PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Windows PCs & Software: Help, News & Discussion => Topic started by: Clive on November 25, 2007, 17:18
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OK I confess that I am very inexperienced in this department. :) I have a professionally recorded DVD of a recent wedding that took place in Thailand which cost £100 to purchase. Unsurprisingly I would like to have copied made, but my son who is usually quite good using Nero etc has failed miserably. Does anyone have any ideas how I can make or obtain copies?
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Unless they've invested in some expensive copy protection, Clive, it should be a straightforward matter of telling Nero to make a copy. What's happening?
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I don't know because I don't have Nero installed myself. But I'll find out and let you know. I have software called "instantwrite" which has worked for copying CD's in the past so I'll see if it will copy a DVD. Please bear with me! o:)
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It should be as simple, in Nero, as starting the app, selecting DVD then DVD copy. Should... but then we are talking about computers here. :(
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Thanks Rik. :)
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Apparently Nero just won't acknowledge it at all. I've tried using Instant Write which is usually pretty good at copying CDs and DVDs but the wedding DVD just causes my computer to re-boot with some very scary consequences. I've found a company called DVD Quote http://www.dvdquote.co.uk/quote.php who will do a copy for under a tenner so I think I might give them a try.
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For copy protected dvd's i use "DVDFab Platinum", but for Nero not to acknowledge it sounds strange, Nero should give you a "copy protected" message if it has some sort of "copy protection. You could try "DVD Decrypter", it's a small free DVD ripping program.
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I wonder if the original DVD hasn't been finalised, Clive? Would have thought Nero would still read it though.
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The re-boot sounds odd, too, Simon. It sounds like they are using something unpleasant to copy-protect it - maybe a Sony rootkit? :(
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What was so disconcerting is that the screen went completely blank for what seemed an age before the automatic re-boot. After re-boot the computer ran at a snails pace which suggested that something was hogging the resources for around 10 minutes before it properly woke up again. If it was anythng to do with finalisation I don't see how it would have played on my DVD player Simon. Root kits sound very scary Rik. I think I had better run some malware checks to be on the safe side!
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I would, Clive. I'm probably being over-cautious, but remembering what Sony did to people, it's better to be safe than sorry.
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Incidentally, the DVD's are made by Sony.
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Clive, if you go to the bottom of this page (http://www.f-secure.com/security_center/), you should find a download for a rootkit scanner / remover.
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The make of DVDs won't be the issue, Clive, it sounds much more to do with what someone has put on them. :(
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sorry if this is a daft thing to say, but cant you virus check the DVD that you are trying to copy?
I always do anything I get from someone else.
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Also, just another point, but as the DVD originated from Thailand, I don't suppose it could be region coded, could it?
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Phew! All scans completed and it's as clean as a whistle. A very useful tool Simon! 8-) The fact that it plays on both my DVD players suggests that it's unlikely to be region coded. They just appear to be normal DVD's marked Sony DVD-R 120 min 4.7 GB. The outfit that recorded it and took the photos were very professional. DVD and photos are far removed from the usual run of the mill stuff I've seen in the UK so it's very likely that they have put some good protection on it. That DVDFab Platinum seems very good gmax. What happens at the end of the 30 day trial though? Does it go away quietly or does it harrass you to send money? Can you uninstall it? Not sure if you can scan a recorded DVD for viruses. :)
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Not sure if you can scan a recorded DVD for viruses. :)
It's just another disk drive, Clive - it should work.
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you not got a copy of the now defunct dvd decrypter?
;)
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What about DVD shrink Clive, if you run it through that 1st, it will show up if you have a decryption on it ;)
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I haven't got anything apart from InstantWrite which I don't think is a particularly powerful piece of kit. :bawl:
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The best thing to use is Slysofts Any DVD.
The later versions even remove encryption from Blu-ray and HD DVDs :)
You just install the program and it runs quietly in the background and scans any DVD or CD that you put in your pc.
A message comes up asking you to wait a couple of seconds then you can do anything you want with the CD/DVD with any copying or burning program.
Its a perfectly legal program to buy and use but I believe that Slysoft are getting some hassle from the DRM people about it ;D
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Its a perfectly legal program to buy and use but I believe that Slysoft are getting some hassle from the DRM people about it ;D
now theres a surprise :( dont suppose theres any hassle from a company that rhymes with 'pony' too is there ;)
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That certainly seems to be a good piece of software Sandra!
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Phew! All scans completed and it's as clean as a whistle. A very useful tool Simon! 8-) The fact that it plays on both my DVD players suggests that it's unlikely to be region coded. They just appear to be normal DVD's marked Sony DVD-R 120 min 4.7 GB. The outfit that recorded it and took the photos were very professional. DVD and photos are far removed from the usual run of the mill stuff I've seen in the UK so it's very likely that they have put some good protection on it. That DVDFab Platinum seems very good gmax. What happens at the end of the 30 day trial though? Does it go away quietly or does it harrass you to send money? Can you uninstall it? Not sure if you can scan a recorded DVD for viruses. :)
I don't have the trial version, i have the full version what it costs?, i have no idea? you can uninstall it without any problems. I used to use "dvd shrink" but that program is now over 3 years old, no good for the later copy protection. "Slysofts Any DVD" works well with "CloneDVD", it should copy most copy protected dvd's.
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Thanks very much for all your help on this matter. I hadn't realised there was so much copying software available for free!
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you just have to look in right places, it's all there
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Will windows explorer recognise it Clive ? If it does another method would be to copy the entire videoTS folder to the hard drive. Nero might then be able to recognise the files. Burn as "dvd video"
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Yes Explorer recognises it but strangely splits it into 2 files, an audio file and a video file. The audio file won't open but the video file opens up into a further 8 files:
VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.VOB
VTS_01_0.1FO
VTS_01_2.VOB
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VTS_01_0.1FO
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_01_3.VOB
The TS files are very small (12KB) but the VOB files are big.
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Thats the standard DVD format Clive, bup, ifo and vob.
Vobs are limited to 1.99gb so that they will work in FAT32 formatted drives and theyre the ones that carry the actual video.
The bup and ifo files tell the DVD player which order to play the vobs in.
The Audio_TS folder is usually empty unless there are multiple audio languages.
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What Sandra said - she hit post before me. :)
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Clive just drop the dvd over to me, i will have it copied in 15 mins, :)this is not a "pressed DVD" i doubt there is any copy protection on it.
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Wow!! The knowledge you people have!! ;D
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Clive, open Nero and select DVD Video. Navigate to the files you hopefully have persuaded to copy to the HD. Drag these from the right hand pane (All the files should be selected ie vob, bup, ifo and ts) to the video TS folder on the extreme left and burn the compilation. Hopefully this will give you a stable copy which if you require you should then be able to make further copies of with the usual "copy" function in nero. :thumbs:
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So I've downloaded Clone DVD and AnyDVD - for free - yes FREE - to my desktop and I have 21 days to evaluate it. "use it frequently" they said. It took less than 2 minutes to download the lot (oh well I have a BT Broadband connection running at all of 9 kb/s on a good day). Well, that's enough excitement for today! Best for me to lie down in a darkened room now. ;D
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Thanks Dave, but I don't have Nero. I'm very deprived. ;D
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You know, Clive, the i and a are so well separated on the keyboard that I'm surprised at that typo. ;D :scoot:
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An easy mistake to make Rik. :sheep:
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:rofl:
I'm glad that your sense of humour is in tune with mine, Clive. ;)
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I think we all have the same sense of humour here Rik. ;D
OK, I've plucked up enough courage to click on AnyDVD to see what it has to say. It says there is no protection at all! This is what it says:
Summary for drive D: (AnyDVD 6.2.0.1)
TSSTCORP CD/DVDW TS-H552B TS04 0910
Drive (Hardware) Region: 0 (not set!)
Media is a DVD.
Booktype: dvd-r (version 5), Layers: 1
Total size: 1366896 sectors (2669 MBytes)
Video DVD (or CD) label: NEW
Media is not CSS protected.
Video Standard: PAL
Media is locked to region(s): 1 2 3 4 5 6!
RCE protection not found.
Structural copy protection not found.
Autorun not found on Video DVD.
Bad sector protection not found.
Emulating RPC-2 drive with region 1!
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DVD Clone has located the files and is racing through the DVD at great speed. 8-)
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Now it's saying Output Method - DVD Files or ISO/UDF Image. Are the files now on my computer? Do I eject the source DVD and insert a blank recordable? Getting pannicky now! :bawl:
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Tell it DVD files and follow the prompts would be my advice, Clive.
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Now it's saying Output Method - DVD Files or ISO/UDF Image. Are the files now on my computer? Do I eject the source DVD and insert a blank recordable? Getting pannicky now! :bawl:
Clone dvd either clones the dvd to another dvd or it clones them to a directory you specify before it starts to record. I normally clone the dvd files to my computer for archiving. If you want to see where the output directory is go to clone a dvd again and see where the output directory is set to. If the files are less than 4.5gigs then its ready to be burned with nero.
Btw, I can't post on my normal account. Sandra changed the sn for me to reno and it locked up my member permissions.
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Btw, I can't post on my normal account. Sandra changed the sn for me to reno and it locked up my member permissions.
Should be OK now, Bob (as Reno). Sandra had used the wrong method to give you access to the Danger Zone, and that had blocked your usual permissions.
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It happens. Thank you for sorting it out.
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Since I only have the one copy of the source DVD and it's irreplacable, I'm slightly paranoid about accidentally overwriting it! Hence the extreme caution and reluctance to play around. I really need to find some unimportant DVD to test it out on.
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Step by step screen shot. I've done it many a time.
(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg523.imageshack.us%2Fimg523%2F7240%2F80944366hd1.th.jpg&hash=bbaa49da52b5b3b8ec9f46e28f3552b7bc815f66) (http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7240/80944366hd1.jpg)
(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg523.imageshack.us%2Fimg523%2F3960%2F37919666th4.th.jpg&hash=70e820b45c02630273e7feb90850a18d71c097d3) (http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/3960/37919666th4.jpg)
(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg523.imageshack.us%2Fimg523%2F954%2F31182507zt2.th.jpg&hash=1aabf42ff75485d65a793af6b73d446b2863da3a) (http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/954/31182507zt2.jpg)
(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg523.imageshack.us%2Fimg523%2F7061%2F23984870tm6.th.jpg&hash=7a83a226174ca6a0c94a79fa59daa97af606db29) (http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7061/23984870tm6.jpg)
After you get your output directory go hunt down your dvd files to burn with nero. I burn the output files with nero because my burner doesn't burn movies well at high speeds. 6x is normally the speed i burn at.
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Sandra had used the wrong method to give you access to the Danger Zone, and that had blocked your usual permissions.
If Sandra is letting people into the Danger Zone, I hope she's wearing her contacts!! :o
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Yes, sorry Sandra, that came across as rather matter of fact, and slightly cold. We do have a sticky in the Office about how the Membergroups are set up, which isn't quite as straightforward as it may at first seem. :)
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The sticky or the process?? ;)
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You have an office? :o
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Simon's being posh - it's actually a converted broom cupboard. ;)
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Simon's being posh - it's actually a converted broom cupboard. ;)
What do you mean 'converted'?? :)x
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Thanks for that Bob. You still have to use Nero for the burning process?
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Get Nero but do a custom install, that way you can leave all the extras off
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What do you mean 'converted'?? :)x
New label on the door? o:)
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Thanks gmax. I was assuming that clonedvd did the burning as well. Things are beginning to get less cloudy!
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well it can but i find burning dvd video files more reliable with Nero
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Thanks for that Bob. You still have to use Nero for the burning process?
Yep. Using the rip software to burn is the same as using an untested burning software on top of an untested ripping software. If the dvd doesn't play how do you know where the problem is. Besides I don't normally rip to make a new dvd. I rip to make a backup on my harddrive. That way even if a copy and the original are damaged I can still make a new copy.
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Thanks Bob - I've just ordered Nero 8 from Amazon. I know I could have downloaded it but I prefer to have the CD so I can install it on more than one machine. 8-)
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I know I could have downloaded it but I prefer to have the CD so I can install it on more than one machine. 8-)
Once you download Nero you could have used it to burn the download to a CD Clive ;)
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True Sandra, but it's nice to have the original CD and manual. :)
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If you want to do the job straight away, Clive, you could always download the trial version from the website, then register it when the retail box arrives. :)
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Ha! Stop trying to stampede me into abandoning my inertia Simon!
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:laugh:
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My new computer came pre-installed with NTI CD and DVD maker 7 but that wouldn't copy the wedding DVD either. However, I've now installed Nero 8 and there was no problem at all copying it. Delightfully easy software to use! And it will make as many copies as I want one after the other. I've run out of blank DVD's now! ;D Thanks for all your help on this - I got there in the end! Nero rules!
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Indeed it does, Clive. It's the best all-rounder I have ever used. :)