Windows 7 Media player will not play back BluRay disc's

Anonymous
2009-10-25T16:16:04+00:00

I just installed Windows 7 premium home,full retail 64 bit version. I was surprised to find media player does not support BluRay playback. I read the previous post in this forum and see, as far back as May, that Microsoft was aware of the codec issues with BluRay playback on Win. 7

What is Microsoft doing to solve this glaring issue. BluRay has been around for a long time and I'm sure thousands of Windows 7 customers are going to be in the same boat as me. There are NO codec available through a Google search ( 64 bit) and I would be very reluctant to use one off the internet anyway (Virus issues)

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2009-10-28T13:18:41+00:00

Hi Patrick,

As we know that Blu-Ray is a patented technology so it requires appropriate codecs to be purchased and hence we cannot include it in our Operating System.

To play a Blu-ray Disc, you need to use a non-Microsoft program that supports Blu-ray playback and a device capable of reading Blu-ray Discs.

Check the below link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/MPEG-and-DVD-video-frequently-asked-questions

Hope this information is useful.

Amrita M

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-08T18:45:50+00:00

    As Forrest Gump said "Stupid is as stupid does." Why can't you understand it is protected by a PATENT. They cannot include something in their software that isn't theirs to sell you. If you really want to watch your Blu Ray discs then BUY A PROGRAM stupid!

    They'd need a license just like the "PROGRAM" you mentioned and just like the desktop blu-ray players. You can buy a blu-ray player for £50 probably £20 if you want to buy cheap, and that is end consumer price - not how much the manufacturer pays for licensing. With Microsoft's purchasing power in the industry they could easily afford to bring you intrinsic Windows 7 blu-ray for pennies. There are clearly other reasons that Microsoft has decided not to include blu-ray ability as standard.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-08T03:14:39+00:00

    Amrita

                                  So let me get this straight.  Microsoft chose not to support BluRay playback, by design.  And your advise, as a Microsoft rep., is to get third party software, which Microsoft does not recommend ?     I am more than a little surprised by your answer.   Why has Microsoft, by design, not supported BluRay playback.

    Please don't say because of codecs, that is not an answer. It is well within Microsoft capabilities to come up with codecs that will allow Windows 7 to play back BluRay.  I don't think I need to tell you that there are hundreds of thousands of people who will be affected by my problem and it deserves a better answer than what you have given me.

     

    I'm betting it's because Microsoft backed the HD-DVD (Blu-ray's competing format).

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-09-08T14:45:27+00:00

    This articles goes into detail on how you can get windows media player to play bluray content:

    How to Play Blu-Ray Discs in Windows Media Player

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-09-05T19:07:14+00:00

    Ok everyone! Here is the best solution I have found. Head over to CNET and download the Media Payer Codec Pack. It's a program that runs in the background and allows playback of Blu-Ray discs and other media formats:

    http://download.cnet.com/windows/media-player-codec-pack/3260-20_4-6300577.html

    Alternately, you can head over directly to the provider's website:

    http://www.mediaplayercodecpack.com/

    Either way, upon download, you may be faced with a warning from your antivirus software. Be confident in your installation, as CNET content is trusted. Be sure to click on the advanced installation option and decline the offer for the internet spam bar.

    Upon installation, a light weight program runs in the background and allows you to play Blu-Ray discs "natively" in Windows Media Player. Support may be limited, however, as I have not been able to play a Blu-Ray disc in Windows Media Center. Your results may vary. Try for yourself.

    Best of all, the cost is free!

    You're welcome.

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