Download a program for reading discs of all formats. Four unsurpassed free programs for watching DVD videos on your computer

Hello.

I think many experienced users have quite a few CD/DVD discs in their collection: with programs, music, films, etc. But CD discs have one drawback - they are easily scratched, sometimes even from careless loading into the drive tray ( I’ll keep silent about their small capacity for today :)).

If we also take into account the fact that disks quite often (whoever works with them) have to be inserted and removed from the tray, then many of them quickly become covered with small scratches. And then comes the moment when such a disk is not readable... It’s good if the information on the disk is distributed on the Internet and can be downloaded, but what if not? This is where the programs that I want to present in this article will be useful. So, let's get started...

What to do if a CD/DVD disc is unreadable - recommendations and tips

First, I want to make a small digression and give some tips. Below in the article are the programs that I recommend using for reading “bad” CDs.

1. If your disc is not readable in your drive, try inserting it into another (preferably one that can burn DVD-R, DVD-RW ( Previously, there were drives that could only read CDs, for example. More details about this here: https://ru.wikipedia.org/)). I myself have one disc that completely refused to play in an old PC with a regular CD-Rom, but easily opened on another computer with a DVD-RW DL drive ( By the way, in this case I recommend making a copy from such a disk).
2. It is possible that your information on the disk is of no value - for example, it could have been posted on a torrent tracker a long time ago. In this case, it will be much easier to find this information there and download it than to try to restore a CD/DVD disc.
3. If there is dust on the disc, carefully blow it off. Small particles of dust can be carefully wiped off with napkins ( Computer stores have special ones for this purpose.). After wiping, it is advisable to try reading the information from the disk again.
4. I should note one detail: it is much easier to recover a music file or movie from a CD than any archive or program. The fact is that in a music file, if it is restored, if some piece of information is not read, there will simply be silence at that moment. If a section of a program or archive cannot be read, then you will not be able to open or run such a file...
5. Some authors recommend freezing disks and then trying to read them (arguing this by the fact that the disk heats up during operation, but after cooling it, there is a chance that in a few minutes (until it heats up) the information can be pulled out). I don’t recommend doing this, at least until you’ve tried all other methods.
6. And lastly. If there was at least one case that the disk was inaccessible ( couldn't read, an error appeared) - I recommend copying it completely and rewriting it to another disk. The first bell is always the main one :)

Programs for copying files from damaged CD/DVD disks

1. BadCopy Pro

BadCopy Pro is one of the leading programs in its niche, which can be used to recover information from a variety of media: CD/DVD drives, flash cards, floppy drives (probably no one uses these anymore), USB drives and other devices.

The program is quite good at extracting data from damaged or formatted media. Works in all popular versions of Windows: XP, 7, 8, 10.

Some features of the program:

• the whole process is completely automatic (especially important for novice users);
• support for a bunch of formats and files for recovery: documents, archives, pictures, videos, etc.;
• the ability to restore damaged (scratched) CD/DVD discs;
• support for different types of media: flash cards, CD/DVD, USB drives;
• the ability to recover lost data after formatting and deletion, etc.

2. CDCheck

CDCheck- this utility is designed to prevent, detect and recover files from bad (scratched, damaged) CDs. Using this utility, you can scan and check your disks and determine which files on them have been corrupted.

If you use the utility regularly, you can rest assured about your disks; the program will promptly notify you that data from the disk needs to be transferred to another medium.

Despite its simple design (see Fig. 2), the utility does its job very well. I recommend it for use.

Rice. 2. Main window of the CDCheck v.3.1.5 program

3.DeadDiscDoctor

This program allows you to copy information from unreadable and damaged CD/DVD disks, floppy disks, hard drives and other media. Lost sections of data will be replaced with random data.

After starting the program, you are offered three options to choose from:

Copy files from damaged media;

Make a complete copy of the damaged CD or DVD;

Copy all files from the media, and then burn them to a CD or DVD.

Despite the fact that the program has not been updated for a long time, I still recommend trying it if you have problems with CD/DVD drives.

4. File Salvage

To give a short description: File Salvage is a program for copying broken and damaged disks. The program is very simple and not large in size (only about 200 KB). No installation required.

Officially works in Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP (I tested it unofficially on my PC - it worked in Windows 7, 8, 10). Regarding recovery - the results are very average, with “hopeless” disks - it is unlikely to help.

5.Non-Stop Copy

Despite its small size, the utility very effectively recovers files from damaged and hard-to-read CD/DVD discs. Some distinctive features of the program:

• can continue files not completely copied by other programs;
• the copying process can be stopped and resumed after some time;
• support for large files (including more than 4 GB);
• the ability to automatically exit the program and turn off the PC after the copying process is completed;
• Russian language support.

6. Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier

Microsoft employees did not bother to add a DVD viewing program to the latest versions of Windows. Either they thought that users would prefer to watch videos online, or they simply decided not to think about it. Be that as it may, the user will have to independently search for and install the appropriate player on his computer. It is these programs, or rather the best of them, that will be discussed in the article.

Windows DVD Player

Subsequently, Microsoft employees finally “came to their senses” and released a program for viewing DVDs called Windows DVD Player. To download this player, you will have to visit the company store, which is available by default in all new versions of the operating system.

In principle, Windows DVD Player copes quite well with DVD playback, has a simple interface and is not demanding on your computer's resources. The problem is that the developers charge $15 to use the program, so you have to decide whether it's worth the money. Luckily, there is a free 7-day version of the app so you can test it out.

Cyberlink PowerDVD

A truly legendary program for watching DVDs on your computer. The player, in addition to its basic functions, can play movies directly from the hard drive, uses both a processor and a video card, and also supports Dolby Surround and DTS technologies. In addition, Cyberlink PowerDVD has a unique TrueTheater feature that allows you to improve picture quality.

One of the negative aspects is the price of the program, which, depending on the version, varies between 50-150 dollars. True, from time to time developers hold all sorts of promotions that allow you to purchase a player at a significant discount.

WinDVD Pro

Another paid program for watching DVDs. WinDVD Pro has a similar feature set to Cyberlink PowerDVD however, the system requirements are much lower. The program's features include a built-in tool for converting 2D to 3D, an image stabilization mechanism (the picture stops shaking), color correction and very high-quality sound. In addition, it supports hardware acceleration technology, which allows you to play video without jerks, delays and audio lag.

Well, now about the price. Purchasing the latest edition of WinDVD Pro will cost 4,000 rubles, or 3,000 rubles if you decide to upgrade from an older version. By the way, if you don’t like the program, you can return the money spent on it within 30 days.

KMPlayer

Well, now it’s time to look at free programs for watching DVDs on your computer, and the first of them is called KMPlayer. The player stands out for its support for various plugins and modifications that allow you to customize it according to your personal preferences. At the same time, the player supports hot keys, allows you to take screenshots from videos and, most importantly, practically does not load the system.

The downside of KMPlayer is its very confusing interface. If you just watch movies, then it’s not so scary, but you can simply get lost in the program settings. If this doesn’t scare you, you can safely download this player.

VLC Media Player

A simple, but very high-quality program for watching DVDs. VLC Media Player is considered one of the best free players due to its ease of management and configuration. After installing the program, in principle, you don’t have to do anything else, since all the codecs needed to play video are built in from the start. If you decide to delve into the player’s settings, you will find that they are all correctly located in the appropriate sections.

Please note that you should download the player from the developers' website, and not from the Windows Store. For some strange reason, this version cannot play movies in DVD format.

Light Alloy

One of the most famous DVD viewing programs. The player is perfectly optimized and works easily even on weak computers. All codecs are built into the player by default, so you don’t have to download anything additional.

Another advantage of Light Alloy is the presence of many settings, which are also presented in a clear interface. It's easy to manually adjust the video and audio quality to suit your needs.

We also cannot fail to mention the interesting preview function added in the latest versions of the player. It is a small window, focusing on which, you can rewind the video to the moment you are interested in.

In this article, most likely, I would like to talk about which utilities actually work? Which is the simplest and the best? In addition, any user can always download programs for watching DVDs for free that he likes or suits!
This format is very common today. And, probably, almost every person on earth has a drive or DVD player on a laptop or computer. And, most likely, this is not strange. Because it can fit a lot of things. Starting from personal photographs and ending with films in excellent quality.
And now a little history. DVDs appeared back in 1996. First, sales began in Japan, and then in other countries. At that time, DVD burners cost about 17 thousand, and a disc then cost about 50 thousand. Huge amounts. Today, a drive can be purchased for 50 dollars, and various kinds of rewritable discs are even less - less than a dollar.
At first they wrote only excellent productions, which were several times better in quality than ordinary video cassettes. Now the situation is approximately the same with the new promising Bly-Ray standard. After some time, such drives, which are primarily intended for playback, gradually began to become cheaper and, accordingly, the price also began to fall. And nowadays they write whatever they want on them. It has truly become a real home standard for modern discs. Many users probably won’t even remember when they wrote anything on such CDs.
There are two main formats: DVD-5 or DVD-9. The main difference is that only one can fit on the second one, and about 4 on the first one, the second one also has several times better quality. The next advantage that was recorded in these formats is that it is possible to embed, let’s say, digital sound here. Simply put, while watching, you will be able to see not only the special effects, but also hear them practically, just like in a movie theater. Of course, provided that you have a sound card with a modern subbuffer installed.
Users can view each DVD using several methods:
- Using a DVD-Player, which must be connected to the TV. This is probably the most convenient and simplest option. If, for example, the sound card is of the “Home Theater” type and the TV is flat-panel, then generally excellent. In this case, no cinemas will be needed. You can simply put it in the player and calmly enjoy watching the movie.
- What to do if the TV is constantly busy or there is no such player at home. Then all you have to do is view it on your laptop or computer. But here, as they say, you will need special utilities.
There are many free programs in this area, but in this article I would like to spend a little time on paid versions. Sometimes people may ask what exactly is the difference between such analogues, that is, free versions, the main function of which is watching DVDs, and those with more advanced functionality?
- Licensed applications are constantly improved and updated.
- Free applications do not support 3D.
- The capabilities of free people are often significantly lower.
- With paid programs there are often fewer problems.
- Paid applications generally have nicer and clearer images.
Therefore, it’s up to you to decide what to choose in order to reproduce it efficiently and normally and ultimately be satisfied with some new film.

Very often the computer does not have enough memory to store all the accumulated information. As your hard drive becomes full, it becomes necessary to transfer data to other media. Flash drives are expensive, but disks, in comparison, cost pennies. But even here problems may arise; discs may suddenly become unreadable by your drive. This article will tell you about the possible causes of the breakdown and help you solve the problem.

Why did the drive stop reading discs?

There can be many reasons for this, ranging from problems with the disk to complete failure of the disk drive. However, all the reasons can be divided into two categories, hardware and software problems.

Hardware problems are caused by problems with the hardware. The following problems fall into this category:

1. The cause may be the disk itself; its wear can be so severe that no disk drive can read it.
2. The drive may no longer accept discs due to contamination. Over the entire period of operation, a large amount of dust accumulates inside the computer, which can get into the drive and settle on the read head.
3. Loose connecting wires will also affect the performance of the device.

These are the most common hardware problems; determining which of these led to the failure can only be done “surgically”, that is, you need to get into the system unit.

Diagnosing software problems is much easier. If problems appear after installing some software, then we can talk about software incompatibility.

Solutions to hardware problems reading disks.

Is your drive not reading discs? Don’t rush to throw it away and run to buy a new one. First, check the condition of the disk inserted into the drive; if it is in poor condition, then the reason may lie in the damaged disk, and not the drive. Remove the disc from the drive and inspect it for scratches and abrasions.

If everything is fine with the disk, then we move on. It is worth testing the drive on other disks of different types: CDs, DVDs and small miniCDs. It is recommended to use the newest disks for the test.

Do not forget about other hardware problems; open the cover of the system unit and carefully check the connection between the drive and the motherboard with connecting cables. If there is no obvious damage, still try to connect the drive using other available cables. And for prevention, clean the drive from dust and dirt. This can be done using special disks.

There is another way to clean the read head, but this option is for more experienced and confident users. This method involves disassembling the drive and cleaning the laser with water or high-quality gasoline. Never use cologne or other alcohol-containing liquids, or acetone to clean the laser. Their use will lead to disastrous results.

Have you cleaned the drive, checked its performance on other drives and tried to make it work using other cables, but it still refuses to read the drives? Don't be upset. You can move on to solving possible software problems, and consider all the above actions to be preparatory.

Solutions to disk reading software problems.

If you discover that the problem is not due to hardware reasons, remember what you did with your computer earlier, what you installed, changed and deleted. Because you might have accidentally deleted or changed files that are necessary for the drive to function.

To fix it, you will need to reinstall the device drivers required for the normal and correct operation of the device on the system. Driver mismatches or errors in them can cause the drive to refuse to read discs.

In addition, you can disconnect the drive using the operating system and then reconnect it. For Windows this is done in the system properties.

My Computer window

In the window that appears, click on Device Manager.

System Properties window

The manager finds your drive and then removes it.

Removing a device

After removing the device, you must restart the computer so that the system can detect the drive again and automatically install the appropriate software, that is, drivers, for it.

Often, the cause of disk drive malfunction is third-party software installed to emulate virtual drives. Such programs include: DAEMON-Tools, Alcohol 120%, etc. All of these programs can cause your drive to malfunction. If you have these programs on your computer, remove them one by one, and test the drive after each removal.

To uninstall, you can use the CCleaner program; it not only removes programs from the computer, but also cleans the system of unnecessary files and system entries remaining after removing the software. The process of cleaning system entries is called cleaning the registry.

In practice, there were cases in which the solution to the problem was to flash the device. But this action can lead to complete failure of the drive. So, before taking these measures, it is highly recommended that you read the following point.

Solving the problem using the MicrosoftFixit program

Sometimes after the next reinstallation of the Windows operating system, the drive stops opening only DVD discs, while CD discs still open normally.

This also does not mean that the drive “died”, because before reinstallation it was functioning properly. The most important thing is that this issue is resolved using the free and effective program MicrosoftFixit.dvd.Run. You can download the program from the link:

Load window

Troubleshooting Results Window

After which the media contents window will open or a dialog box will launch containing several available options for operating the disk. If none of the above happens, then open the disk manually using the My Computer shortcut. Thus, the MicrosoftFixit program easily solves the problem of failure to read DVDs or CDs.

And if this doesn’t help, then you can already think about buying a new drive. For a better understanding and optimal selection of a new drive, it is recommended to consult with specialists.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you will have the opportunity to try to fix problems with the drive yourself, one by one, first eliminating possible hardware causes, and then software ones. Applying the methods given in this article. It must be remembered that self-correction may result in bad results, therefore, you should not neglect the help of qualified specialists.

The base build of Windows 10 has its own DVD player, but it doesn't suit everyone. Although Microsoft is constantly improving and updating it, perhaps the latest version will completely suit you. You can download DVD player for Windows 10, it is distributed free of charge and works on absolutely all devices, from computers to tablets.

Features of the program

• Watching movies;
• Viewing presentations;
• Creating your own music library;

Another question is, does your device have a DVD drive? In fact, this is not so important for using the player. The program may be useful for you to launch videos from a flash drive or even from the hard drive of your computer. So it’s worth downloading a DVD player for Windows 10 not only for a computer or laptop with a drive, but also for a tablet. Choose the correct x32 or x64 bit version, they all work in Russian.