One of the new changes that Microsoft is introducing to it's upcoming operating system is that Windows Media Center will only be available as an upgrade. Microsoft said that Media Center would be an add-on (rather than a distinct release), and would only work with the Pro release.

"Given the changing landscape, the cost of decoder licensing, and the importance of a straight forward edition plan, we've decided to make Windows Media Center available to Windows 8 customers via the Add Features to Windows 8 control panel (formerly known as Windows Anytime Upgrade)," Microsoft wrote in a blog post today. "Windows Media Player will continue to be available in all editions, but without DVD playback support."

More (http://www.forumswindows8.com/info/windows-8-won-t-include-media-center-automatically-264.html)

Are there free alternatives to have DVD playback support? If so, is the free VLC Media Player one of them?

Cat

I use Media Player Classic Media Player Classic - Home Cinema - Video Player (http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/) I always use that and almost never used Windows Media Player.
Joe

Thanks Joe! I just installed it successfully. At first, it showed an update was needed, but on the second time, there wasn't a warning.

Cat

I use Media Player Classic .... I always use that and almost never used Windows Media Player.
Joe

Yeah.. you're right .. Me too never use WMP for DVD playback.. but Media Player Classic always works for me :)

By the time it's said & done, some developer will come up with a way to where we won't even need the Windows Media Center, period. It can be a little buggy at times, that was my experience with the one included with the XP Media Center Edition.

Cat