Begginer's question:
 

Hi there, guys.

I'd like to know what I did wrong here.

I used the DVD shrink to rip the contents to the HD, it worked fine. Well, actually, I'm not sure... the contents became a whole lot of files, while in the original it's just one big file.

Anyway, once I had them on the HD, I burned them to the DVD using the "create data DVD" feature.

Only that it won't be recognized in my DVD device, and also it will open as just a bunch of files, not as a DVD, in my computer DVD unit.

I burned it using the B's Recorder Gold5, my DVD recorder is a LG and I'm using a rewriteable DVD ram 4.7 from Maxell.

Also, when I first inserted the blank DVD, it mentioned that it asked to be formated, and I did it.

So, guys, please let me know... what am I doing wrong here?

Regards :).

i think you used the wrong media,i would reccomend ritek. and here you'll find a very good tutorial.

You mentioned that you are using DVD Ram.

I thought DVD machines only read DVD-R and DVD+R.

Hmmm... I followed this tutorial and got it working on my PC, but not in my standalone device.

Perhaps it's because I used the DVD ram.

Now you gave me new hope, man...

Check here to see what media your dvd player supports.

Oh, yeah.

Mine is a Philco DV-P2100.

Looks like it's explained why it didn't work.

Anyway, I have recoreded it in my rw-writeable to test, while I don't buy some blank DVDs.

Now, when I pass this to a DVD-R, will I have to copy it in the HD to burn again, or it will work if I make a DVD to DVD copy?

Hmmm...

Now I recorded it in a DVD-RW, and again my standalone gave the NO DISK message.

Guys, the link you guys gave me is not very conclusive as to what kind of media my DVD supports...

Anyone knows where can I find that info for sure?

Thanks.

Try this, Copy all the files that DVD shrink extracted and burn a DVD VIDEO disc using a version of Nero that supports your writer (Don’t forget to only drag your extracted files in to the TS_VIDEO folder and ignore the TS_AUDIO. Write at a slow speed using DVD-R's and not DVD Ram and avoid packard bell DVD-R's!!!!(They are crap,lol)

Reason for this is Nero in clever enough to know if your writer does or does not support the media in your DVD Drive

This works for my pioneer DVD Writer.

DVD Copying
 

Bighap,

I have read the sticky which talks about DVD copying and understand that i need to get the DVD X Copy Xpress software to burn any DVD's.

However, i recently purchased an NEC Multispin 4x DVD+ Writer (internal drive) from PC World. Incuded within it were packages called Sonic MyDVD, Sonic CinePlayer and Nero 5 Burning Rom(incl Nero 5.5 and InCD 3). I have no idea what any of these things are and since there is no instruction manual to tell me what these are i cannot work out if this is sufficient to burn DVD's? Do i still need the DVD X Copy Xpress software?

Can you tell me where i can get an instruction manual for what my DVD+ Writer has...and how it works?

You don't have to get Xpress. You can use dvd shrink or dvd2one to compress then use Nero to burn.

[Now you've confused me. :confused:

Where do i get hold of these other compressor software things you mentioned above.

Further, does what you say mean that i need to compress the files on a DVD movie (and therefore save to my hard disk) and then burn the compressed files using nero onto a DVD+RW?

You can find the links for all the mentioned programs in the dvd backup for dummies sticky here
If you want to fit the movie onto one disc you almost always have to use compression. Some of the programs will do the ripping, compressing, and burning for you. Read the sticky I liked to above to see what programs do what.

Bighap,

I went through the sticky (thanks), and had a look at the DVD Shrink and the other one you mentioned. The former says it can decrypt a DVD and the latter says it can't...preseume better to go with the Shrink one?

However, whenlooking atthe shrinkones webpage, it mentions that it's a free download. However, you need to go to another page and selectt he one you want.....how would i know which Shrink package is best for me?

Sorry to ask so many PIA questions...but i'm really scared i'll screw something up. Would it not be easier to just buy DVD XCopy Xpress since it will do the whole lot for me at the cick of a button? Do yuo know if it can decrypt?

Xpress does everything. Shrink will decrypt and compress. Get shrink here. You can try the demo for xpress here. Try them both and decide which you like better.

Bighap,

I downloaded a trial version of DVD X Copy.....works very well on my computer and on my DVD player.

I think it would be great to try out the Shrink one as well, but it keeps asking me about downloading some form of Mirror. Which mirror do i need to download and what is a mirror?

If Nero burning software, which i have, will do the burning then all i need is the Shrink...but if it's a little complex then it is probably better to go with Xpress - only took 5 mins to read and burn a DVD....brillian.

BIGHAP....you the man.....and, again, apologies for all the PIA questions.

A mirror is not a piece of software - there's little need to worry which one you pick.
It is the same file only on different servers located around the world - ie the file is mirrored on different servers.
So pick the closest server or mirror to you and it'll download the file from there.

Mirrors
 

Problem with that is the references are not locations, but dates. However, from what you're saying it doesn't really matter which date i pick...if there all the same anyway.

thanks
 

just wanted to say thanks bighap. I now have the DVDShrink and the trial version of Xpress. The Shrink software looks really complex so i think i'll stick with the DVDXCopy software....one click and the job is done.

Final quick question, what is the difference between DVD X Copy Xpress and DVD X Copy Gold? Gold appears to have express on it....but other than that the website doesn't really say much.

Also, would it be worth getting the new platinum edition? or is that mean t for serious writers?

Gold is just a combination of Xpress and the regular version of dvd x copy, which does no compression.

Platinum will be out next month. It is supposed to let you fully customize your burn. Everything from compression, subtitles, audio tracks, extras, etc.

many thanks, once again BigHap...you made my day.

Now to start looking into backing up my PS2 games.....

Hi again,

need some advice. With the Xpress trial version i got hold of i initially backed-up the film Jason X onto a DVD+RW disc. Movie worked fine and no problems en****ered.

I then wanted to back-up a film called "life or something like it". When i put the DVD into the computer, Xpress read it and then requested the DVD to copy to. I inserted the Jason X backup disk, above, since i knew Xpress would format the disk before copying onto it. Again, no problems encountered here.

However, when i played the new back-up, although the name of the DVD was "life or something like it" the film was Jason X.

Can you please tell me what i did wrong?

I personally would not use Xpress to erase your dvd-rw. Try another prog. I use RecordNow Max.

Two things:

Could i not just erase the files on the DVD simply by clicking delete in windows explorer? If not, where can i get the RecordNow Max software from?

You can download a 30 day demo here

Thanks Bighap.