[Q] Backing up two-sided DVD onto two single-sided DVD-Rs.

[Sasha]

First, I apologize in advance if this isn't the most appropriate of topics or posting locations. I really am new to all of this. This week I bought the Season 1 boxed set of Gilligan's Island while I was in Fry's Electronics. All of the TV series are stored in a Sony DVP-CX985 400-disk changer. This changer does not have the ability to 'flip' disks, but the Gilliagan's Island comes in two-sided formats.

What I would like to do is take the first disk (sides labelled 1A and 1B) and spread this disk's episodes onto two DVD-Rs (single-sided) and load them into my 400-disk changer instead. What I initially did was to use DVD Decrypter to create two ISO images which I placed into GI_1A and GI_1B folders. I then loaded the 1A ISO image into Daemon Tools, followed by launching the Ulead software to author a new project.

Before launching the Ulead software, I confirmed only the 1A ISO was loaded into the Daemond Tools virtual player. If I play this image using PowerDVD, for instance, it only shows the first episode (pilot episode), which is correct, with all other episodes on the 1B side. But, when I load this as a source into the Ulead software is actually finds four episodes, not one. Is this normal?

[Krispy Kritter]

Sounds correct, assuming there are 5 episodes on disc 1.

[HatchetMan]

I have the same player and face the same dilema with flippers. I use DVD Decrypter to read/write iso of side B. Then stick original disc for side A into slot #1 for example and stick new dvdr with side B of the flipper into slot #2. This is for single layer flippers. For dual layer flipers, DVD Shrink would be used in between there on side B to fit on to a single layer blank. This is the most logical way that I can think of and have been doing it for 6 months now.

[Sasha]

I have the same player and face the same dilema with flippers. I use DVD Decrypter to read/write iso of side B. Then stick original disc for side A into slot #1 for example and stick new dvdr with side B of the flipper into slot #2. This is for single layer flippers. For dual layer flipers, DVD Shrink would be used in between there on side B to fit on to a single layer blank. This is the most logical way that I can think of and have been doing it for 6 months now.

Curious, I have created two ISO files for sides 1A and 1B and loaded them into two virtual Daemon Tools drives. Initially, I added the first episode to a 'project' and then added episode two (from the second ISO) and tried to author an new ISO to burn to a DVD-R. It failed to seccessfully author the new project stating that 'all or part' of the audio was a problem. As such, it never got to the burning stage.

I repeat my attempt using just episode one and again it failed for the same reason. Ideas?

[HatchetMan]

^ my only suggestion is to try my way, the programs are free and it's been flawless thus far. No need for virtual Daemon Tools drives. You're trying to create 2 discs from one flipper? Not going to use the original at all like I mentioned? If they are single layer originals (less than 4.7GB of data on each side), then all that is needed is to iso read side A with decrypter, then iso write, then iso read side B, then iso write. That's it. Nothing else.

[Sasha]

I guess I was just trying to avoid compression. I think this may actually be dual-layer as well as double-sided because side 1B would not fit a 4.7-4.9GB project capacity. Will DVDShrink let you trow away? Let me give that I try tomorrow (at work presently).

[Cornucopia]

Treat each side as it's own volume. That's the way the DVD spec is for double-sided discs.

Now, if a side is Dual-layered, use the usual Shrink methods available here.

OT--this is a perfect example of why consumers should be able to do backups. Disc Changers!

Scott

[HatchetMan]

If dual layer and double sided, then you could always reauthor with shrink, take only what you need to minimize compression. With shrink, you can still create iso to burn with decrypter, recommended.

OT--this is a perfect example of why consumers should be able to do backups. Disc Changers!
Scott

[offtopic]
Agreed I have two of them. And now my wife wants me to put a DVD player in her Santa Fe. I'm not letting her keep the originals in there, in the heat of a car in AZ. Another legit reason to make backups.
[/offtopic]

[Sasha]

The amusing thing is that I never really knew DVD Decrypter could burn.

[Sasha]

Ok, this morning I d/l DVD Shrink. I'll use with with just side 1A and see if I can extract/reduce the volume that will successfully burn an ISO to the hard drive (so as not to potentially waste DVD-Rs). If that works then I'll try to burn the ISO. Wish me luck!

[Sasha]

"All or part of the audio data in the MPEG file is not compatible with this program." This is the error message Ulead DVD Movie Factory produces at the end of its activity just before begining the burn routine.

[Tidy]

Wouldn't the easiest way to do this be to rip with decrypter, shrink or iso then burn? Maybe i am missing something but I do not see why you need to reauthor it?

[Sasha]

Actually, you are correct. I realized this just before going to work this afternoon. I really didn't have an understanding of how DVD Decrypter works from a burning task, only how it can rip and create ISOs.

[Sasha]

Ok, I just learned how to 'burn' with DVD Decrypter. When doing so, it looks for an MD5 file. I learned this when I selected the ISO image and it informed me I should have chosen the MD5 file.

Anyway, when I then went to actually burn it I got a report that the volume was too big. I think the MD5 file is reporting the volume as the sum of both sides (1A and 1B), which I ripped to two different ISO files in two different folders. DVD Decrypter thinks the volume is over 8GB for the 1A ISO.

I now wonder if I need to rip to VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS, reauthor as ISO, and then try to burn with DVD Decrytper. I just do not know if the reauthor will create and MD5 file.

I tried to manually filter by ISO files during the file-select portion of the burning process, but it still reports I should have selected the MD5 file.

[Tidy]

Ok, I just learned how to 'burn' with DVD Decrypter. When doing so, it looks for an MD5 file. I learned this when I selected the ISO image and it informed me I should have chosen the MD5 file.

Anyway, when I then went to actually burn it I got a report that the volume was too big. I think the MD5 file is reporting the volume as the sum of both sides (1A and 1B), which I ripped to two different ISO files in two different folders. DVD Decrypter thinks the volume is over 8GB for the 1A ISO.

I now wonder if I need to rip to VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS, reauthor as ISO, and then try to burn with DVD Decrytper. I just do not know if the reauthor will create and MD5 file.

I tried to manually filter by ISO files during the file-select portion of the burning process, but it still reports I should have selected the MD5 file.

Sasha try this just for the heck of it. Rip it with DVDdecrypter then try shrinking it either with DVD Shrink or clone DVD. I use clone DVD because it will shrink and output an ISO at the same time. Once you shrink it and ISO it then you shoud be able to burn it no problem. I have not used MD5 sums ever and I have few coasters (maybe 20 out of 2000 backups). I honestly do not know if DVD Shrink outputs ISO's. The DVD decrypter/cloneDVD/Alcohol to burn the image cobo works for me.

[HatchetMan]

Check out these guides, especially this one, just ignore the burn with Nero part and go with create iso image file and burn with DVD Decrypter.

[Sasha]

Hey folks, I did try again with the latest version of DVD Decrypter and also throwing away the MD5 file. Worked to a successful conclusion. Thanks for the help as I am sure its about to get more involved when handling sides >4.7GB. I guess this is where either the compression or reauthoring comes in handy.