In same boat.

I have Windows Media Player 9 on my Win98 HP laptop, but it's apparently missing the decoder for the Toshiba DVD-ROM, so the DVD related menu items don't even show up.

Is a "codec" the same as a "decoder"?

Do you know if PowerDVD comes with the necessary codec/decoders or will I still be dead in the water?

Any more recommendations on PowerDVD? And do you know if it requires internet access to register/activate it?
My laptop is not "internet aware", I'm trying to shelter it from the evils of this world.

Thanks, DaveBo