XP not playing DVD

[msmyk2]

It's 2014 and XP is almost gone, but for some this case may still be useful.
XP, all latest updates, stopped playing DVD's after updating to WMP 11. (not 100% sure, unfortunately old dvd disc + old player worked, now new dvd disc + new WMP11 didn't).
Installing Media Player Classic - Home Cinema and trying all renderers didn't work. But installing VLC did. Once the DVD main menu is shown on the VLC, Media Player Classic starts to miraculously play the DVD too. Untill restart.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Actually, Windows XP has never been able to play DVDs natively in any version of WMP that runs on XP. You have to install a third-party DVD player software, then you have the choice of playing a DVD in the third-party player or with WMP (any version that runs on XP).

As VLC includes a DVD movie decoder, it can play DVDs itself, so use that. You don't need Media Player Classic for that, in fact if you've got VLC installed it's pointless having Media Player Classic installed at all, since VLC can play many more file types than classic can.