I'm a little confused about this whole codec and decoder issue. I just want to be able to watch DVD's on my Windows Media Player 11. But I have Vista Basic x64 and it supposedly does not come with an MPEG-2 decoder.

So I did some Google searching and was to Elecard Software. But I couldn't see an MPEG-2 decoder that works with Vista x64. Unless the one listed, that says it works on XP, also works on Vista. I did find a free Cyberlink MPEG-2 decoder from Softpedia.com: Download Stinky's MPEG-2 Codec 1.2.0.79 - Stinky's MPEG-2 Codec will allow you to open MPEG-2 files in TMPGEnc and in MS Media Player, plus a host of other programs - Softpedia

The decoder did work and I was able to play my DVD but I had no sound. After that, I did a little research and found that I might need something called an AC3 Filter, which I understand is needed to play sound on certain DVD's and players. Would you concur with that?

Also I have heard that I should stay away from those all-in-one codec packages, as they can cause more trouble than they're worth. I would rather do that too, if I can, I've seen the breakdown of codecs that get installed, and I just don't think that I need or want them all, gunking things up.

Any other help would be surely appreciated.
Jan LaFata