EeePc XP notebook external memorex dvd drive won't play

[rlslemmer]

I have EeePc XP notebook (it has no internal dvd player)and am trying to use an external Memorex dvd drive and it will not play properly. Title menu of the dvd's open but are narrow and turned at an odd angle. I can't seem to get beyond the title page. I gave up on VLC at first as I could get a Powerdvd trial version to play them. But the 30-day trial is up. I have used VLC for many years on other computers with no problems. Would like to use it now if I could figure this weird glitch. Windows Media Player won't play them either. Says there is no decoder for dvd's. Hitting dead ends trying to download a decoder. I'm guessing VLC needs this decoder as well.