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http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=34731

According to APC Magazine, Microsoft have cut out the ability to play HDCP content (blu-ray & HD-DVD) on 32 bit versions of Vista. [more]

Bunch of losers!!!

Trying to force everyone to 64bit!!

What a bunch of idiots!! (But they have been the last 5 yrs or so....)

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There was a lot of noise here after the early reports. The reality is that playing licensed HD content is not decided by a single OS bitness switch — it is governed by output-protection and DRM mechanisms that involve the player app, the OS secure-video path, the graphics driver and every device in the video chain. If the GPU, driver or any intermediate device (AV receiver, switch, monitor/TV) cannot complete the HDCP/protected-path handshake, a player will often downscale or refuse HD output.

How the pieces fit together:

  • HDCP is a link-level handshake on DVI/HDMI between GPU and display; every hop must be HDCP-capable.
  • The OS/player must be able to create a secure video path so decrypted frames never leave protected memory; that requires drivers that implement the platform’s protection features.
  • Content owners require these protections for licensed Blu-ray/HD-DVD playback, so the player software enforces them.

Practical checklist to troubleshoot:

  • Confirm the GPU explicitly supports HDCP (check vendor specs or control panel) and that you have the vendor’s certified Vista driver installed.
  • Confirm the display (or AV receiver) supports HDCP. Test by connecting the PC directly to the display, bypassing receivers/switches.
  • Use a known Blu-ray/HD-DVD-capable player application and note any error text (e.g., “HDCP handshake failed”).
  • Try a different cable or port (HDMI preferred). Update firmware for receivers/switches if applicable.
  • If still failing, collect exact error messages and hardware model numbers and consult the GPU/display vendor compatibility lists.

As pointed out, licensing and protection rules drive these limits. As and joked, it can feel like a vendor decision, but in practice the limiter is whether the hardware+driver+player form a compliant protected path — not simply 32-bit vs 64-bit.

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Member Avatar for DMR

What a bunch of idiots!! (But they have been the last 5 yrs or so....)

That would be: "the last 35 years or so..." :mrgreen:

Member Avatar for The Dude

Hehehehe

Member Avatar for roryt

I heard about this, I think its somin to do with licensing and the music and film industry.

I thought it was just a rumour though....

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