Can anyone offer advice on how to get my External DVD-ROM to play on my laptop?!?

Here's the situation:
Ancient laptop = Toshiba Satellite 2545 XCDT
Video Driver = S3 ViRGE/MX+ (260), Chip ID = 8C01
Graphics Adapter chip type = 86C260, 2 MB Video memory
External DVD = Toshiba DVD-ROM, connected by PCMCIA

The result:
A green screen (no definition) and skipping audio.

I've messed with re-installing and updating the Video Driver (50311w9x.zip). I've messed with the screen area and color, and at an area of 1600 by 1200 pixels and 256 colors, I can make out the skewed-color outlines of figures from a movie. The video is skipping, and obviously the audio is still skipping. At any other combination of screen area and color (16 bit/24 bit), all I get is a fully green screen.

I've reached my (limited) abilities to solve this problem, and I'd appreciate any help or advice anyone can offer.

Thanks,
Eric

Sorry, I forgot one relatively important fact:
I'm working out of Windows 98.

I initially had XP on the laptop, but reverted to 98. Same problems occurred with XP...
-E

I doubt that laptop can render the dvd video stream. What player software are you using?

I'm using Intervideo WinDVD 4.
Other laptop stats (please don't laugh):
Processor Speed: 333 MHz
RAM: 128 MB

And the External DVD is: Toshiba DVD-ROM SD-C2502