VLC won't run DVDs

Solution 1:

These steps worked for me on a fresh install of Ubuntu 13.10:

Read through the steps fully before you start.

1. Make sure your entire os system is up to date with ubuntu software updater.

2. Install vlc:

   sudo apt-get install vlc
   

3. Route around "broke on purpose" system damage to the internet by trolls.

   sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
   sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2 libdvdnav4 libdvdread4
   sudo apt-get install libavformat-extra-53 libavcodec-extra-53 libdvdread4
   sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
   

4. Restart the computer.

5. Run VLC.

6. Right click the screen "Open Media" -> "Open Disc".

7. Select the DVD radio bubble. To ensure you have the right path to your DVD you may have to reset it. Click "Browse" to the left of 'Disc Device' field. In the chooser window double click "DVD" on the left pane.

8. Press Play.

9. The DVD menu comes up and I can click on the screen to navigate the menus and play the DVD.

Remember... A lot of really smart people are working VERY hard day and night to make what I've listed above inoperable or impossible. Trillions of dollars weigh in that balance. The game is afoot, make your time.

Solution 2:

I had the same issue after installing all needed codecs. I found that I needed to add the symbolic link to the DVD

sudo ln -s /dev/sr0 /dev/dvd

Solution 3:

Try entering these three commands: (to see if any of it is missing)

sudo apt-get -y install w32codecs ubuntu-restricted-extras

sudo apt-get -y install libdvdcss2 libdvdnav4 libdvdread4

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

UPDATE

If you don't already have Medibuntu (Ubuntu Media extras), then add that first:

Add repository

sudo wget --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list && sudo apt-get --quiet update (all on one line)

Add repository key

sudo apt-get --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring

Update packages

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get -y upgrade

Update Software Center (with new media-apps)

sudo update-apt-xapian-index (this may take 40+ seconds)