Why do some DVDs play well and others don't?

I don't understand your problem.
Is it the TV or is it the DVD? You say you tried other dvds and the problem is still there. Looks like the TV is the problem. Sometimes it's hard to help people when they only mention on screen issues. How can first DVD say 'incorrect disk' and then another dvd, and another still say 'incorrect disk'? It just doesn't seem to make sense. Is the contents on the disk a computer recorded movie, film or home movie? If so, you have to record the film on the disk with a format that accept the DVD. Could the DVD be a Blu-Ray, can it play a number of video formats, DVD, DivX, KviD DVD, etc.? Try first with a purchased movie DVD disc, if it doesn't work, then the DVD is faulty. DVD players these days are meant to play a wide range of video format, including CD discs. If you have an old DVD player, you may not play latest discs. But if the DVD is incorporated with the TV, then you have to insert a new movie and see if it plays. Go to an appliance or TV DVD store and talk to them. Or you can purchase a new movie and insert it in. If it doesn't work, you can always return it. As you said, you've tried different DVDs, sounds like it is a separate DVD player. If so, try other movie discs. I get the same warning only when I insert discs with movies I recorded on my computer, such as Pinnacle video editor.

Are the DVDs movie DVDs or other software.
If they are movies then you probably have to install a program to view them such as PowerDVD or the free VLC media player.
If the computer cannot play original software DVDs then it could be a problem with your DVD players laser lens and has to be replaced with a new DVD drive or you can buy an external USB one.
Hope this helps.

I recomend that you clean the lens to see if that makes a difference.
Also you might want to look at my Tip on dealing with DVD's that jump.

Motor was not working. Disposed of old player and bought another dvd player

You may have to check the options for the player. Some DVD players cannot play formats other than regular DVDs. You can check the options to see if it can be put in a different mode from the normal one, such as progressive scan, which can help it to read DVDs better in some ways. You can also set it up to accept more types than just DVDs, but also DVD-Rs and VCDs. I cannot tell you, without fiddling around with it, whether you will need to take it in to a shop, but that is an option. Once you see about adjusting some of the settings, see if it won't play a DVD.

HI,
Check the manuel some DVD Players do not support DVD RW or -R +R formats.When Ifirst put my burned movie in I got the message that the player cant play that format Just ignore that and advance the Video to where the movie is starting then all my burned movies played fine. My Pioneer BD 51 FD does support DVD RW +R -R formats so be sure that you can play burned DVD RW +R -R on your Sony player. I was in Wal Mart the other day and they had some DVD players on sale but on the box it said that they do not play DVD RW +R or -R Burned DVD's so be careful if you do buy another one I went to best buy and found mine. Check first it will save a lot of hassle later. This software works great but it may not play in your DVD Sony Player there is a list here of compatible DVD Players


OR

your disc is scratched or a pirated one


thank you for using fixya,rate my answer,
vijay

hEy i hAd the sAme pRob...............dOn wOrRy all u hAv to do is to turn on uR pS2 witthout puttin a DVD oR aNy diSc........on mEnu screen gOto [options] by pRessing 'triangle' button......... a new screen will appear select by pressing 'X' [DISC SPEED]....n sEt it to fAst.....then insert the DVD movie........tURn off PS2....press n hold the reset button till the blue light is turned on......release the button and press it again.............. it wOuld take a little tYm foR uR DVD movie to be loAded........be patient till the movie plays it self..............

What program are you trying to use to play these movies? Windows Media Player will play some, but not others - I highly recommend Nero, WinDVD, PowerDVD or similar programs.

Question - are you able to browse the contents of the DVD drive in My Computer? Even if the movie doesn't play, you can still see the files (there will be an AUDIO_TS and a VIDEO_TS folder, which a bunch of VOB files under the latter).

If you can see the files, but movies won't play, you just need the appropriate DVD playback software.

Hope this helps - remember to rate :)

your dvd software is capable of playing the type of dvd movie that you have. download and install vlc player and you should be able to play DVDs through that computer.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_vlc/

thanks! :)

Chances are, your DVD player uses one laser to read CDs, and a different laser to read DVDs (since Cds and DVDs are read at different wavelenghts of light). If the DVDs you're trying to watch work properly in other DVD players, it probably means that the DVD laser is dirty, damaged, or burned out. Though you can try cleaning the laser (use Google for suggestions on how to do this, or check the Audiovox website), you will most likely have to get the DVD player repaired, or buy a replacement. Many of the newer CD/DVD players sold today use a single combination laser, which reads both CDs and DVDs, which means that when the laser fails, it will not work at all. Wish I had better news for you, but I guess that the only consolation you have is that your Audivox player still works with CDs...