I'm going mad. HELP!

[pelsamra]

I'm having the exact same problem as moorthy wrote in a previous post. He wrote with a few added changes;

I've installed a brand new LG 4040B DVD burner.

Backing up data to DVD+R disks seems to be no problem at all using DVDXCOPY. I've burned about 7 DVD so far trouble free.

Then I decided to back up a DVD-9 on one DVD.

DVDXCopy Express seemed to work flawlessly, and told me that the burn was successful. The burned DVD+R will not play in my computer's DVD drive. The DVD drive does not even recognize the disk. Using Windows explorer is fruitless. It's like the files don't exist. Also Power DVD says the DVD is of an unrecognized fromat.

For Plan B, I extracted the files from the commerial DVD to my hard drive using DVDShrink, and burned them to DVD+R using CopytoDVD. CopytoDVD said that the burn was successful, but YET AGAIN, the DVD drive can't see the disks.

Everything seems to work fine until I get to the actual burning phase with the video_ts folder. I've tried burning the DVD as a data DVD rather than a DVD video, and that doesn't work. I've followed the "Read me first, DVD copying methods!" instruction exactly using multiply programs.

What am I doing wrong? I'm going insane, I've wasted 8 DVD so far as. Please help.

[defense]

well..there are ONLY two things I can think of. One, is that you aren't capitalizing the "VIDEO" and AUDIO_TS folders. I wouldn't think that would affect the playback in your DVD ROM though......you didn't capitalize it in your post...so capitalize those folders....it's part of the dvd specifications......AND THEN TRY AGAIN. If the burn is sucessful...and you used DVD SHRINK...that means the necessary files should of been there...I'd think that for some reason your DVD ROM is having a problem POSSIBLEY with +R media. Try to READ THE BURNED DISK from YOUR BURNER...and see if that works... you should be able to view the contents of the disk in explorer from your BURNER.....

[pelsamra]

I am capitalizing the VIDEO_TS folder. Why havn't I encountered a AUDIO_TS folder? Or rather, how do I make an AUDIO_TS folder? Furthermore, the DVD drive plays backed up DVD using DVDXCOPY. Also what does one mean by reading the DVD?

Thanks

[ddlooping]

Hello and welcome, pelsamra.

I think DVDXCopy and DVDXCopy Xpress do not use the same burning engine.
I would suggest you could either:

- Update your version of DVDXCopy Xpress, as this bug might have been fixed.

- Use another software to burn your backups.
There are quite a few trial versions of the most common ones available.

You could also check these guides to make sure you followed the correct process:
http://www.dvdshrink.info/guides.php

[defense]

I am capitalizing the VIDEO_TS folder. Why havn't I encountered a AUDIO_TS folder? Or rather, how do I make an AUDIO_TS folder?

You just need to create a "BLANK" AUDIO_TS folder and add it to all your backups along with your VIDEO_TS folder. Those are DVD SPECS...some studios don't put an AUDIO_TS folder on their disks...and i'm not sure as to why. The folder isn't needed at this time...and isn't ever used..but it should be there. Even on the disks where i've not had a AUDIO_TS folder...I make sure I add one. Even on the DVD-5's. That's one reason I won't rip a DVD-5 in .ISO mode if it doesn't have an AUDIO_TS folder.


With that being said..a lot of standalones will still play your disks..even without it....but some won't...that could be part of your problem. But your DVD ROM should still read the disk....although some DVD ROM's are real picky too. Try first with the AUDIO_TS folder and burn on a RW disk....if that doesn't work..make sure you're selecting the correct options with your burning software.

[pelsamra]

I'll give a step by step of what I do. Hopefully someone can spot at what point I'm making a mistake. Here we go;

1- Start DVD Shrink 2.3
2- Select Open Disc
2. Select the DVD and click OK
3- Reduce DVD to around 4.5 GB
4- Hit Backup!
5- Select where to save the new DVD, i usually make a VIDEO_TS folder
(Is this where I make the AUDIO_TS folder?)
6- Select region free
7- Hit OK

Up to this part I think I'm doing everything correctly.

8- Start CopyToDVD
1. Select File -> Write DVD Video
2. Select the video_ts.ifo file on my HD.
3- Burning begins.

After an hour or so. DVD drive is finished burning. I reinsert the DVD. It doesn't play on Power DVD and Windows explorer shows that nothing is in my DVD drive? I'm backing up Sex and the City DVD. I have a pentium 1 GHZ, 40 GB HD. I've used DVDXCopy which works fine. I just want to know how to go about burning a DVD-9 to one DVD. Thanks for all the help

[defense]

Well you said 4.5 GB's.... you can only actually put up to 4.38 GB's on a DVD-R .....not sure what numbers DVD SHRINK uses..as I don't use it. Yes...before you burn is when you add the AUDIO_TS folder...so sure...after DVD SHRINK is finished and you are done putting the files in a VIDEO_TS folder... also create a caplitalized AUDIO_TS folder with nothing in it. Add both of those folders to your burn project and you should be fine.

Although part of your problem may be due to overburning...that's why Windows insn't recognizing the disk possibley. You can only put up to 4.38 GB's onto a DVD-R ...your best bet is to keep that at 4.37 GB's or less.... i've never overburned personally...not with DVDR's at least...so I don't know what you could overburn....due a sample project and make the output 4 GB's ....then try to burn with the AUDIO_TS folder and your VIDEO_TS folder...you should have no problems with windows reading the disk..your standalone should be fine too. If you have an RW...test this out on an RW.... but make the test project 4 GB's or less.

[Grant_H]

2. Select the video_ts.ifo file on my HD.

I have never used copytoDVD, so it could be different than what i'm used to. But you make it sound like you are only burning the video_ts.ifo file to your dvd. You need to burn every file that is in the folder you created with dvdshrink.

oh ya, It might be best to use a DVD+rw you get it to play correctly, so that you don't end up with a bunch of expensive coasters.

[pelsamra]

Thank you all for your help

[royswift]

YES I have the same sort of problem with a LG GSA-4040B.
Most disks if not all I have burned play well for about 40 mins then go to rubbish on set top boxes. When played in a pc and you fast forward you get the disk error below.

I upgraded the firmware to A300 and still had the same problem. I have used Emtec -R (formerly BASF) DVDs from London Drugs here in Canada and the movies I have burned seem to go wrong after 40 mins or so, or right at the beginning. I even burned a Nero 6 backup and it failed the data verification test. I get the PowerDVD error - this disk may have been damaged so as to inhibit playback. On a real DVD player after a certain point the movie gets jerky then unplayable.
I am about to try Fuji -R and Maxell -R DVD's today.

Is this a broken drive or incompatible media ?

[ricky1756]

is it a dual-sided dvd?

[handiman876]

first thing i would do if i were you is get dvd shrink 3.0 beta 5. 2.3 never seemed to work everytime for me. second i have never been able to burn just the video_ts.ifo file and have the dvd play. you need to be burning a file folder named VIDEO_TS and have it contain video_ts.ifo along with several other files such as vts_01_1, vts_01_2, etc. just a final thought - dvd2one has worked for me everytime. i'd like to trust dvd shrink because it's free but 2.3 has always been hit or miss. it left a bad taste in my mouth. peace out.