Hi, I have a Digital Research DVD 8X Drive. It's actually made my Toshiba. I bought a Creative Labs DVD Decoder card model CT7160. My Compaq 5441 has video integrated in it, and on the board it does not have a VESA connector to connect the mini ide type cable from the decoder to the video card. So I went out and bought an I/0 Magic 8 MB PCI card. This card is made by Permedia II 3d labs (at least that is what drivers and what my screen says when I boot up). The problem is this. The reason I bought the DVD card was to watch DVD's on my TV. I believe I have to use the PC-DVD Creative software that came with it to get image onto my TV. THe software (PlayCenter) does not even recognize my DVD. It can't even play audio CD's. Has anyone heard anything about this problem or anything or have any suggestions for me? That would be great. Oh and if my video card is not compadible with my card will the software mess up like it is now? I've already tried reinstalling, nothing. The tech at Creative wasn't too much help, but he thinks I need a new video card. Thanks, Kevin

its fairly hard to get different DVD hardware to run SMOOTHLY with one another. You should have bought a kit, that way you are sure it will all work together. i have a decoder card with output i don't use it, if and not very often i need a tv screen i use the outputs on my tv card. I suggest that you get a tv card so you can connect a tv, watch tv on you computer and aslso listen to the radio.

you can try but i am not 100% sure. You need to check that the card says that it supports dvd decoding. I think to do it properly you need to have the tv card after a decoder card if the tv card doesn't support dvd decoding, as the decoder card will overlay the dvd picture onto the desktop before the tv card sends out the signal. When i first answered you i was in a rush, when you say mini ide cable what do you mean. If you meant to connect the video card to the decoder card you should be using a double ended monitor cable (loop cable) to connect the cards externally. It might also help if you get other dvd playing software ie PcFriendly DVD or Xing. And are you sure your computer is fast enought to play dvd (333Mhz and more). If is really fast then you might try and use software decoding instead.

I have AMD 475 MHz K62 with 128 MB SDRAM. Do you think that this Creative DVD card will work with other DVD software? Also, my video card does not say anything about DVD decoding on it. It's like 8 MB. Thnkas

your system is more than capable of running software dvd decoding, so do away with the decoder card and try using software. (my personnal opinion). i have the DXr2 (and the 2xDVD drive) by creative and it runs fine with PcFriendly, but did require a lot of driver updates and configuration. To depress you even more when i had the decoder card working under win 98 it played DVD's perfectly (all region with some software hacks and the matrix with driver upgrades)BUT never wanted to play DVD ROM. Now with 2000 the decoder card doesn't work and i can't get the damm thing to play DVD video at all, but plays DVD ROM better than ever, what a perdicament.

I HAVE A 12X DVD IN MY SYSTEM, RUNNING WIN98. I WANT TO CONNECT MY PC TO MY HOME THEARTE SYSTEM. WHAT WILL I NEED TO DO TO SEE THE DVD FROM MY PC, ON MY TELEVISION? THANK YOU