Ripping Shrek R1 - synch error/broken blocks?

[mtrooper]

Has anyone sucessfuly ripped Shrek R1 Disc 1 DVD? I'm gettting Sync errors (if using vstrip 0.8d_css) or broken blocks (when using SmartRipper 2.41). The DVD itself is a little scratched, but it plays just fine and it's not so scratched that it should cause any read errors.

I don't know what to do - any help would be appriciated.

[videofan]

well, what kinda dvd drive do you have? i suspect some drives behave better in terms of correcting errors than others. i've recently read "the compact disc handbook", an excellent reading, and there's a big chapter explaining about error correction, circ, and so on. i won't go into details, just to jump to the conclusion: even a small scratch you can hardly see can mean thousands of bits damaged. when you play back the stream, you won't see on your screen that small area which is not exactly "that red". but when it comes to decrypt a bit stream, it's another story, right?
oh, and btw: yeah, i've checked my copy of shrek - it works fine with smartripper. no dirty tricks.

[manono]

Hi-no problems with Shrek here either. Try cleaning the DVD.

[mtrooper]

I have Tosxhiba SD-M1202 but I rouled it out, since it ripped everything else OK. So obviously I've just have to clean the DVD (just great - weekend, no store open to buy DVD cleaning kits :().
Thanks for help!

[manono]

Hi-you could try a lens cloth or something similar first, and then something stronger-a mild abrasive like toothpaste-before going for the store bought variety. No Wal-Marts near you? In a thread further down entitled "Scratched surface. How to handle it?" further down, a fellow recommended a scotch brite microweave cloth from Wal-Mart.

[mtrooper]

Just read it, but: tooth paste? Are you sure? Has anyone tired it (the DVD is not mine and I wouldn't like to destroy it...)?

[manono]

Don't like that idea, eh? Nope, I haven't personally tried it. I read about it after I had that problem, and had it fixed by a friend's Disk Doctor. I wouldn't hesitate to try it, though-it's a very mild abrasive.

[mtrooper]

Oh well, here goes nothing...Will report success (if I'll have any).

[videofan]

imho, the tooth paste solution sounds like a fool's day joke - or even worse. if this is the only disk that gives you trouble then try another copy of shrek. if you have errors with other disks, check you dvd drive.

[manono]

Well, if it is a joke, it's not I who's perpetrating it. If it doesn't work, it'll be because the abrasive is too mild, but it certainly won't screw up the DVD. The Disk Doctor (which worked for me) uses something similar to sandpaper to scour the DVD. Made it look real strange, too, but afterwords I could decrypt the .vob files, whereas before I couldn't.

[videofan]

well, you're right about the abrasive - you can polish a scratch, but you should use a commercial, dvd-comaptible product. and learn how to do it from the instructions of the product. otherwise the result may be much worse than before. anyway, i've found no mention in the literature about tooth paste. for people who want to read this by themselves, check "dvd demystified", 2nd edition, by jim taylor - page 419.

[mtrooper]

Tried tooth paste, didn't work, had enough, just ripped Disc 2 with widescreen version of Shrek (I totaly overlooked 2nd DVD in the box...I was 100% sure that the second one is only for Special Features, but hey, it actually holds 16:9 version of Shrek...sweet :))

Thanks for all suggestions and help!

[manono]

Damn-I could have told you that, but forgot. You should be ripping the widescreen version anyway.

For future reference (although this is not my source, they seem to back me up):

What do I do if my CD skips?
If you have a CD that is scratched and skipping, there may be a do-it-yourself way to fix it. A skip is caused when a scratch causes the laser to reflect in the wrong way, sending it repeatedly to another part of the track. First, note where the CD skips so you can go back and check it later. Second, clean your CD with mild soap and water and a clean, lint free cloth. (Dirt could also be causing the CD to skip). Dry the CD by wiping from the center straight out to the edge (never wipe in a circular motion). Then hold the CD under a light to find the scratch. If your CD skips at the beginning, the scratch will be close to the center; towards the end, the scratch will be close to the edge.

Once you've found the culprit, dampen your cloth slightly and apply a small amount of abrasive to the cloth (plain white toothpaste, metal polish, or plastic cleaner all work). Rub the abrasive on very lightly, working from the center straight out to the edge (again, not a circular motion). The scratch may not completely disappear - your goal is to just smooth out the sides of the scratch a little so it won't affect playback. Rinse off the abrasive and dry. Now test your work. If the CD doesn't skip anymore, then congrats! You've saved yourself some money. If it still skips, try the process again and rub a little bit harder. Not every scratch can be repaired.

This is from here (http://159.124.4.107/isroot/meadweb/askmistermedia/mister_media_faqs.htm) . Lots of good information.

I am not an idiot. I am not an idiot. I am....

[mtrooper]

Thanks for link, I've jsut got 2nd scratched DVD (this time Wild Things...)