Windows DVD Player associated with .IFO files but can't open them

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  1. Graham1
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Windows DVD Player associated with .IFO files but can't open them


    Here is the issue:
    • Go to an IFO file on the HDD and try to open it - catastrophic error
    • Insert a DVD and auto run with no action. Try to run the IFO file - catastrophic error. Cancel error and can run DVD from the control bar.
    • Have not been able to remove option to "open with" windows DVD player for an IFO file.
    • No problems with VLC player and Nero Showtime
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 42,991
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    Hi, how did you get the Windows DVD player?
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...igible-windows

    • This free offer is available for a limited time.
    • The app isn't available if you do a clean installation of Windows 10 instead of an upgrade.
    Have not been able to remove option to "open with" windows DVD player for an IFO file.
    If you wish to disable an entry in the Open With dialogue, you could use
    Openwithview (free) by Nirsoft (easy to find).

    I found only a couple of ifo files on my PC - they were associated with VLC player.

    Go to an IFO file on the HDD and try to open it - catastrophic error
    How do you try to open it? Double left click?

    Please post a screenshot showing the icon of an ifo file.

    IFO File Extension - What is an .ifo file and how do I open it?

    Noted this ref. Windows DVD player in passing:
    Windows DVD Player can't open Solved - Windows 10 Forums
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  4. Graham1
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    dalchina,

    • The DVD player was included in the upgrade from windows 7 to windows 10. I don't want to uninstall it as there is only a paid version for reinstall and an upgrade may improve it. My main aim was to remove it from the .ifo open with list.
    • I play music DVD's and the player is very limited as it does not show titles and chapters. Some of the DVD's have over 30 chapters
    • Openwith and other similar programs do not show an entry for windows DVD player if it is not the default for that extension
    • right click, select open with, select windows DVD player
    • The files are on a normal DVD and include BUP, IFO and VOB in that order, an image of an IFO file will show very little.
    • The reference you refer to was almost 2 years ago. Windows 10 has moved on with many changes.
    • I have not used widows DVD player until this year so I do not know how it performed in the last 2 years.
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  6. Bree
    Posts : 31,666
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #4

    Graham1 said:
    • The DVD player was included in the upgrade from windows 7 to windows 10. I don't want to uninstall it as there is only a paid version for reinstall and an upgrade may improve it. My main aim was to remove it from the .ifo open with list....

    ...
    • Openwith and other similar programs do not show an entry for windows DVD player if it is not the default for that extension

    ....
    • I have not used widows DVD player until this year so I do not know how it performed in the last 2 years.
    Welcome to TenForums @Graham1.
    I have the free Microsoft Windows DVD player too (I upgraded from Win7 Home Premium - a Media Centre edition).

    Would I be correct in assuming that your underlying problem is 'how do I play a DVD with the Windows DVD Player when it doesn't even appear in 'Open with'?'. Well, it certain can't be done by trying to open any of the file types found on the DVD, even if they are associated with the Windows DVD Player.

    The simplest way I've found is just to open Windows DVD Player from the Start menu, either before or after putting the DVD in the drive. It scans for available DVDs and then plays them.

    It should also be possible to play with Windows DVD Player from File Explorer's 'This PC'. Right-click on the DVD Drive letter, select 'Open Autoplay...' and the Windows DVD Player should be one of the options. If you select it this way, from now on inserting a Video DVD will automatically launch the Windows DVD Player.


    There has only ever been one update for the Windows DVD Player, issued in November 2015 to deal with incompatibilities in Windows 10 version 1511. In fact, if you buy the player from the Store you'll get the initial version, shortly followed by this update.
    https://support.microsoft.com/help/3106246

    BTW, the FAQ isn't entirely correct in saying...
    4. Q: I currently play my DVDs from a file backup. Does the Windows DVD Player app support this?
    A: No, the app currently only plays DVD movies on optical discs.
    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...=1438117403084

    It is true that it cannot play any other type of video format from a file, but it is perfectly happy to play an ISO of a video DVD if you mount it first then open Windows DVD Player - a virtual optical disc can be played as easily as a real one.
    Last edited by Bree; 15 Mar 2018 at 19:28.
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  7. Graham1
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Bree,

    No problem with playing a DVD using an iso file or from the DVD drive using windows DVD player. The problem is its registered file type is .IFO. It can't open .IFO files without a catastrophic error. An option was to remove the link in the open with list for that file type but I have no method of doing this for a Microsoft app. I note your link to an update but there is no version mentioned. I assume it has been applied automatically. The version I have is 3.6.13291.0
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  8. Bree
    Posts : 31,666
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #6

    Graham1 said:
    The problem is its registered file type is .IFO. It can't open .IFO files without a catastrophic error. An option was to remove the link in the open with list for that file type but I have no method of doing this for a Microsoft app.
    Well, it would be catastrophic, wouldn't it - it isn't a video file. I have no idea why it's registered for .ifo. Perhaps there's a rule that says an app has to register for something, and that was the one they picked? Personally I just ignore it and never try to open a .ifo (why would I want to?). But, if you really must remove the association....

    There has been some loss of functionality in migrating settings from Control Panel to the Settings app. One of the glaring omissions is the ability to pick and chose the file associations by app. Fortunately the old Control Panel function is still there in 1709 (for now) but it's hidden, with no link to open it. Try opening the 'Run box' with WinKey+R and run:
    Code:
    C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966} -Microsoft.DefaultPrograms\pageDefaultProgram
    Scroll down and select Windows DVD Player then click 'Choose defaults for this program'. You can remove the association there.

    Windows DVD Player associated with .IFO files but can't open them-control-panel-defaults-program.png

    (You'd better be quick about it, this is probably going to be removed in 1803)

    I note your link to an update but there is no version mentioned. I assume it has been applied automatically. The version I have is 3.6.13291.0
    Typo? Mine says 3.6.1329.0. I believe the initial version was 3.6.11761.0


    Edit: I have checked, and it appears mine is in error (missing out the '1' for some reason). The correct version for the KB3106246 update is indeed 3.6.13291.0 and have confirmed that the initial version was 3.6.11761.0
    Last edited by Bree; 15 Mar 2018 at 23:15.
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  9. Berton
    Posts : 14,020
    Win10 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home, Win7, Linux Mint
       New #7

    I looked up the .ifo file extension and a Search got this, pretty much what Bree says:
    IFO File Extension - What is an .ifo file and how do I open it?

    An IFO file is a DVD-Video disc information file used by DVD players. It contains information referenced by the DVD player which allows users to navigate and play the contents of the DVD. IFO files work in conjunction with .VOB and .VRO files, which contain the actual audio and video data.
    An equivalent thing with audio CDs is the files on the disc only show as .cda and are very small, are only markers to the actual music. Ripping a CD in Windows Media Player allows saving the songs as different formats as desired.
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  10. Graham1
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Bree,

    With your method you can change the default program to open .IFO files but this does not remove it from the open with list. You can also change the default program using the all settings app. The .IFO file is the controller of the DVD and it has a backup .BUP.
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  12. Graham1
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Bree,

    Your method which is similar to Windows 7 does not retain any default app for the .IFO file (ie no tick in any application). I can only change the default app using the settings app. Any Suggestions to fix this.
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  13. Bree
    Posts : 31,666
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #10

    Graham1 said:
    The .IFO file is the controller of the DVD and it has a backup .BUP.
    I'm still not clear why you would want to try and open a .ifo file directly. Or why it is so important to you to remove this file association.

    It may be the key to controlling the DVD, and opening the .ifo with VLC player does indeed play the DVD (so it should work in Windows DVD Player too, but it's broken). But as there are more convenient ways to play DVDs (right-click on the drive letter and 'Play with VLC media player', or 'Autoplay' for Windows DVD Player) why bother finding and clicking on the .ifo?

    Windows DVD Player has not been updated since 2015, It's hardly one of MS's flagship products, just a sop they felt obliged to throw to those of us who had the Media Center. Don't hold your breath for any bug fixes.

    If it's just that the 'catastrophic error' bugs you, why not associate .ifo with VLC instead?
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