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Overcoming the Linux DVD Hurdle
William Nett
 For many Linux Newbies... one big hurdle is playing DVDs. If you e-mail
the developers, no doubt, you get flamed for being ignorant... so here is a
simple solution, or "how-to" on playing DVDs with Linux.
A.) First and foremost... If you have installed Xine, the multimedia
player... remove it and get the latest sources from a better resource. The best resource I've found is here:
http://cambuca.ldhs.cetuc.puc-rio.br/xine/
B.) Install the RPMs. The source is Brazil and it has all the required
packages to play DVDs. My problem and yours is this... so I install all the
packages and DVD playback is choppy! This is unacceptable. After all who
wants to watch choppy DVDs?
*** One caveat here is that installing DVD decryption software may be
illegal in your country, planet, state, or township... that being said,
here's the secret key...
Linux does DMA checking on all media, DVDs, CDs, and Drives... I damned near
pulled my 1/4" hair out of my head trying to figure this out. Basically, Linux
checks
all media packets for flaws, and this can be very resource consuming... the
solution?
C.) On your Linux box open a shell and su to root. then insert the following
command:
hdparm -d1 /dev/dvd
This tells the DVD device to stream the media and not perform error or CRC
checking... at least that's what the folks at Lindows told me, Launch
Xine
again, fire up the microwave popcorn, sit back, relax, and enjoy your movie.
Keep in mind that if you reboot your computer, then the hdparm value
restores to 0 (zero) and you'll have to enter this command again. For SuSE
users, you can make a quick desktop prep icon to perform this option.
Remember to launch the parameter as root!
Cheers,
W!ll
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