DVD based program does not execute??

[PROFESSORSPARKIE]

I don’t see any other problems like mine so here goes - my old(5yr) system died. I just purchased a new(refurbished) Dell Intel-4 XP Pro system with 3gig memory huge disk and a DVD+_CD-RW drive.

It works OK but I am experiencing an odd problem. I purchase a “Utilities” tool magazine at Micro Center with a menu driven DVD full of software. The disk is recognized, files are shown and can be copied to my drives but the menu browser part does not execute. I double click and it just acts like I did nothing. As I said it is identifiable & searchable with Windows Explored but not executable.

I take the same DVD to my laptop, my office computer or a classroom computer and the menu system works ok. I have odd problems with other DVDs also, like a program executes but not like it did on the previous computer. Example: I installed the software for my scanner just like I did before and it goes through the install, says it is finnished and can not be found. It is as though I just can’t execute certain programs. I suspect a “common thread to his set of problems.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Computer thought: I teach a lot of programming so I can learn. You can never learn it all.

 

[linney]

See if you can get any more success if you boot your machine into "Safe Mode with Networking". Have you tried a different user from Normal Mode?

Are there any errors concerning your DVD mentioned in the Event Viewer?

See if altering this setting makes any difference?
IE/ Tools/ Internet Options/ Advanced/ Settings/ Security
"Allow active content from CD's to run on my computer"

How to reset security settings back to the defaults

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313222#appliesto

 

[PRPhx]

Can you swap the dvd player from another machine and see what happens. And try putting the troubled dvd player in another pc, use the same software and see what happens. Could be the drive is having a problem, a cable is having a problem, the dvd itself doesn't like the drive, etc.

 

[genomon]

Not too likely, but have you tried running the DVD with your antivirus software disabled?

Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Me neither.

 

[PROFESSORSPARKIE]

I have run the DVD on other systems. On my home system it is recognized, I can copy files from the DVD to a hard drive both & without AVG(virus+ checking) running. The auto start program just will not run on my home system from the DVD or hard drive. It runs other systems. My problem seems to have changed from just DVD to "how can an .exe program be ignored with out a message" on my home system. Even if I specifically double click on the .exe icon itself.

Other DVD software disks seems to run or try to run on my home system.

I solve the problem, by getting the desired .zip programs off the DVD at work and bring it home to install or going to google & looking up the tool's home page and downloading to run.

My main question is "what is so pecular about this situation".

Thanks in advance for any help.

professorsparkie

Computer thought: I teach a lot of programming so I can learn. You can never learn it all.