Free Blu-ray software player

fozmcfc

Is there a player that can play blu-ray discs on a PC that is free? Not talking about blu-ray rips, talking actually blu-ray disks.

I think it is disappointing that Windows Media Center/Player, will not play them. Is there a way of forcing them to play them, like you can get it to play video formats it doesn't support by downloading the CCCP project codecs.

Cheers

marcowil

If your PC has a blu-ray drive then the software should have come with the PC. If the software has been removed you should be able to download it from your PC manufacturers support site. If the PC doesn't have a blu-ray drive fitted then you wont be able to play the discs even with software downloaded

JasX

If you have got a blu-ray drive without software you'll need to buy software to play blu-rays, there isn;t a current free offering I'm aware of or likely to be for some time

PowerDVD is one mainstream/popular option, if you're on windows 7 you'll need PowerDVD version 8 or higher

fozmcfc

Ok thanks guys.

My PC does have a blu-ray drive, which I bought 18 months ago and it came with Power DVD. I have upgraded to Windows 7 since.

Also the Power DVD was some sort of light edition, with limited options. What in particular is aggrevating is that despite the fact I run at full HD resolution, Power DVD seems to only be able to play them in a letterbox with the cinema type black bar at the top and bottom of the picture.

weegie.geek

It's all about aspect ratio.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_%28image%29

Most blurays are in the original aspect ratio. You screen is nowhere near as wide as cinema screens. The black bars are meant to be there, or it'd be stretched, or you'd be missing the sides of the picture.