVD 9.5. However, it's never worked properly, and like an idiot I never got round to sorting it all out while the computer was still under warranty. I've since used up all of my three allowed downloads in an attempt to get it to work and patch it up to date.
 
I asked around on the Dell forums and it seems there's no way they can do anything about it because I'm out of warranty, they won't even repopulate my downloads. However, one of the guys in there took pity on me and sent me an older version of Power DVD (which I've patched up to date) but this fails to play some of my newer discs.
 
 
 
 

I have the disc drive hardware on my PC, it's the software I'm after.
 
Oh, OK. I don't know about that. I am still a caveman. I need a Blu0Ray player for home entertainment. I also need some new surround/stereo speakers. I bought an Oynkyo A/V receiver but have not set it up, I am afraid it will bolw the speakers I have now.
I hope you find what you are looking for.
 
Julien
 
 
 

SteveStrummerUK
 
 
Does anyone know of, and can recommend, a really cheap (<£25/$40) or free player/software that I can load to play my Blu-Ray discs?

PotPlayer has very good reviews. But most of the how to information is in Korean. If you can figure out  how to install the English version it might be worth the effort.
 
http://lifehacker.com/587...lu+ray-playback-suites
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/PotPlayer
http://tvpot.daum.net/application/PotPlayer.do
http://www.techsupportale...player-replacement.htm

slartabartfast

SteveStrummerUK
 
 
Does anyone know of, and can recommend, a really cheap (<£25/$40) or free player/software that I can load to play my Blu-Ray discs?

PotPlayer has very good reviews. But most of the how to information is in Korean. If you can figure out  how to install the English version it might be worth the effort.
 
http://lifehacker.com/587...lu+ray-playback-suites
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/PotPlayer
http://tvpot.daum.net/application/PotPlayer.do
http://www.techsupportale...player-replacement.htm

Thanks!
 
Something very strange just happened though. I downloaded PotPlayer and it said I needed to download some ActiveX something or other, which I did. However, PotPlayer doesn't work for some reason on my PC, but my Power DVD has started playing some of the newer Blu-Rays that it definitely wasn't before.
 
I uninstalled PotPlayer and everything's still working fine! I'm guessing the extra stuff I had to download must work with my Power DVD.
 
Incidentally, I did manage to get chatting with some guy from "Dell Cares" on Twitter, and he's sending me the installation disc for the version of Power DVD that came with my PC, so hopefully, everything will soon be all hunky-dory.
 
Thanks to everyone who's chipped in to help