We all heard of the dvdplay that is found in Windows 98 and Windows ME.

the way I found dvdplay was editing the

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DVD\shell\play\command

C:\WINDOWS\DVDPLAY.EXE Default

DVDPLAY dvds on my 500 mhz pc with perfect bliss. no jumping unless I switch windows.

My problem is when DVDPLAY opens it give me the message that you would see before putting the decoders in the system32 folder. Only this time there is one error.

"The Follow will not render - subpicture stream."

The problem I am have is DVDPLAY will not open any DVD with subtitles. Every other DVD works just as long as there no subtitles on the disc.

The main reason I use DVDPLAY is the fact that DVD play is simple use. DVDPLAY is not Region locked unless your DVD drive is Region locked. DVDPLAY is small and sleek.

I could always use VLC to play a DVD but in VLC when I view extras or anythig else unincluding the film I can see lines or it wil be blurry. Then again my Monitor is a $10 19 inch Bubble screen Dell.

I have tried uninstalling DVD Region Universal. Removing DVD express that was leftover from my Direct DVD installment. I have searched the forums and tried installing DXM6 and the Cinepack decoders 99 but not 98. I have tried using the ME decoders in place of the 98 and even replacing the decoders. I lastly tried to install vobsub but that never really helped

Thank you for responding.

Try the links of the bottom of this topic:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip16.htm#FDP

But remember, DVDPLAY.EXE is a very primitive DVD player, and some functions that are supported by more advanced DVD players [like PowerDVD or WinDVD for example] are absent.

Hope this helps.

I tried the above link before and I activated the dvd command in in Windows media player which is just dvdplay with a hand replaced for the arrow. Even with WMP6 only movies with no subtitles will play.
The play back is great and everything but my real problem is just playing movies with subtitles.
That is the only error I have with this program. Anything else besides that is great. I can watch multiple dvds while downloading various things at days at hand. I prefer this over power dvd or media player classic.

What I am aiming for is a list of things that could interfer with the playback of subtitles and a list of drivers and combinations that would provide playback.

for example I have the "cinemst2.sys" and "vdmindvd.sys" from the Windows 98 FE disc in the System32 directory. I need information with compdable drivers decoders that dvdplay will be able to use to play dvds with subtitles.

not to avoid your question but, why don't you just install something like K-lite Codec pack with media player classic (new version) which plays subtitles no problem and make your life easier? dvdplay is sooo old and extremely limited!

I understand there is a billion things I could do.

I could install some outside software like dvd play and hope for the best. Then again programs like that plays jumpy even on 1ghz machine with nothing else alone. Requires me to use outside software like a decoder that has Region lock or DVD Region+CSS Free.

I could download Media Player Classic but I would rather not for my own personal reasons. I probably have four diffrent versions of MPC somewhere on my machine or one it's harddrive.

If there is a crack with BSplayer to give it a DVD read function I would take that but I still prefer the simple DVDPLAY. So far DVDPLAY displays everything in perfect crystal clear picture without the use of outside products.

IMHO, best solution is to ditch DVDPLAY.EXE and use Media Player Classic (MPC) [free]:
http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#MED
MPC also installs as part of Alt QTM:
http://home.hccnet.nl/h.edskes/finalbuilds.htm#quicktimealt
+ Alt RealPlay:
http://home.hccnet.nl/h.edskes/finalbuilds.htm#realalt

If using Win9x [95, 98 or ME] you must install Alt QTM 1.56 [current version].

Then open MPC and under: View -> Options -> Formats select to associate DVD formats [IFO, VOB] with MPC.
From then on your DVDs should open automatically in MPC.

... Unless you wish to spend money on PowerDVD, WinDVD or similar tools, that provide full DVD playback capabilities.

Hope this helps.