Having trouble playing DVDs on AVS

I use the AVS Media Player on my HTPC to play DVDs, and about 2 months ago, I started having problems. HTPC rig is in my signature.

Even when I first starting using AVS, I would have skippy audio, until i set the audio to 4 channel (2 front / 2 rear). I was never able to get 5.1 sound through it (optical cable from chaintech 710 to my natural sound receiver). Didn't matter though. Sounded great, and video was very nice.

So I hadn't used it in a while, and tried to run a DVD about 2 months ago, and when it was skipping, this time, I noticed the video was skipping too. That was new, but i plugged on anyway, re-set the audio to 4 channel, and figured it would be fine.

Well it wasn't. In fact, the video and audio kept skipping. Last week, I tried another DVD, and got the same issue, only this time, after fiddling with it for a long time (thinking maybe it was just a setting that would remedy the situation), my system actually auto-restarted. ( )

I'm having trouble figuring out if this is even hardware related at this point. I can play AVI and MPEG video just fine on WMP, and video and sound on other applciations is just fine. could my DVD player be toast? Is AVS just a crappy medium, and should I buy software to allow me to play DVDs? The rig is pretty bare bones, but honestly, I don't feel like I'm asking too much out of it. System doesn't seem overloaded when I'm playing a video (CPU usage isn't maxed) and I don't have too much memory being sucked up - even with only a gig.

Help!

TIA
zv

ttt

Def software, likely a A/V codec problem.

Of course it could also be your graphics/mainboard/audio drivers, or even a setting within their respective control panels.

The easiest way to proceed would be to research a better set of codecs (try the sticky's up top), or start fresh with a new windows install. Even if you do wipe windows clean i'd still research better codecs.

As for players: power dvd ultra 7.3 or 8.0 can be had for dirt cheap on ebay. Works pretty well and many people use it so the online support is there...

my 2c

Good luck either way.

I think this one is worth spending $ on - as the AVS software is kind of hinky (as are most of the freeware options). I'm going to look into PowerDVD Ultra.

Thanks!