Band of Brothers NTSC - how I did it.

[SilentBob]

Okay, I have seen several threads here of people having trouble trying to rip Band of Brothers, along with MANY different ways of doing it.

Here are the results of my method:
You end up with 1 episode per disk.
You retain all of the original menus.
You retain the field guide.
This works on disks 1-5.
No re-encoding.
If you are interested, keep reading.

First of all, if you are reading this, then I'm sure you know, but Band of Brothers has multiple PGCs, therefore chapter splitting is out of the question.

What I did was:
1. Rip all of the files from the DVD to the hard drive using either SmartRipper or DVD Decryptor
2. Use IfoEdit 0.95, open VTS_01_0.IFO from the rip.
3. Click VOB Extras and check the following boxes: Strip VOBID's; Correct Vob-Unit pointers in VOB-files; Correct Original IFO Files; Auto-copy menu files to destination; ALL VOB Expert options except Remove IIvu/Angle point
4. Click OK to rip to a new directory and select either VobID1 or VobID2 from the next screen.
5. When the rip is done copy all of the VTS_02_XX files from the original directory to the new one(these files are the field guide).
6. Click Open in IfoEdit and select the VIDEO_TS.IFO file from the new directory.
7. Click Get VTS sectors and allow all corrections
8. Click Disk Image to create an IMG file
9. Open DVD Decryptor again and burn the IMG file to DVD.

This worked for me, your mileage may vary. Any comments or questions, feel free to post them.

Thanks for listening.

[edjanx]

Thanks Silent Bob. This technique almost worked perfectly for me. followed your method to the tee, except I burned with the latest Nero release. It expects VTS_02_01.VOB file, so the Field Guide is not availible.

- Correction. This method does work. Remember to copy the VTS_02_XX files before "Get VTS sectors"! Also, ignore the NERO error warnings about missing VTS_02_01.VOB, and any subsequent message, and you will end up with a good backup.


I also tried your method to create an Image file in IfoEdit .95 (and .91) produced an error that it "Can't locate imglib.dll" when trying to create a Disc Image.

- Still would like to get my arms around where this file is supposed to come from.

[mpucoder]

Download the imgtool from http://www.doom9.org/software2.htm#vobtools

[Regatta990]

SilentBob,

I did the same thing as you descibed. One simple question, which is supposed be shared with you. When I selected menu button of which link is NOT on that disk, "navigation error" ocurred. How did you get around this ? Did you HEX-edited vob files ?

RE*:confused:

[edjanx]

Thnks for the tip, but ImgTool also produced a file allocation error when trying to burn (just like Nero). I'd prefer to solve the imglib.dll issue with IfoEdit and see if that does it.

[SilentBob]

edjanx, I sent you an e-mail, but make sure that the VIDEO_TS directory is in the root of your source drive, not burried in a deeper directory....make sure it is called VIDEO_TS.

Regatta990, did you get this error using a software player or a standalone unit? Did you make sure to reopen the VIDEO_TS.IFO and click Get VTS Sectors? Try exiting IFOEdit, reopening VIDOE_TS.IFO and clicking Get VTS Sectors again, see if it repairs anything.

On the few DVD players I have tried my method on (mostly Apex units) I don't get any errors, even when selecting the wrong episode...whichever one I select it starts playing whatever episode is on the disc, even if it is the "wrong" episode...this could be a bit confusing I guess, but that's life.

[Mobius]

Kudos to you, SilentBob. Tried this method on BoB and it works
perfectly. Ripped with Smartripper, edited with IFOEdit, burned with Nero. Only thing I did differently was change first play PGC so the disc will go directly to the menu at startup, skipping the FBI warning and studio logo. Originally tried with DVDXCopy (blasphemy, I know), but it choked on it. Thanks again.

[SilentBob]

Mobius, perhaps you can educate me...

Can you briefly outline your method for changing the first play PGC to skip the FBI warning? I would like to do that but I wasn't entirely sure how...

Thanks

[Mobius]

Silent Bob:

There are threads here about skipping the fbi warnings, so I can't take credit for it. You just open VIDEO_TS.IFO in ifoedit, click on VMGM_MAT, and expand it so you see First Play PGC. Click on it and scroll down to PGC Command Table, 1. Pre Command. Right click and select Edit Command. Select (JumpSS_VTSM)Jump to Titleset Menu, Title Nr 1, TitleSet Nr 1, root menu. Then save and exit. Then burn away. When your player starts up the disc, it will go directly to the menu screen. Got the first three discs of Band of Brothers done, thanks to you.

[SilentBob]

Cool, thanks Mobius...that works for me (even if you didn't figure it out, you taught me :)

Anyway, now if we chan just figure out how to split disc 6, we will be good to go.

peace.

[Mobius]

Silent Bob:

I haven't gotten around to the bonus disc (disc 6). What are the problems splitting that disc? Is it another multiple PGC?

[Regatta990]

SilentBob,

I will do it again as soon as I get new seagate drive this week, since disk crashed last week !!!

RE::eek: &:( ^2

[markrb]

Great tips. I did this tonight. The only confusing part is what I thought would be the first video turned out to be the second and vice versa. No big deal.

Did you guys kill the non working video on the menu? If so how did you do it. If not how would I do it?

I would rather not have my DVD player have fits over a menu item that points to nothing. I would rather just kill the ability to press anything on the non functioning video.

EditActually if WinDVD is any indication then it plays the movie regardless of which menu you choose to use. That could become confusing. It's better then an error, but I would rather kill the button if possible.

Thanks,
Mark

[madpoet]

I can follow the guide right up to creating the image, when I get the .dll error mentioned previously. Using either Nero or the Image tool, I get coasters. Basically my Apex 660 tells me either Disk Error, or it will play the menu and then crap out. I tried using IFOedit to skip right to the video, but that didn't help. Any ideas?

THanks,
MP

[markrb]

Try skipping making the image and using RecordNow Max or Prassi Primo DVD to burn the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders.

Mark

[madpoet]

Thanks, I'l give it a try tonight. Any special settings I should check in Prassi?

-MP

[madpoet]

And... yet another coaster. It plays the FBI warning, and sometimes the title, then it refuses to budge. Just gives me that disk error. I'm wondering if maybe I'm doing something wrong with the IFO, but I can't see what :(.

-MP

[edjanx]

I just switched to Ritek media and now my set-top player doesn't play the resulting disk, although Power DVD works fine. I get Nero (latest build) incompatibility warnings like I did with Maxell +RW and Memorex +R writes on episodes 1-3, but they still produced usable disks. So to get around the Nero issue, I tried this guide per se, but, I get an imglib.dll error when attempting to create an .iso disk image with IfoEdit .95. Off to PrimoDVD 2.0.766, but it doesn't like my Alera external USB DVD burner - it thinks it's ROM. Now I'm stumped. How can I get a usable .iso image that I can burn with Nero? I think that could solve the issue I'm having, even with the RITEK media. What about the IfoEdit not being able to find imglib.dll? Can I download this somewhere? FWIW - I'm using XP Pro, SP1.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Ed Janx

[redcell35]

After spending hours on trying to figure out how to do this(with hit and miss results), your method worked great. However It didn't keep the menus. Was wondering if I missed something that would keep those out. Either way I finally got a good backup of the movie.
Thanks again

I didn't spend hours on your method. I spent hours on trying to figure how to handle the Multi PGC's on my own. Came across your method. Took about 20 minutes your way.(just thought i would add this so there was no confusion)

[SilentBob]

Been out of town...

Markb, I didn't kill the menu, I just let it be. I think it takes a bit of in depth menu programming to kill it, from everything I've read. At least it doesn't fail...just plays whichever one is on the disc. Also, the first disc, the episodes are reversed. The other ones seem to be in normal order

madpoet, test your DVD image (the video_ts directory) using WinDVD. If it plays on your hard drive using WinDVD, pointing to the VIDEO_TS.IFO file then I'm guessing you are having some sort of problem with your media and your set-top player. Does the disc play in your PC once it is burned?

redcell35, If you had the Auto-copy menu files checked and then did a Get VTS Sectors afterwards, you should have menus.

I'm still trying to figure out disc 6 and I'm also in the process of making CD covers for each of the 10 episodes based on the original DVD covers, I'll let you know when I get done with that.

[redcell35]

redcell35, If you had the Auto-copy menu files checked and then did a Get VTS Sectors afterwards, you should have menus.

I didn't have that checked. That's what I did. I fixed it on disk 3. works great. Thanks

[mudda_t]

SilentBob,

I'm having a slight problem with your method and have no idea what I'm doing wrong. The problem occurs when I get to step 6. When I open the new directory there is no VIDEO_TS.IFO file. The only IFO files in there are VTS_01_0.IFO and VTS_02_0.IFO.

I'm following your directions to the T but no VIDEO_TS.IFO, VIDEO_TS.BUP, or VIDEO_TS.VOB files are being generated.

What am I doing wrong?

[Regatta990]

Silent Bob,

Sorry for my late post.

I did follow all of your step to get 1 episode per disc. Only thing I did as additional was HEX editing of VTS_01_0 menu files in order to avoid navigation error when not-on-disc episode is selected. I changed such as "Jump to Title 1", Link Program 3 (Button=1), with Link Program 1 (Button=1) to return back to the main menu. I did this all from disc 1 to disc 5 and worked fine. Finally I got 10 disc which as one episode per disc with original menu, chapters and extra trailers.

Regards, ;)

[richardkent]

Silentbob,

Just wanted to say your steps above work wonderfully. I had a brain freeze and kept checking off 'split to 2 discs', which doesn't show the vobid choices, it shows the PGC choices. I kept trying over and over to split it that way, with no luck. I can't believe I overlooked something so simple ;(

Thanks Again,
Richard

[>b<]

i can't get dvd decrypter to run through disc 4 of band of brothers, i am using the ripit4me proggy, i get as far as 49% , with this error

check condition


CDBA400001ba00000000c0400 report key (0)

Sense area: F00003001BA04b10310700002

is there something else i should be doing ? i am using an AMB anthlon 64 , i started with disc 6 and used ripit4 , disc 6,5.3 (and now 1) seems to have ripped and burned ok.

[setarip_old]

@>b<

Hi!

There is no special/newer copy protection ("ARccOS" or "RipGUard") on that series of DVDs, so it's likely physically damaged or dirty.

Try cleaning the DVD and use DVD Decrypter directly (No need for the "RipIt4Me" package). If you are again unsuccessful, return the set to the place of purchase in exchange for a new one...