DVD-player problems

[Kaj]

On my search for this problem, I noticed that most of the topics regarding DVD-playback were placed in MH, so here goes.

I tried to play a DVD last night, but when I start the Matrox DVD-player, it gives me a message that: "Another application is preventing DVD-playback"
That's all. Nothing about which application, let alone what I can do about it.
The programs that run in the background are:
The Alcatel ADSL-software for my USB-modem
Norton AV 2000
Powerdesk 6.51.014
PowerChute Plus (UPS monitoring software)
ZoneAlarm (firewall)
PlexTools

The displaydriver has version 4.12.01
Didn't felt the need to get a newer version, since it worked properly, and I find it hard to believe that DVD-playback suddenly stops because I've got an older driver.
I've got serveral DivX-codecs installed.
The problem is: It's been a while since I played a DVD, and a few things changed on my system, so basically the only thing that I can do is re-install Windows 98SE to make sure it works again, but that's one option I want to delay as long as possible, since it will cost me at least a day to make a proper setup.
The DVD-player is an A-Open 9624, slaved on the secundary IDE-channel.
I tried PowerDVD but I can't get the subtitles to work, which is fairly important since my Japanse isn't up to speed yet.
Has anyone of you a solution to this problem?
Thank you.

[Kaj]

little update

Last night, I made a clean installation of Windows, installed the nescessary updates and drivers: same Powerdesk/MGA-drivers version, Dx8, VIA USB-filter, VIA 4in1, and the same driverpackage I used in the last installation when de DVD-software worked properly. (basic drivers for the Live!1024, basic drivers for the SCSI-interfaces)
The software I installed so far: ZoneAlarm, WMP6.4, Norton AV2k and the DVD-player.
I left PlexTools, Office2k and Photoshop out, as well as the DivX-codecs.

But the problem stays.

My system consists of an Abit KT7/AMD TB800/512MB RAM-combo, two DawiContol SCSI-interfaces, a SB Live!1024, a G400max, 6 harddisks (3 SCSI, 3 IDE; the system boots from IDE), the A-Open 9624 (IDE), a PlexWriter W1210S, a Teac CDr55s and a HP 32x CD-ROMplayer, and an iiyama A201HT.

[windigo]

what helped me some of the time is to turn the auto cd off in windows and then start the matrox dvd player, insert the dvd and let matrox dvd find it plus it prefers it if the dvd is set as d:
hope this helps
p.s. try ctrl-alt-del (not twice and nuking everything that isnt essential basically leave explorer and systray there

[Kaj]

Well.. it works

Don't know what the heck was going on, but I re-reinstalled Windows yesterday, put the usual driverpackage in, but left Dx8 out, running it with Dx6.1 right now...
I didn't install the DivX-codec yet though, I wanted to see if the whole combination stays stable. Damn KT133 chipset.
When it works, it works, but beware if you leave one tiny driver out or install them in the wrong order.
Tonight, the mailservices are going in, and the codecs... hope the DVD stays functional.
Enjoyed watching the first 6 episodes of Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 in Japanese with English subtitles last night.

Strange thing is: in my last setup, I had Dx8 installed as well, and everything worked like clockwork, but "suddenly" not anymore. Maybe it was Sasami that stirred up some things, I don't know.