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Asked: 2024-09-27T05:27:29+05:30 In:

I’m having trouble getting VLC to play DVDs on my Ubuntu 20.10 system. I’ve tried to install libdvd-pkg, but it seems like I’m running into issues. Can anyone provide guidance on how to resolve this situation or suggest an alternative solution?

I’ve been wrestling with VLC on my Ubuntu 20.10 setup lately, and it’s driving me a bit crazy! I was so excited to revisit some old DVDs, but no matter what I try, VLC just refuses to cooperate. I really thought it would be straightforward, but here I am, stuck in this endless loop of troubleshooting.

So, I went ahead and installed `libdvd-pkg`, thinking that would be my golden ticket, right? I followed the steps to install it, ran the configuration, and everything seemed normal. But for some reason, when I pop in a DVD, all I get is a spinning wheel of disappointment. Sometimes, VLC will just freeze, and other times, it throws up an error message that I can’t decipher.

I’ve searched online, and it looks like a lot of folks have shared similar frustrations with getting DVDs to play on Ubuntu systems. I tried a few other commands in the terminal that were suggested in forums, but nothing seems to work. I even attempted to update VLC to the latest version—I figured maybe a new version would do the trick, but no luck there either.

Honestly, I’m at my wit’s end. I’ve heard there might be additional libraries or packages I need to install to actually get this working. Does anyone have experience with this? I would really appreciate some clear, step-by-step guidance or maybe even some alternative solutions if you’ve found something that works better.

And come to think of it, are there specific settings I should check inside VLC’s preferences? I want to make sure I’m not overlooking something super obvious. It’s been a while since I’ve tried playing DVDs on Linux, and I’m not sure if there’s something quirky about the setup that I’m missing.

If anyone can throw some light on this, I’d be really grateful. I just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy my old classics without having to jump through hoops. Any help would be a lifesaver!

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    2 Answers



    1. VLC DVD Playback Issues on Ubuntu

      Dealing with VLC DVD Playback Woes

      It sounds super frustrating trying to get VLC to play DVDs on your Ubuntu setup! First off, you’re definitely not alone in this—it can be a bit of a hassle. Here are some steps you might want to try out that could help you get those DVDs spinning:

      1. Ensure `libdvd-pkg` is Configured Properly

      Since you’ve already installed `libdvd-pkg`, double-check to make sure it’s configured correctly. Try rerunning the configuration with: 

      sudo dpkg-reconfigure libdvd-pkg

      This command should reconfigure the library and might just do the trick. After that, make sure to restart VLC.

      2. Check for Additional Libraries

      It could also be helpful to install a couple more libraries that can assist with DVD playback. You can install them using the terminal with the following commands: 

      sudo apt install libdvdcss2 libdvdnav4 libdvdread4

      3. Change VLC Preferences

      Open VLC and go to Tools > Preferences. In the Input / Codecs section, make sure the following settings are set:

      • DVD as the input type.
      • Check if the proper “Video Output” module is selected. Sometimes changing it can help (like switching from “Automatic” to “X11 video output” or “OpenGL video output”).

      4. Test with Another Media Player

      If VLC still refuses to cooperate, you could give another media player a shot—like SMPlayer or MPV. Sometimes, switching it up can save the day!

      5. Run From the Terminal

      You can also try running VLC from the terminal to see if it throws any error messages that might give a clue about what’s going wrong. Just type: 

      vlc

      Wrap Up

      Hopefully, one of these steps helps you get those classic DVDs playing! Don’t hesitate to ask for more help if you’re still stuck—it’s all part of the fun of figuring this stuff out on Linux!



    2. To start troubleshooting VLC on Ubuntu for DVD playback, ensure that you’ve installed the necessary libraries. Since you’ve already installed `libdvd-pkg`, you should also check if you have `libdvdcss2` installed, as this is crucial for decrypting DVDs. You can install it by running the command sudo apt install libdvdcss2. After installing, make sure to reconfigure `libdvd-pkg` by executing sudo /usr/share/libdvd-pkg/reconfigure, which will prepare the libraries for usage. It might also help to ensure that your DVD drive is recognized by the system by testing with other software or checking if the drive is accessible under /dev/dvd or /dev/sr0.

      In VLC, you can double-check your settings to ensure nothing is amiss. Open VLC and navigate to Tools > Preferences. Under the Input / Codecs tab, make sure the “Skip H.264 intra prediction” option is unchecked, and if you’re facing performance issues, try enabling hardware-accelerated decoding. If issues persist, you may want to clear VLC’s preferences by going to Tools > Preferences again, clicking Reset Preferences, and then restarting VLC. Additionally, check your terminal for any error messages when you try to play the DVD, as they can provide clues to what might be going wrong. If the problem continues even after following these steps, consider exploring alternative media players such as MPV or Smplayer, which sometimes handle DVD playback better on certain systems.


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