Unable to burn disc 1 after splitting Almost Famous

[cinematic]

Any ideas as to why disc 1 does not meet DVD spec and won't burn would be encouraging. Here are the details:
I ripped a backup of Almost Famous to the hard disk using DVDDecryptor. I followed the guide to splitting a DVD 9 onto 2 discs using ifoEdit ver 0.95 very carefully after reading the posts regarding whether or not the guide is up to date. I reduced the last cell end sector address in VTS_01_0.IFO by 1 (in this case the movie was in VTS_05_X.VOB and the VTS_05_0.IFO contained the error) as noted in other posts. "The 2nd constraint" in the guide was carefully adhered to. Both 'discs' play off the harddrive using PowerDVD, and play in ifoEdit.
Note that I am burning +RW mode 2.
The 2nd disc burned fine, but the when trying to burn the first, RecordNow 4.5 that came with HP 300i halts almost immediately with a general error message. There is an 'advanced' selection which yields the following report:

HP DVD Writer 300n (G:) ATAPI (1.25)
PX.DLL - 1.1.0.370
PXMAS.DLL - 1.5.0.112
PXWAVE.DLL - 1.2.0.86
PXWMA.DLL - 1.0.0.2
OLEAUT32.DLL - 3.50.5016.0
MSVBVM60.DLL - 6.0.92.37
MSCOMCTL.OCX - 6.1.95.45
MSCOMCT2.OCX - 6.0.88.4
PXHelp20.SYS - 2.2.44.0

Using RecordNow Max trial version 4.5 halts and gives me the error msg 'stopped because of VIDEO_TS or AUDIO_TS format error". This happens whether I burn to disc, or attempt to create an image file on the hard disk. I was only able to burn disc 1 by unchecking 'recognize ...folders per DVD specification' option. Disc 1 plays fine on PC with PowerDVD. On standalone Toshiba SD1600 I get 'disk error' in display window, but disc 2 plays fine. Note that media and player were set to mode 2 using compatibility utility from HP bundled w/recorder.

With ImgTool; Using the procedure to create an image described on the second page of the 'guide using ImgTool, an abreviated (1808 KB instead of 4 GB) VIDEO_TS is created in the image file, missing main movie files and containing just a few menus.
I did not realize the DVD burning programs checked the format of VIDEO_TS or AUDIO_TS. I suspect the problem has something to do with the files ifoEdit created, or something I failed to place in the directory. This problem seems very similar to the problems described by those using Nero, which the end sector adjustment above resolved. The movie was split at chapter 15 and all the extras were placed on the second disc which as I said burned fine. I also tested the +RW Philips media (the particular one disc 1 burn fails) and was able to write disc 2 w/o problems.
Any Ideas?
Below is a list of files on disc 1:

Files contained in VIDEO_TS in root directory; empty AUDIO_TS directory is also present in root directory.
VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VIDEO_TS.VOB
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_0.VOB
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_02_0.BUP
VTS_02_0.IFO
VTS_02_0.VOB
VTS_03_0.BUP
VTS_03_0.IFO
VTS_03_0.VOB
VTS_04_0.BUP
VTS_04_0.IFO
VTS_04_1.VOB
VTS_05_0.BUP
VTS_05_0.IFO
VTS_05_0.VOB main movie
VTS_05_1.VOB main movie
VTS_05_2.VOB main movie
VTS_05_3.VOB main movie
VTS_05_4.VOB main movie split at ch 15

[Josh]

Could Windvd play the folder? Open windvd, right click, choose soource I think, and then choose DVD from folder and see if it plays.

[cinematic]

My version of WinDVD (2.3) is too old to play anything from the hard disk. My version of PowerDVD will play the disk 1 file correctly from the hard drive, as well as the physical disc 1 that can be burned only when unchecking 'recognize ...folders per DVD specification' option. Does it look to you from the file listing that everything is there that should be? I'm wondering why RecordNow Max objects to the included files or their content. It has no problem with disc2. I think the key lies here, but I can't figure out what is not within DVD spec. I found and fixed the discrepency you mentioned in earlier posts regarding cell end sector before I made the original post.

UPDATE:
After using Hakko504's suggestion I was able to play Disc1 off the hard drive using WinDVD where the files of Disc1 were represented as virtual drive Z. First of all, playing the ripped full version displayed odd behavior not present when playing the same way using PowerDVD 4.0 (see post in answer to Hakko504's post).

After splitting the DVD at chapter 15 as described in the original post, I tried playing the Disc1 files back using WinDVD where the files of Disc1 were represented as virtual drive Z. I rebooted and played (again using WinDVD) the Disc1 from the DVD+RW that was recorded ignoring the DVD spec . I then did the same test using PowerDVD 4.0. The strange results follow:

WinDVD playing Disc1, files represented as virtual drive Z:
Selecting ch 13 or 14 from chapter menu plays credit for DVD compression Service.
All chapter button highlights on mouse-over fine.


WinDVD playing Disc1 DVD+RW that was recorded from above files ignoring the DVD spec ;
Selecting ch 13 or 14 from chapter menu plays ch 13, ch 14
chapter button highlights on mouse-over does not work on chapter menu.

PowerDVD 4.0 playing Disc1, files represented as virtual drive Z:
no problems

PowerDVD 4.0 playing Disc1 DVD+RW that was recorded from above files ignoring the DVD spec ;
no problems

The problem recording disc1, and the inability of the Toshiba to recognize disc2, but not 1 are still the big problem here.

[Josh]

It seems that the movies you and Gasha are trying to burn are a little trickier. I'm going to try to get a hold of the Matrix tonight and see what happens, hopefully we can figure something out. Seems like the dvd splitting guide we made works on 95% of the movies, yet there are couple of tough ones we're trying to figure out. Not sure why. Does that movie have 2 versions on it?

[cinematic]

No, there is just one version of video. There are several alternate sound tracks. I chose to split at chapter 15, so that all the bonus material fits on the second disc. I don't know exactly what RecordNow Max (or for that matter just RecordNow that was bundled with the writer)is looking at when it checks for 'folders per DVD specification...'. Does it open files? Why would changing the end sector value above resolve the disc1 'file allocation error' that people were getting using Nero. It seems as though these problems are related.

[hakko504]

Originally posted by cinematic
My version of WinDVD (2.3) is too old to play anything from the hard disk. Not true: make sure the vobs are in a <path>\video_ts folder. Then in <path> put a .bat file with this scriptsubst z: /d
subst z: .double click on the batch file and you have a new drive available, fully selectable in WinDVD.

[cinematic]

Originally posted by hakko504
Not true: make sure the vobs are in a <path>\video_ts folder. Then ...

Thanks Hakko504:

Your script works when I configure WinDVD to use the virtual drive as the default drive, and then hit play. For some reason I have not been able to get anything on hard drive to play by selecting the virtual drive (as disc) in PLAYLIST.

I have found that WinDVD does not play consistantly using the above method. I ripped a backup of Almost Famous to the hard disk using DVDDecryptor. The files are in the correct folders, and have not been further altered by splitting, etc.. The drive is a RAID0 array of 2 40 gig drives. The chapter menus do not link to the correct chapters. The first play (studio logo) is not consistant in audio track selection; sometimes sound is not heard unless the proper track is selected. There are other peculiarities addressed in the update to my post above.
There is no problem whatever using PowerDVD 4.0

How do I delete the virutual drive w/o rebooting-- or does it matter? I see that ImgTools can do this.

[Josh]

Hmm, seems like I have run into the same problem with A Walk to Remember. Plays fine with Windvd, but am now getting the error with Nero. I wonder why some movies have those problems?

[hakko504]

Originally posted by cinematic
How do I delete the virutual drive w/o rebooting-- or does it matter? I see that ImgTools can do this. That's the first line of the script: subst z: /d It removes any old virtual drive you may have assigned to z: For a list of virtual drives, you can just run subst without parameters.

[Josh]

I think I may have found the answer, if disc 1 plays in windvd. See here:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=274098#post274098

Let me know if it works.

[cinematic]

Originally posted by Josh
I think I may have found the answer... I am working with RecordNow which came bundled with the HP300i. It seems to have most of the functionality of RecordNow Max, but lacks certain manual settings. I don't think I can write to an image file using RecordNow, but I can with RecordNow Max (trial).
I am quite certain I tried to create an image file first, and then use it to write disc1 to DVD+RW. Using RecordNow Max, I had the same problem in that it would not create the image file unless I unchecked the 'recognize ...folders per DVD specification' option. If I did that, it was really the same as just writing to the DVD+RW.
What you are saying in the above link to your post (create image using ImgTools, write DVD with DVD decryptor) is that somehow using those programs, the DVD will be written in a way that allows the standalone player to read it. I will try this (not sure Decryptor can write using HP300i) and report back. I am wondering which step rectifies the problem; creating the image, or writing to DVD. Of course different standalone players will react differently depending on media and many other factors. In my case, disc2 played fine on the standalone, but disc1 did not. Therefore something was awry with the way it was written. The fact that RecordNow balked at the attempt to record disc1 indicates there is something wrong with the files included (my error) or the individual files written by IFOEdit. I had no problem writing disc 2, or a disk that contained a movie that was not split. Another thing that has me perplexed is the difference between the reading from the hard disk of the disc2 files by PowerDVD and WinDVD. From the errors I had with WinDVD (see update of my post above answering your question re: ability to read with WinDVD), would you consider disc2 passed the read test using WinDVD?

[Josh]

Well, I first made an image with Winiso and burned that and the movie wouldn't play, but doing it with image tools and dvd decryptor worked fine. From my experience with testing movies on windvd, the movies that played back funny in windvd aslo played back funny on the standalone in the same manner. So windvd seemed pretty accurate to me. I haven't tested poerdvd though so I can't offer any insight there.

IF you've removed the 1 end sector on disc 1 and still got the error, the only other current solution I have is imgtools and dvd decryptor.

[cinematic]

Originally posted by Josh
the only other current solution I have is imgtools and dvd decryptor. I tried your suggestion. I made a virtual Z: drive based on the directory containing the disc 1 files using ImgTools and then made the .img file. I was unable to burn using DVD Decryptor 3.1.4.0 with the HP 300i. It sees the HP drive, but indicates the (erased DVD+RW media) disc in not empty. With an unused DVD+RW, decryptor indicates the disc is not formatted. In either case, the write button never appears to be functional. I changed the file extension of the disc 1 .img file written by ImgTools to .iso and was able to burn to DVD using RecordNow. RecordNow did not object to the file structure. The Toshiba standalone, however, unlike disc2, still will not load the DVD, giving me a disk error message.

I read the uberguide at Trilight (http://dvdguides.trilight.net/) and am convinced that this movie needs to be reauthored to get disc 1 to meet the DVD spec (in whatever capacity disc1 it is not doing so now after the split). Unfortunately, to do this requires Scenarist. Otherwise I will just have to be content with watching disc one on the PC, and not the Toshiba.

[cinematic]

I can finally report back why disc 1 of Almost Famous split at chapter 15 would not record using RecordNow.
Using RecordNow bundled with HP300i does not allow the user to prevent the program from checking to see if a file structure meets DVD spec (unlike full version RecordNow Max). IF the burned DVD meets the spec, it will play in my standalone (if recorded with the mode 2 bit setting set on the player with the HP utility also bundled in the drive software). Thus, if RecordNow will record the data file which it tests for compliance with DVD spec when it sees the folder VIDEO_TS, the burned DVD will play on my standalone (a very picky one).
The primary reason that disk 1 was not meeting DVD spec as far as RecordNow was concerned was the failure to include a VOB file for every IFO and BUP file on the disk structure.
This was discovered after careful examination of the disc2 files which the program burned fine.
I looked for the smallest VOB file on disc2 (10KB) I could find. I then renamed this file for every occurrence of a missing VOB file on disc1 that was on disc2.
I had already copied all the VOB and BUP files to the disc1 VIDEO_TS that were missing after IfoEdit did the split of the main movie file VIDEO_TS.
The file list on disc1 now looked the same as disc2, except for the fact that disc1 had more VTS_05_XX.vob files since it contained the majority of the video of the main movie. It also contained the logo, and the main menu, but none of the extras which had all been placed on disc2.
Even though IfoEdit did the get VTS sectors function on the main movie IFO, I still had to go back and run the get VTS sectors function for every other IFO I added, and only AFTER ADDING THE VIDEO FILLER FILES.
I did this manually to ensure each file was saved. Each time I opened a file, I had to make sure it was highlighted in the top window to ensure the function was performed on the correct file, AND MAKE CERTAIN IT WAS SAVED. Acutually, the do all at one time seems to work OK, provided you do it after adding the video filler file. Only then did RecordNow record disc1. I went back and tested this by not including the video filler files, and making sure I ran VTS sectors function for every IFO. Disc1 would not record. It was only when the video filler files were included that RecordNow recorded disc1.
Unfortunately, clicking on an extra causes the standalone to go to that included filler file, and there is no way to get out of it. With more work, the proper short video files could be included to successfully navigate these pitfalls, or perhaps the existing menus could be edited to make the choices unavailable. At this point, I am just happy to see it working. I am also convinced that the way to do this properly is to spend $14000, and learn to reauthor with Scenarist! Anyone know where I can get a discount?;)

[mikewillnot]

THANKS for the great, helpful explanation, CINEMATIC. I had the same problem with a split of Last of the Mohicans. Turns out there were some small files from the original that needed to be in both split folders to prevent that RNMax error: VTS_03_x and VTS_04_x. Problem solved.
BTW, after a great deal of very frustrating experience w Nero, I've been using RNMax for a few weeks, now, trial version, with 100% success. I LOVE this program.

[cinematic]

Originally posted by mikewillnot
THANKS for the great, helpful explanation, CINEMATIC.When I find the time, I want to replace those small files so that they indicate where to go to find the sought after feature, which might be on the other disk. The way it stands now, if I click on those missing features when playing the disk on the standalone, at worst, the player locks up and I have to shut it off. Since I don't have Scenarist, I'm not about to reauthor. It gets to the point where it is simply not worth the cost of the original DVD. I'm pretty sure this can be done w/o too much effort, and would mean you don't have to redo all the other video files. When I come up with some other solutions, I'll post them. I started to split We Were Soldiers, and I'm afraid it is going to be very similar. Splitting at ch 13 for that film allowed all extras on the 2nd disc, and all but the extra using vob 5 to be placed on disc 1 as well. That means the only thing unavailable when playing disc 1 is ch 14-19 and whatever that 5th extra is. As you can see I have not had a chance to play around with it much. Last of the Mohicans is a great film! I can't shed any light on that one, since I have not attempted to back up the copy I own.