Cannot copy/play .dat file (video file)

[Mojak]

I have an HP Vectra that cannot play or even copy to hard drive the .dat (video file. The small files on the same cd can be copied. I tried to copy/play from another pc and it works. I am using Win95.

What I tried....

1. download the latest windows media player and other old and new cd player software.
1. enable/disable dma.
2. bios config for the cdrom.
3. replace cd rom.

Help please!! thanks!!

 

[joegz]

Can you provide a little more information about what error message you are getting when you try to copy the file or play the file?

I was thinking that you perhaps did not have the correct CODEC but if you can't even copy the file then perhaps not.

 

[reghakr]

Mojak,

Very simply, it could be corrupted.

can you put it in another computer and test it there?
Must be some movie! How big is big?

reghakr

 

[Mojak]

joegz,

"cannot copy from source" is the error message, but other pc with the same specs can read it.

reghakr,

it is not corrupted I can play it in other machines, size is around 1.8 Mb

i think it is a virus problem.

thanks guys,

Mojak

 

[sripada]

Hi Mojak
I think you are having the same problem i had some time back
the problem was that i had rented a cd which when opened in windows media player used to give me errors.
The solution to this what i found was the tool called CDWIZARD(Power DVD) its a kind of software which can recognize and play anything from the CD its from

http://www.gocyberlink.com/

Regards
Sripada

 

[Eagle37]

Hello there

Did anyone actually find a solution to this problem? I have what appears to be the same problem, on at least 2 different models of PC (IBM 6287 & Compaq DeskPro P3-667) with Windows 98. The files in question are MPEG video (marketing advertisements or product demonstrations), consisting of a .DAT file in a MPEGAV folder on the CDROM. Some can be played with any MPEG player, others need Xing or Lalim to play. These PCs used to play these CDs fine, but somewhere along the line something has interfered (I thought possibly a Windows update?) - now my "image file" for the 6287 carries this problem, so I'm trying to nail the problem on my DeskPro first.

These CDs play fine on other PCs (we have various models of IBM & Compaq desktops, plus Compaq, Dell, IBM & Toshiba notebooks). When I try to play the CD on the problem PC, I get the error "The file format is not supported". If I try to "copy" the DAT file from the CD with this PC, I get the error "Cannot read from the source file or disk", although other files copy off ok.

However, if I copy the file from the CD with another PC onto a "shared drive" on the network, I can then play the DAT file properly on the problem PC. So it seems to be related to the handling of .DAT files read from CDROM (if I create a .DAT file on a floppy-disk, it reads & copies ok).

By default, .DAT files are handled as text files, hence the need for particular MPEG players in this case. Changing the definition in the registry doesn't change the problem. Cyberlink PowerDVD doesn't handle it either.

Any clues?

Thanks & regards
Alistair

 

[cdogg]

Just out of curiosity, is the CD you were using CD-RW, CD-R, or store bought? It sounds like the CDROM drive on the problem pc is the problem, since you can play it from a shared drive. We at least know it's not a software problem.

If you are using a CD-RW, then chances are the laser on the CDROM drive was not specifically designed to read that kind of disk. It may work intermittently and some disks might work fine, but if the file is large, then the laser probably can't handle the continuous flow...


~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[Eagle37]

Hi CDogg

Good q. A: The CDs are CD-R (copied for distribution to customers). My PC (the DeskPro) has both a CD-Player & an internal CD-Writer, the 6287s have CD-Players, one has an external CD-Writer - the results are the same whichever drive we use.

Regards,
Alistair

 

[cdogg]

The only "other" thing I can think of is a resource problem. Do you have DMA selected for the CDROM drive(s) you are using? Without DMA, the CDROM is forced to go through the CPU to access RAM. This, of course slows the process and quite possibly is causing the pc to lose too many resources killing the process altogether.

Also, were the problem pc's ever upgraded (i.e Win95 to Win98, etc)? Have you tried just using Media Player, and if so, what version? I never have a problem using just WMP 7.1 in Win98. DAT files from VCD's are in basic MPEG-1 format. You shouldn't have to use Xing or Lalim to read them...


~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[Eagle37]

DMA for the CD drives is enabled (in Device Manager). The PCs were loaded fresh with W98, not upgraded.

You're right, Media Player can play these DAT files, but because it doesn't recognise them as media files, you have to manually browse to the file + select to view "All files", which is too tedious for the average user. Other dedicated VCD players I've tried don't have this browse facility, & only a few such as Xing would automatically find the DAT file in the MPEGAV folder.

Regards,
Alistair

 

[cdogg]

So, you are able to use WMP to play the DAT files directly from the CD? If so, then the problem you originally mentioned is not a hardware problem.

Also, you could "associate" the DAT extension to WMP, so that the average user can browse to the MPEGAV folder using explorer or a shortcut, then simply double-click the DAT file. With the association, it will open automatically into WMP.

Just an idea! Looks like you've got this one pinned down...



~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[Eagle37]

Sorry, it's not pinned down yet - to clarify: I can use WMP to play these files on other PCs, but not on the problem PCs.