Try this for WinDVD Pro blu-ray playback failure issue

[StrayGenius]

I've had WinDVD for a while and determined that only a handful of Blu-ray discs have the issue I am referring to, but since these things are like $25 a disc set I really get upset when it happens.

Issue: Attempted playback of Blu-ray disc with WinDVD Pro (version 11 now) the player hangs and simply stops after only eight seconds during first chapters, shortly after the disk playback has begun.

Further observation: all discs I have with this issue and the only discs I have with this issue are 20th Century Fox made.

To get a disc like this to play I did the following and have tested it with three discs that I could not play before, and the three all work with these instructions;
1. Find your main WinDVD program executable file ("application" type) for me this is "C:\Program Files\Corel\WinDVD11\WinDVD.exe"
2. Right click the WinDVD.exe and click the Compatibility tab at top then click the bottom "Change settings for all users" button .
3. Enable "Run this program as an administrator" and click OK, click OK to finish up.

You are now set to run WinDVD whenever you wish but there is a further step you must perform with every disc before it hangs / stops playing.
Always run close WinDVD between discs so it starts new, run it or insert a disc with autoplay enabled to start WinDVD, as soon as the player buttons become responsive (shortly after playback starts, usually with the "20th Century Fox" opening theme) click the Next button repeatedly as fast as you can. If this all has worked you should be rewarded by the small 20th Century Fox logo center screen while it loads Blu-ray content, and you will be able to watch the movie.

Please post if this works for you as well as it did for me, so far every Blu-ray disc that I could not play before I can play now.

[doob2000]

I am having the exact same issue on two different 20th Century Fox Blu-ray discs using WinDVD 2010 pro. Clicking the 'Next' button as soon as the opening theme starts is working for me. Thankyou for the post.

[nalawod]

Same here- Life of PI would not play - went blank after initial logo. I hit skip multiple times as you suggested - it works! Thanks a bunch. If Corel is never going to fix this, I guess I'm done with them. Too bad, because this was the most trouble free of all 3 bd players- pdvd and tmt always gave me fits. Maybe they're better now...

[Ken Berry]

If Corel is never going to fix this, I guess I'm done with them.

The problem is that Corel appears to have dropped WinDVD. sMedio has apparently taken it over -- though we here on this Board were never told of this takeover either beforehand or afterwards. See http://www.smedioinc.com/company/press- ... ie-up.html Note that while they call it a partnership arrangement, Corel has transferred "development" rights to sMedio i.e. sMedio will now be responsible for updates and new versions.

But the bottom line would appear to be that you shouldn't expect any updates from Corel. However, sMedio have apparently issued an updated version 11.5, though I am not sure where you get it... The only reference to a "new" version for Win 8 under the sMedio logo is http://smedio-windvd-pro-11-for-windows ... tonic.com/

(And remember, this Board is staffed by users like you who volunteer their time to help out. None of us work for Corel.)