I recently reformatted my Windows XP Media Center edition on my Dell E1505 notebook, and I'm getting errors telling me that I lack a 'video decoder' or 'dvd decoder.' So far, this site (http://xperiencexp.blogspot.com/2006/07/decoder-error-video-decoder-has-either.html) has been most helpful, and I've downloaded the .msi from the sourceforge location provided there. However, when I installed that, the diagnostic tool mentioned at the same site tells me it's not Media Center Edition Compatible.
Is there any resolution?

This was not an issue before the format. I don't recall going through this on initial setup after purchase, either.

Try this (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/stinky_mpeg_2_codec.htm) - If that doesnt work, then google around for a free dvd/mpeg2 codec pack for media center edition. Or check torrent for nVidia purevideo, id bet that its MCE compatable.

There might be a free dvd player/decoder available for your laptop model from the mfg's website, or they might have a decoder in their graphics driver. As far as i know windows, even MCE, isnt liscensed with dvd/mpeg decoders so they need to be provided by OEM, included in tuner/gpu software, or installed by end user. So if you installed from a generic microsoft disk then that might have been the cause of the error, but even if you installed from the OEM disk theres no guarantee the dvd software wasnt on another disk.

Easiest solution would be to download VLC player.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

I already have it. I'm not just looking to play videos.

Try this (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/stinky_mpeg_2_codec.htm) - If that doesnt work, then google around for a free dvd/mpeg2 codec pack for media center edition. Or check torrent for nVidia purevideo, id bet that its MCE compatable.

There might be a free dvd player/decoder available for your laptop model from the mfg's website, or they might have a decoder in their graphics driver. As far as i know windows, even MCE, isnt liscensed with dvd/mpeg decoders so they need to be provided by OEM, included in tuner/gpu software, or installed by end user. So if you installed from a generic microsoft disk then that might have been the cause of the error, but even if you installed from the OEM disk theres no guarantee the dvd software wasnt on another disk.

I couldn't find it in any discs, or on the Dell website. I ended up downloading the nVidia decoder... it works well. Thanks.

I have always used the K-Lite codec pack and never had any problems.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

Peace.