Mike Southby

Linux Mint 8 has available either ‘out of the box’ or from the repository, almost any software you could possibly imagine.  Just as with Ubuntu however there is one glaring omission (although we will let the development guys off as no doubt this is owing to legalities of licensing), and that is the ability to natively play a standard DVD.  This needn’t be a huge problem however as unlike when using a Microsoft OS, you do not need to purchase a codec to enable this feature, it just needs a few lines of code to be entered to acquire the needed codecs.

To play a DVD on Linux Mint, you will need to install libdvdcss2.  In Linux Mint 8 just as with previous versions and Ubuntu, there is no need to manually configure the repository, all you need do is the following:

• Open a Terminal Window (Menu > Terminal) and type the following:
  sudo apt-get install libdvdread4
• Next type the following:
  sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

Once you have done that, next time you insert a DVD you should get the option to auto run with MPlayer Media Player.  Enjoy.

*Note:  The above proceedure is also the same to enable DVD playback in Ubuntu 9.10, although Terminal can be found in by clicking Menu > Applications > Accessories > Terminal*

Ubuntu is a great OS.  Almost anything you could possibly need in terms of software is available ‘out of the box’, there are of course a few noteworthy exceptions; one of which is DVD playback support.  However, unlike Microsoft Windows it isn’t a huge problem to fix and there is no need to part with any money to purchase codecs.

To play DVDs on Ubuntu you need to install libdvdcss2.  In Ubuntu 9.10 just like in previous versions, there is no need to manually configure the the Medibuntu repository.  All you need to do is the following:

• Open a Terminal window (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and type the following:
  sudo apt-get install libdvdread4
• Next type the following:
  sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

Thats it, it’s really that easy!

Next time you mount a DVD, it’ll play back in the native Movie Player.

Enjoy.