Did I download the right thing (DVDshrink)?

[DigitalCarter]

Last week after reading a thread on AVSforums, i went ahead and downloaded DVDShrink thinking that it would allow me to archive (fully copy DVD's - these are personal discs that my "family-oriented" brother had sent to me with all these travel movies, pictures and even some subtitles - yes, he gets a little crazy with FinalCut) on my Media Center. I thought I'd be able to use the menus as normal, even subtitle and soundtrack menus (yes, he does have sort of a running commentary option - I know he's a weirdo). But when I use DVDshrink all I get is Audio and Video TS folders, the latter with tons of files, none of which allow me to navigate a menu or even get his poorly translated Japanese subtitles up on screen.

If I was looking for a program that would allow me to emulate the ease of use of my standalone DVD player, with the awesome display and pretty interface of Media Center is DVDShrink the right thing for me? or are my settings way off? Once again these are personal discs NOT copywrited material.
Thanks all!!

[HymnToLife]

Hi and welcome on board !

If you just want to make copied of your DVDS, I think DVD Decrypter in ISO mode is the easiest way.

In Decrypter, just do Mode > ISO > Read to create the ISO image of your DVD and then Mode > ISO > Write to burn it on a blank DVD, voilà :) I never did it myself but I think it should do the trick.

[setarip_old]

Hi! But when I use DVDshrink all I get is Audio and Video TS folders, the latter with tons of files, none of which allow me to navigate a menu or even get his poorly translated Japanese subtitles up on screen.If you examine the ORIGINAL DVDs, given to you by your brother, they should have the same set of files. The "empty "AUDIO_TS" folder and the full "VIDEO_TS" folder (containing .IFOs, .BUPs, and .VOBs) are standard fro DVDs...

[DigitalCarter]

Hi!If you examine the ORIGINAL DVDs, given to you by your brother, they should have the same set of files. The "empty "AUDIO_TS" folder and the full "VIDEO_TS" folder (containing .IFOs, .BUPs, and .VOBs) are standard fro DVDs...

The only problem is I cannot navigate the menus nor get multiple things running (ie. movie and subtitles) at the same time.

[HymnToLife]

Did you try Decrypter in ISO mode as I suggested ?

[DigitalCarter]

I just checked the progress and it did complete. I changed the mode to ISO Read, the only problem is I now have three files, with no associations (a small MDS, an I01, and a IOO). Am I missing something?

[HymnToLife]

Nope, this is normal. Then choose Mode > ISO > Write, you will be asked for the image you want to burn.

[setarip_old]

I now have three files, with no associations (a small MDS, an I01, and a IOO)Then choose Mode > ISO > Write, you will be asked for the image you want to burn.And in response, select the ".MDS" file...


The only problem is I cannot navigate the menus nor get multiple things running (ie. movie and subtitles) at the same time.If you're referring to playback on your PC (from you hard drive), you have to use a software DVD player, such as WinDVD, PowerDVD, or (freeware) VLC...

[DigitalCarter]

So I changed the mode to ISO Write, it popped up with the window like I want to burn it onto another disc, is this what you mean?

I'd like to to simply keep them on the hardrive and use Media Center to manipulate. am I asking too much of this or am I still going about this wrong?

[DigitalCarter]

See, i thought that might be the problem, but when I use the Roxio Player on my laptop it doesn't see any of the files.

[DigitalCarter]

Hey, guys I wanted to say thanks for sticking with me on this.

[HymnToLife]

If you want to keep the image on your hard drive, you could use a soft like Alcohol 120% to mount it and use it as a virtual drive. Or maybe VLC will read it, I've heard it could read ISOs so maybe the same goes for MDSs.

[DigitalCarter]

I downloaded VLC and am trying it out on the files. it actually started the layer 1 (middle of the disc) fine, but came up with a C++ error on the Layer 0. So right now I'm decryting another disc (this one Greece '04) to see what happens.

I'll keep you posted.

[feedback]

Make sure DVD Decrypter is in default mode.
Rip in ISO mode.
For use on the HD only, you need to Mount the image with something like Nero ImageDrive(payware), Daemon Tools (freeware), etc. (they are Virtual CD/DVD-ROM-Emulators).
Using your media player menu choose 'open source' of files and navigate to the mounted image. Your media player will see it as a regular DVD to be played.

[DigitalCarter]

IT WORKED!!! I used VLC on my laptop to play the ISO Layer0 that DVDdecrytor created for me on my Laptop (I'll move all this over to Media Center when I get home). I'm cool with the movie stopping mid way (it'll almost be like an intermission - my bro does seem to ramble everynow and then).
I want to thank everyone for your respective help on this!
You've retsored my faith in boards.