Just need to play a DVD? Try GEEXBOX (google.com) You boot that minidisc and then it ejects and you put in your DVD.
As to your documents, my prediction is they'll vanish soon. You seen to be lacking a backup system.
Bob
Every media player I have on my laptop crashes after playing only a second of the dvd. the disc works on my desktop perfectly. I cannot do a system restore because this function is disabled by my company's IT dept. I checked with them and they said that they didn't touch the dvd functions and that it should work fine, but i wanted to check here before leaving it with them because they send the laptops out to dell and that takes over a month to fix and they almost always just replace the laptop, thus erasing all my documents and music and such. Please someone help me out!
Specs::
Dell inspiron 2650
intel p4m @ 1.70 ghz
512 mb Ram
WinXP home SP2

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