Simple virtual DVD that is not Daemon Tools?

[GrofLuigi]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can recommend me a good virtual CD/DVD drive that meets the following criteria:

1. Works with DVD Decrypter. (to mount unprotected ISO images of my DVD video archive - recordings). Why it must be DVD-Decrypter? I'm used to it, and some of them have menus (recorded on a standalone) I'd like to strip. I tried some other software (went even back to Smart Ripper) and I'm really comfortable only with DVD-D. :)

2. Is not Daemon Tools. I had stability problems with MANY different versions. And I don't need the anti-copy protection and stealth measures that seem to be the main point of the software. I used the old 3.47 version (I think) for a long time, but recently I discovered it caused a seemingly unrelated crash. It also exhibits some stealth behavior I don't like at all. And from what I read, version 4+ really goes wild.

3. Is modest on resources - that is, works as simple and straightforward as possible. Many of the software I've seen is geared towards defeating copy protection in games (they install all kind of weird devices/ports/buses) - as I said, I don't need that at all.

4. I tried this driver (http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html#ImDisk) and I like it a lot, unfortunately DVD Decrypter can't see it no matter what I try. I'd be really happy if it can be made to work.

Thanks.

GL

*EDIT: OS is XP of course, maybe Server2003.

[Sharktooth]

i have no problems with DT... however are you looking for a free software or a commercial product?

some free ones you can try:
http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html
http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-magicdisc-overview.htm
http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/xpvirtualcd.html

[GrofLuigi]

i have no problems with DT... however are you looking for a free software or a commercial product?

some free ones you can try:
http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html
http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-magicdisc-overview.htm
http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/xpvirtualcd.html

Thank you for the (very) quick reply!

I remember virtual clone drive from the times of CloneCD and I remember it annoyed me because I didn't want it back then. Now the situation has changed, so I'll investigate, but from the changelog I see it's (probably) geared towards use together with their other software, so I think there is probability of not satisfying point 3. I hope virtual drive will install in a virtual machine... :p

Microsoft's driver was the first one I tried, and I don't remember any more why I wasn't satisfied, but I wasn't... :confused: My memory is failing me.

I'll also investigate MagicIso (I hope I don't need to fight back for my file associations and everything... and I'm not in the mood to buy a full-blown program which I don't need for its primary purpose...) But we'll see.

Thanks again!

GL

[Sharktooth]

Just get MagicDisc. You dont need MagicISO (which is payware) to use MagicDisc (freeware).

[dat720]

If you are doing this for the sole purpose of using a disc image with DVDDecryptor why don't you just use iso files?

[GrofLuigi]

If you are doing this for the sole purpose of using a disc image with DVDDecryptor why don't you just use iso files?
How? Can I select ISO file as source?

GL

[GrofLuigi]

Progresss report (for anyone interested in the same situation):

Microsoft's Virtual CD is working the same as ImDisk - everyone sees it except DVD Decrypter. :(

Too bad, they both seem to be what I want - simple. :mad:

The quest (slowly) continues...

GL

[Sharktooth]

have you tried MagicDisc ?

[GrofLuigi]

have you tried MagicDisc ?
Not yet. It's next. The first time I visited their page, I couldn't see the difference between the main program and the drive component.

VirtualCloneDrive was going to be next, but I couldn't extract it first to examine what it does (with UniversalExtractor). I got burned many times in the past installing software pro•mis•cu•ous•ly. :) Although it's digitally signed, this raises suspicion. What are they hiding? Now I have to fire virtual machine again...

GL

*Edit: Tried MagicDisc and at first sight works perfectly. It has all functions needed, works with DVD Decrypter and it's not bloated (apart from the numerous menus that link to their main program (web page) and I guess advertise it). I didn't actually extract some images, only mount/unmount few of them, but it seems like it's fit for the job.

Thank you Sharktooth for the recommendation. And I sure will report if there are any problems with it (but I doubt).

[smok3]

GrofLuigi; if you can share some info about what is your plan with this iso's, somebody can come up with a solution, that maybe doesn't require any mounting at all?
for example, simple reauthoring can be done with dvdshrink, it takes iso as input, ect.

[setarip_old]

@smok3

Hi!

Although only "GrofLuigi" can respond with certainty, it appears that this is what he/she is desirous of accomplishing (from Post#1): some of them have menus (recorded on a standalone) I'd like to strip.

[GrofLuigi]

setarip_old is right, this is mostly home videos / camera transferred for friends (I don't charge them MUCH :p ). Kidding, only about the cost of a blank (quality) DVD. I keep ISOs for short-term storage because it's convenient - not having to deal with many files.

Most of the time it's for playback (and I know there are players that open ISOs) but my laptop is underpowered. I make low-res avis just for preview with QUICK SEEKING (even on my more powerful desktop, seeking in DVDs is... how should I put it... uncomfortable - if you want to seek many times rapidly). And that's why I asked for this feature - DVD decrypter (IFO mode) is essential to make one VOB and work from there. As I said, I tried many other programs, but I'm used to it and it's set up in a way that has never failed me. :)

GL

[GrofLuigi]

Although Magic Iso has served me well, I have some more questions now... And sligthly revised criteria.

First, the primary purpose of my use now is simple (re)author, often from scratch, often adding soft subtitles. At this stage, I use ISO emulator mostly for quickly verifying the final behavior (i.e. position of the subtitles) of the DVD. For important discs, I use hardware player, but it's often inconvinient for quick adjustments and not so important jobs. I also use ISOs for storing unaltered sources.

So far, Magic Iso has two flaws for me:

1. Doesn't recognise short source ISOs of DVDs as such, but as CDs. So I can't use DVD Decrypter (all the discs I work with are nonecrypted, noncommercial DVDS). Or maybe it's DVD Decripter's fault, but I doubt that. This is solved by using venerable Smart Ripper, but also bears some inconvenience.

Also, the final ISO of such short material, built with ImgBurn, isn't recognised as DVD. MagicIso claims to work with MDS files, but doesn't recognize them for such ISOs.

2. Doesn't work with bluray. I haven't tried installing UDF2.5 driver here (XP) yet, but I want to verify it is the (only) problem.

So, the questions would be:

1. Is there any way to convince the Emulator and DVDDecrypter/ImgBurn to work together for short ISOs? I'd hate to start looking again for a simple emulator, although I see everyone and his brother is making one now. I like how Magic ISO (its GUI) can be started on demand, and be out of the way when not used.

2. Will UDF driver will be enough for it to work for bluray on XP?

*Edit: I guess the problem with DVD Decrypter is that it doesn't access the drive through the drive "letter", but uses some direct IO commands, so the emulator would need to "emulate" that. I think that's why MagicISO and some other simple tools didn't work in some cases.

And, I forgot to mention, Virtual Clone Drive at the time made a really big mess when I installed it, which couldn't be recovered, so I had to restore my OS from backup.

GL

[Chetwood]

DVDD can open short ISOs if you create an MDS file for them first with DVDD (and mount that file). So far I had no problem with Alcohol 52% (free) and DVDFab Virtual Drive (free). On XP you need an UDF driver installed for BDs.

[GrofLuigi]

I installed the Toshiba UDF driver instead of Panasonic's because it seemed lighter on resources, and it works. The downside is its service needs to be started before using the drive (Magic Disk). I use BluRay seldom enough, so I made a batch file (net start thdudf), I just need to remember to click it when I need it. :)

And DVDFab Virtual Drive looks promising, it will be next on my quest, if I decide to ditch Magic Disk.

GL