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Using HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD to Watch High-definition DVD Movies (Blu-ray and HD DVD)

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This document applies to HP and Compaq computers with the HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD software and a high-definition DVD drive.
The high-definition DVD format contains updated enhancements and requirements over the DVD format. This document explains how to setup and use HP DVD Play so that you can view high-definition DVD movies.
NOTE:A standard DVD drive cannot play high-definition DVDs.

High-definition DVD overview

High-definition DVD is a new optical disc format. A high-definition DVD can contain much more data per disc. At this time, there are two high-definition disc formats: HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD). In this article, high-definition DVD refers to both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats.
To play an HD DVD, you need hardware and software that support both high-definition video and its copy protection methods. See Requirements to Play high-definition DVDs .
DVD specifications allow video output to only one display at a time. You may have to change your computer main display mode setting. See Set Up for more information.
Also, you must use a digital connection to your display. To view the movie in high-definition resolution you need a high-definition monitor or television (HDTV), which is HDCP-enabled and uses a digital connection (DVI or HDMI) . You may have to change how you connect the computer to your HDTV or monitor. See Set Up for more information.
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Requirements to play high-definition DVDs

The requirements to play a high-definition DVD disc and view it in high-definition format include:
  • The high-definition DVD disc.
  • The computer, with a drive to play the high-definition DVD disc and software that supports high-definition DVD.
  • A digital connection between the computer/high-definition DVD player and the high-definition monitor or television.
  • A high-definition monitor or television.
  • Copy protection support in the software and the hardware
Equipment and connection:
  • Computer: The speed and performance of the computer must be equivalent to or greater than the processors listed in the table that follows. Some high-definition DVD titles may require higher CPU (processor) speeds. The memory must be 512 MB of RAM, but 1 GB of RAM or more ensures smooth playback of high-definition DVD titles. The operating system must be Windows XP SP2 or higher. Also, the video card and driver must be HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection)-compliant.
    Intel ProcessorAMD Processor
    Pentium EE 840 (3.2 G), 935 (3.4 G)
    Pentium D 9xx series - 945 (3.4 G), 950 (3.4 G), 960 (3.6 G)AMD Athlon 64 X2 - 4200+ (2.2 G), 4400+ (2.2 G), 4600+ (2.4 G), 4800+ (2.4 G), 5000+ (2.6 G)
    Core Duo - T2500 (2 G), T2600 (2.1 G), T2700 (2.33 G)AMD Athlon 64 FX - FX-60 (2.6 G), FX-62 (2.8 G)
    Core 2 Duo - E6300 (1.8 G), E6400 (2.13 G), E6600 (2.4 G), E6700 (2.66 G), X6800 (2.93 G)AMD Turion 64 X2 - TL-60 (2.0 G)
    High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) , a form of digital rights management (DRM), is a copyright protection method to prevent movies from being copied over the audio and video stream (a DVI or HDMI connection). The computer must use a digital connection to the display (monitor or HDTV), such as a DVI or HDMI cable, and the video graphics card and the display must support HDCP.
    The video graphics card must support HDCP and have at least 256 MB RAM, with performance equivalent to or greater than the cards listed in the table that follows.
    NVIDIA Graphics CardATI Graphics Card
    GeForce 7600 GTX1600 series
    GeForce 7800 GTX 512X1800 series
    GeForce 7900 GX2/GTXX1900 series
    GeForce 7950 GX2
  • High-definition DVD drive: The DVD drive must be a high-definition DVD disc drive using a high-definition DVD disc. Only a high-definition DVD drive can play a high-definition DVD disc. The HP BD/HD DVD disc drive is fully backward compatible and capable of playing all of your DVD titles (non-high-definition DVDs play in standard format).
  • Monitor or HDTV: A high-definition monitor or HDTV, which is HDCP-enabled and uses a digital connection (DVI or HDMI), is necessary to view the movie in high-definition resolution.
    You can use an analog connection (VGA) and view the output on an analog display. This arrangement shows the content in standard format, not high-definition format.
    DVD specifications allow video output to only one display at a time. If you have two or more displays connected on the computer, you may have to change your display mode output; see Set Up for more information.
  • Digital connection: The computer to display (monitor or HDTV) connection must use a DVI or HDMI connection to view high-definition content.
Software player (with driver) and Internet connection: The software program and driver to operate the high-definition DVD drive must support Advanced Access Content System (AACS) keys. The AACS keys protect the movie content from decryption (and unauthorized play). Initial setup and viewing of a high-definition DVD movie may not require an update of these keys, but an Internet connection may be needed to obtain or update the AACS keys for a new disc or after the AACS keys expire. Renewal of AACS keys is easily done by opening the software program used to play the high-definition DVD movie while the computer is connected to the Internet.
Disc: The movie disc must be a high-definition DVD to view the content as high-definition. However, the high-definition DVD drive can also play music CDs and standard DVD movie discs.
For more information about high-definition DVD and copy protection, refer to the HP support document About High-Definition DVD .
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Set up

Check each of the following:
  • To view the movie in high-definition resolution, you need a high-definition monitor or HDTV, which is HDCP-enabled and uses a digital connection (DVI or HDMI). You connect your graphic card to the HDCP-compliant display (monitor or HDTV) through a DVI or an HDMI connection. If your computer does not have an HDMI connector, you can use a DVI-to-HDMI converter.
    You can use an analog connection (VGA) and view the output on an analog display. This arrangement shows the content in standard format, not high-definition format.
  • DVD specifications allow video output to only one display at a time. If you use two or more displays on the computer, you may have to change your display mode output:
    • For Windows Vista:
      Right-click on an empty area of the Windows desktop, and then click Personalize . In the Display Properties window, select Display settings tab. Ensure you display video on the number 1 screen.
    • For Windows XP:
      Right-click on an empty area of the Windows desktop, and then click Properties . In the Display Properties window, select Settings tab. Ensure you display video on the number 1 screen. Do not use Extended mode (extend screen space to two different displays) or rotate the display.
  • Change settings as needed in HP DVD Play. See Play Movies Using HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD .
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Playing Movies using HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD

To play a high-definition DVD (Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD), when the computer is on, insert the high-definition DVD disc into the high-definition DVD player, and close the tray. HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD opens and the movie automatically begins playing. (You might have to click the Play button.) See HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD controls for more information about operating the controls. See HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD settings for information about the HD DVD and standard DVD settings.
The first time you use HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD, you are prompted to check for the most recent version of the software. Select Yes to download and install available updates (requires an Internet connection).
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Updating HP DVD Play to play the latest releases

If a specific high-definition DVD title does not play, update the HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD software to allow for changes in the way high-definition DVD is being used by the movie industry. To update the HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD software, complete the following steps.
  1. Connect to the Internet.
  2. Click Start and then click All Programs .
  3. In the program list, find and click DVD Play BD & HD DVD .
    Figure 1: Starting DVD Play
    Starting DVD Play
  4. DVD Play opens and a message might display asking if you want to check for updates. If this happens, click Yes .
    Figure 2: DVD Play update message
    Image of DVD Play update message
    If the message does not display, click the DVD Play icon in the lower left corner of the screen.
  5. If updates are not available, check back periodically until they are available.
    If updates are available, a file download window displays.
    NOTE:If update are available and the file download window does not display, go to the System Tray at the bottom of the screen and click the file download icon .
    Figure 3: HP DVD Play download window
    Image of the HP DVD Play download window
  6. Click Run to start the update.
  7. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the update.
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HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD controls

When HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD opens, you see the video screen and the play controls.
Figure 4: HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD initial screen
Image of the HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD initial screen
Click the button on the right of the controls to hide the play controls; mouse movement shows the controls. For a description of the controls, see HP HD DVD Play BD/HD DVD controls description .
To play a disc , insert a disc or click the Play button (to play a disc currently in the drive).
To play a DVD file from the hard disk drive:
  1. Click the Select Source button.
  2. Select Open DVD file on hard disk drive .
  3. Navigate to the folder that contains your DVD file and click OK . The DVD file begins playback just like a normal DVD title.
To play a video clip on the hard disk drive:
To play a media file:
  1. Click the Select Source button.
  2. Select Open media files .
  3. In the Playlist dialog, navigate to the video clip you want to play. Double-click a video clip to add it into the playlist.
    • Click Move Left and Move Right to reorder the playlist.
    • Click Delete to remove the video clip from the playlist.
  4. Click the Play button to begin the video playback.
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HP HD DVD Play BD/HD DVD controls description

The controls are described in the figure and table that follows.
Figure 5: HP HD DVD Play BD/HD DVD controls
Image of the HP HD DVD Play BD/HD DVD controls
ItemDescription
1RewindRewinds the playback of the DVD. Repeatedly click Rewind to change the rewind speed. Click the Play control to stop rewind.
2Fast-forwardFast-forwards the playback of the DVD. Repeatedly click Fast-forward to change the fast-forward speed. Click the Play control to stop fast-forward.
3PausePauses playback.
4PlayBegins or resumes playback.
5StopStops playback.
6PreviousMoves playback to the beginning of the previous chapter.
7NextMoves playback to the next chapter.
8Select SourceSelects the media source for playback.
9Volume UpIncreases playback volume.
10Volume Bar DisplayDisplays the current volume level.
11Volume DownDecreases playback volume.
12MuteMutes playback volume.
13HelpOpens DVD Play Help.
14EjectEjects the disc.
15MenuDisplays the HD DVD interactive (iHD) menu, if present in the HD DVD.
16Info/More SettingsDisplays the settings menu. See HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD Settings .
17Time elapsed/Chapter/Navigational Slider
  • Left-hand number: Displays time elapsed on an item that is playing.
  • Right-hand numbers: Display the current chapter and total number of chapters.
  • Navigational Slider: Displays the current playback progress.
18More InfoDisplays information about DVD Play Deluxe.

HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD settings

When a disc is playing, click Info/More Settings and HP DVD Play BD/HD DVD automatically displays the settings being used.
When a movie is stopped, click Info/More Settings and select DVD , HD DVD , or BD to view and adjust settings for DVD, HD DVD, or Blue-ray Disc.

Settings for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc movies

Figure 6: More/Info Settings, HD DVD and BD Settings
Image of the More/Info Settings, HD DVD and BD Settings
Many viewing and sound options can be changed through a movie's menu system and not through HD DVD Play BD/HD DVD software. Some high-definition DVD settings that can be changed within the individual high-definition DVD title are disabled in the Info/More Settings display and the options appear blank.
HD DVD SettingDescription
Screen RatioSelects standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) display format.
Display TypeDetermines how movies and videos are converted to fit the screen when they do not match the screen ratio. This setting should match the type of display that the computer is using. The changes take effect once playback of the movie is restarted.
Color ProfileDisabled during playback.
Speaker OutputSelects the number of speakers and the device for playback.
Audio ModeSelects the audio method to use for your computer. Keep the following tips in mind when selecting a mode:

  • When in PiP mode, SPDIF mode only outputs the main video's audio stream in its compatible format. The smaller view will not output audio.
  • Selecting SPDIF (Mixing mode(DTS)) will enable the mixing of the main audio and sub audio streams.
    NOTE:The output stream for SPDIF (Mixing mode(DTS) is in DTS surround format and therefore demands a high CPU requirement that may effect playback performance.
SubtitleDisabled during playback.
LanguageDisabled during playback.
Closed CaptionsDisabled during playback.
DVD AngleDisabled during playback.
Auto ResumeDisabled during playback.
Twin FormatSelects playback of the high-definition DVD or the DVD stream on the high-definition DVD title.
Parental ControlAllows you to set the parental control levels based on the high-definition DVD classification rating. For example, you can prohibit any high-definition DVD title with a rating above computer-13 to be played.
Larger Font SizeSelecting this option will enable a larger font size in subtitles displayed during playback.
Convert ResolutionIf the playback of a high-definition DVD title is jerky, selecting On reduces the picture resolution and may create a smoother viewing experience.
UpdateChecks for DVD Play updates.
Interlaced ContentIf experience problems with playback of interlaced content, select On to resolve the problems. This setting cannot be changed during playback. Selecting On may cause the monitor to flicker once.
AboutProvides DVD Play version information.

Settings for DVD movies

Figure 7: More/Info Settings, DVD Settings
Image of the More/Info Settings, DVD Settings
DVD SettingDescription
Screen RatioSelects standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) display format.
Display TypeDetermines how movies and videos are converted to fit the screen when they do not match the screen ratio. This setting should match the type of display that the computer is using. The changes take effect once playback of the movie is restarted.
Color ProfileChanges the overall color scheme of video content during playback.
Speaker OutputSelects the number of speakers and the device for playback.
Audio ModeDetermines the special process used on the audio signal.
SubtitleSelects the default subtitle language, when available. Title Default uses the original language of the disc you are watching.
LanguageSelects the default language for the movie's audio track.
RepeatRepeatedly play back an entire title or chapter. Select Title to repeat the entire DVD title; select Chapter to repeat the chapter you are watching.
Dynamic Range CompressionOffers options for different listening environments.
Closed CaptionsDetermines the location of the closed captioning function. When the option is set to Normal , closed captions appear across the bottom of the screen. When set to Elevated , closed captions appear across the top of the screen.
DVD AngleSome DVDs include multiple angles to allow you to view the DVD from a different perspective. When multiple angles are available, DVD Angle allows you to choose the desired angle.
Auto ResumeSetting Auto resume starts the movie where it was last stopped if the movie was previously viewed.
AboutProvides DVD Play version information.
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