AnyDVD Can't Read My Drive

[NoirHammer]

Hi,

I've been trying to burn a popular porn series from the director Jules Jordan for some time now. Whether its movie 3, 9 or whatever, AnyDVD, Recode, Decrypter, Ripit4me, etc. can't read the disc.

I know most porn DVDs don't add copy protection to their discs but this is somthing else entirely. It's as if they coated the disc with a substance so it won't be read in a computer drive. It plays fine in my home player. The disc is clean and without any scratches.

All the above programs say there is no disc in the drive. I'm using a Plextor 716A with the latest firmware update.

I even tried DVD identifier and nothing happened. I can read other disc fine.

So, what should I do to force the laser to pick up the data from the disc?

[linx05]

If you say none of those programs can read it I think it may be a problem with the disc. Are you able to return it for a new set?

[setarip_old]

Hi!

Silly question, perhaps, but are you CERTAIN that they are DVDs?

[NoirHammer]

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the disc being corrupted because nine of his movies behave in the same way, even when the discs are brand new!

I encountered this with another porn disc where it was coated in a red dye. Pretty crafty if you ask me. I mean, why bother with copy protection when you could just add something to the disc so the laser won't be able to read the data. This happens all the time with his movies.

Go figure. This has been the ultimate challenge for me.

[setarip_old]

Try starting "RipIt4Me" BEFORE placing the disc in your drive (Select either "Wizard" mode or "1Click" mode and then put the disc in the drive). The DVD(s) may contain a "cute" autorun file...

[NoirHammer]

I did what you said and I got the following message:

"Couldn't read sector 16 while parsing file system."

And what is a "cute" autorun file?

[setarip_old]

The "sector 16" error was resolved in "RipIt4Me" two or three iterations ago. Make certain you are using v.1.6.4.0what is a "cute" autorun file?It is a file that affects only playback on a computer (not on your standalone player). It can be created to do virtually anything - start a software DVD player, lead you to a website, or (as SONY tried doing with audio CDs a while back) plant a hidden program on your system...

[NoirHammer]

I am using version 1.6.4.0

What else should I try?

[blutach]

Sector 16 message means exactly what the OP is describing - the drive can not read even the basic file info off the disk.

Try in a different drive. Your drive may be going south.

PS Does Windows Explorer read it at all? If so, click on a VOB and play it on a software player for a bit. Then rip it.

Regards

[deadset]

Have you tried updating firmware of the dvd burner.

[NoirHammer]

I don't have a different drive, but I'm 99% sure it has nothing to do with my drive since it can read every other DVD fine. I've burned discs without any problems so far.

It's like I said, this director does something to his discs.

I already have the latest firmware. I checked in explorer and nothing. Maybe one of those data recovery programs might work. I don't know at this point.

[blutach]

The director can't do anything to his disks.

Explorer can't read them. They are defective. Take them back for an exchange would be my course of action.

Regards

[casio7131]

just guessing based on previous experience...
it could be a (possibly deliberate) mastering error on the disc which a normal dvd player can get past but your dvd drive cannot. maybe try ripping it with an earlier version of dvddecrypter instead of the latest (i once ripped a problematic disc with version 3.1.4.0, but the next version wouldn't rip it for some reason).

[NoirHammer]

Thanks. I returned it and gave up. It happened on a number of discs by the same company. I think there is something deliberate going on.

Another one chucked into the mystery bin.