TITLE
    Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White): Apple DVD Player Cannot Open
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		30887
1/13/99
10/12/00
TOPIC

    I just received my Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White), and when I try to launch Apple DVD Player from the Apple menu, I get the following error message:

    "Apple DVD Player can not open because the required hardware was not found. If you have another application open that uses sound or video, quit that application and open Apple DVD Player again. If you are using a PowerBook, make sure your PC card is installed in the bottom slot. (216)."

    The only option is to Quit.

DISCUSSION

    This error message is expected behaviour if either the DVD drive or the decoder card (for decoding MPEG-2 and AC-3 data) are not present. If the Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) was purchased from Apple, either as a standard configuration or Build-To-Order, with a DVD drive as part of the configuration, the decoder card would be included by default (present as a daughtercard on the ATI Rage 128 video card).

    Is the Appropriate Hardware Present?
    In order to play a DVD movie, a computer must have a DVD-ROM drive and a DVD Decoder card installed. Typically, the presence of a DVD-ROM drive can be determined by looking at the label on the tray which a DVD/CD would sit in. If the drive is DVD capable, you will see DVD stenciled on the tray.

    To determine the presence of a DVD-Decoder in your Power Macintosh G3, use the Apple System Profiler version 2.1 or greater. Specific information for the different Power Macintosh G3 series computers follows. If you are running Mac OS 8.1, you will need to download an updated version of the Apple System Profiler from the Apple Software Updates Web site at http://www.apple.com/swupdates .

    Power Macintosh G3 (Platinum) : Open the Apple System Profiler. Under the System Profile tab, click the triangle to expand the Hardware Overview information. Under this heading you will see either Personality Card or an Attributes topic with a description of the card next to it. If it's a DVD card, it will say "Apple Audio/Video DVD Card." If it does, the DVD Decoder is installed.

    Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) : Version 2.2 of the Apple System Profiler, which is included with Mac OS 8.6, can be used to determine if the DVD Decoder is installed in the G3 Blue and White. Open the Apple System Profiler. Under the System Profile tab, click the triangle to expand the Hardware Overview information. Under this heading you will see the Attributes topic, with the wording "DVD decoder present". If you are running Mac OS 8.5.1, you will have to visually identify whether the DVD decoder is installed. This can be done by opening the side door on the computer and looking to see if there is a small daughter card attached to the video card. The daughter card is the DVD decoder, and if it is present we will assume that it is available for use.

    Are the Appropriate Software Components Installed and Active?
    The Power Macintosh G3 requires that the following extensions be present and active in order to view a DVD Movie:

    • Apple CD/DVD Driver
    • ATI Driver Update
    • ATI MPP Manager
    • ATI Resource Manager
    • DVD Decoder Library
    • DVD Region Manager
    • QuickTime
    • QuickTime PowerPlug
    • UDF Volume Access
    • Video Startup

    The Extensions Manager can be used to create a minimal extensions set in order to view DVD Movies. Refer to article 30929: " Mac OS 8.x: Extensions Troubleshooting/Extensions Manager Features " if assistance is required in creating a custom set within the Extensions Manager.

    If a DVD drive is present and this error message persists:

    1. Clean the disc with a soft, lint-free cloth.

    2. Turn off AppleTalk in the AppleTalk control panel or the Chooser.

    3. Quit out of all open applications and attempt to launch Apple DVD Player again.

    4. If the error message persists, restart the computer and attempt to launch Apple DVD Player again.

    5. Have you selected a remote volume to auto-mount on startup? If so, use the Chooser to navigate to that volume by logging on to the file server, and when presented with the list of volumes on that server, deselect the checkbox next to the volume name. Repeat this step for all volumes set to auto-mount on startup. Restart the computer, and attempt to launch Apple DVD Player again. For more information on this topic, please see article 30970: " Apple DVD Player: Conflict If Servers Mounted at Startup. "

    6. If the error message persists, check to see if QuickTime 4 is installed. If it is, make sure that either the Full or Custom install has been performed. See article 58381: " QuickTime 4: Common Issues After a Basic Install ", for additional information.

    7. If the error message persists:
      - Go into the Extensions Manager control panel (under Apple Menu->Control Panels).
      - Go to View menu and choose View...as Packages.
      - Go to the Selected Set pull-down menu, choose Mac OS 8.5 All. On the lower right side of the control panel there is a button saying "Duplicate set." Click on it; name the duplicate set "DVD."
      - Scroll through the packages listed, and click once in the box to the left of Power Macintosh G3 2.0, turning the entire package on. Do the same for the packages ATI Multimedia Component and Apple DVD Software 1.1.
      - On the lower left side of the control panel is a button saying "Restart." Click on it.
      - If the issue is resolved, troubleshoot the issue by identifying the extension causing the conflict.

    8. If the issue is not resolved by setting extensions to Mac OS 8.5 All + Power Macintosh G3 2.0 [package], delete the Apple DVD Player preferences. They are in the System Folder in a folder named Preferences. Then restart the machine.

    9. If the error persists, reinstall the Apple DVD Player application from the software CD that came with your Power Macintosh G3. The DVD Player does not have a seperate installer on the CD. Delete the folder conatining the Apple DVD Player application (in the Applications folder), and from the CD window, open Apple Software Restore. Select the option for Restore in Place.

    10. If Speech Recognition is installed and listening is turned on, Speech Recognition will take control of the sound input source. To properly play the DVD movie, turn off Speakable Items.

    11. Lastly, there may be difficulties with the System file or another file in the System Folder. Use your system CD to perform a clean install of the system software. You can find the clean install option by clicking the Options button in the Installer.

    For more information on how to perform a clean install, see article 58176: " Mac OS 8.5/8.6: Performing A Clean Install "

    For more information on how to troubleshoot an extension conflict, go to the Help menu (when in the Finder) and open Mac OS Help. Search for information on Resolving Extension Conflicts.

Document Information
Product Area: Computers
Category: Power Macintosh
Sub Category: Power Macintosh G3 - Blue and White

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