Video playback in WinDVD drops frames every 1-4 seconds, then catches up. During video playback, the DVD-ROM drive can be heard spinning up and down.

The above symptom may occur on the following systems and configured with WinDVD 5 or 8:

• ThinkStation: All Machine Types
• ThinkCentre: All Machine Types
• Lenovo 3000: All Machine Types

Applies to:

• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Set the idle timer to a higher value. This timer is controlled by adjusting the registry key:

For WinDVD 5:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intervideo\WinDVD4, value SilentMode.

For WinDVD 8:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intervideo\DVD8, value SilentMode.

SilentMode is a DWORD value that counts how many 1/10 of a second before the drive goes idle. Setting SilentMode value to hexadecimal 30 or higher prevents the DVD-ROM cycling problem if it occurs.

The system is configured with WinDVD 5.

WinDVD 5 & 8 sets the DVD-ROM idle timer to a short time so that playback can be quieter and save energy.

Certain combinations of drive and system go into a fast loop of the DVD-ROM going from idle to full speed and back. The drive will sleep momentarily, spin up to full speed for a second, then sleep again. Not all drives can spin up quickly enough to keep the DVD player supplied with data, so frames drop. Some drives make a loud noise as they spin up and down.

This behavior is a coincidence of the drive model, the system memory configuration, the system processor speed, the DVD being played, and program memory usage. Similar systems may not all reproduce the cycling behavior. The behavior may to be confined to only certain discs, or only certain drives.