DVD not read in PC - can't rip

[jikchung]

Hi guys. Haveing a real problem witht the movie "They Live". The DVD is read as blank by my PC. D2S reported "no IFO file", file mode finds nothing. Smartripper finds a blank disc as does DVDdecrypter. DVD plays in file mode on my stand alone player (Apex 5131)with chapters (I can skip forward)but no menu of any sort.
Windows explorer reports "windows cannot read from this disK. The disk might be corrupted or in a format that is not compatible with windows."

Any ideas?
By the way, the disc has a purple tint if that matters.

Thanks,
Dwight

[markrb]

What region is the DVD? I own the Region 1 and if it's the same I will check mine. I never had any problems playing it though in my Apex or my Pioneer. Sounds like a copy and not an original.

Mark

[jikchung]

Hi Mark,
It should be region 1 or none (I'm in the USA, and got it from an online US DVD source that should not supply copies). It has a plain white label, simply says: They Live, Universal Home Entertainment, 94 min/Color/NTSC/1988, John Carpenter Production DVD Video. No region information. I wondered if it was a copy of some kind also, as the read side of the disk has a purple color to it.
Thanks,
Dwight

[markrb]

I would dare say that is a copy.
Mine is in a full cardboard jewel case.
The DVD is imprinted in silver with all kinds of
logo's, the region picture of the world with 1 through it and
copywrite info to boot. The DVD is regular silver colored as well.
There is no real label as such as the writting seems to be printed
right on the DVD.

Mark

[jikchung]

Thanks Mark, that's what I thought also.
Dwight

[markrb]

I have that same Apex player.
Did you know.

1)There are actually 3 versions of the same model number. Each have different abilities depending on the hardware and firmware revision. If you have a player with the firmware AD-5131-2 and not 2AM or 3200 the following should apply.

2)SVCD bitrate can play as high as 5500 kbit MAX on one of the two versions. I make all my SVCD's with a MAX of 5000 and set at 3 cd's since it's a 3 disc changer. This gets much closer to DVD quality then most players.

3) Check out http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/index.php for info on updating your firmware. Be careful I killed my first unit with this, but the second worked perfect. Thank God for extended warranties.

4) Player tends to play a bit dark so when I encode I up the contrast and brightness a bit to compensate. Check with Chainsaw135 since he has the same player and does more encodes then I do.

For a little piece of $$%% it's not a bad player and is killer for SVCD's.

Turn on your PM and if you have more questions about this player just PM me or Chainsaw135, just mention I said to.

Mark

[jikchung]

Thanks for the player info Mark. I learned some things I didn't know. My player has the 5131-2 firmware, and I have "upgraded" it. the update went fine.
One other thing about the DVD I was working on - in place of a menu it looks like the directory screen you get during the firmwre update process. I will contact the company I got it from and see what they have to say.
And PM is now on, didn't realize it was off before.

Thanks again,
Dwight

[markrb]

Try that DVD in another player.
Apex is about the only brand I know that can play Mpeg files without the need for the SVCD or VCD header. I still do it, but with this player you shouldn't have to.

Mark

[jikchung]

Mark,
Tried the DVD in an Apex 1500 and a JVC XV-S302. Worked the same in these as my Apex 5131.
I just find it odd that my computer doesn't "see" anything on the disk. I have a LiteOn LTD163D DVDROM with the newest firmware, so it should read anything.
Later,
Dwight


Update : There was a newer firmware for my LiteOn. Updated it and it reads the DVD (and shows it in Windows explorer as a recordable DVD).
D2S works fine on it now also.

[markrb]

I would have never have guessed that. Glad you tried it, since I doubt anyone would have suggested that.

So if Microsoft is always right you can burn your own DVD's, cool. :)

Mark