Got to go, hardrive full of video

[CilyPudi]

I need to do something with about 40G of video on my computer. It's of all different lengths and formats. I've burned lots of music, but no video. I generally know how to use the burning software, but I'd really like to know how to proceed with this. The general question is this:

If you had 40G of different types video on your computer, what would you do to remove it but preserve it.

I need video geeks (pros!) who would love to tell a newbie how to handle all this material the easiest and best and most effecient way with what I've got. To help guide me, here is the software on my desktop I have to work with:

-Ashampoo Burning Studio 6
-Nero Express 6 v6.6.1.4 (with add-on pack)
-1Click DVD Copy 4.2
-Ashampoo Movie Shrink and Burn 2
-Convert X to DVD 2.0.12
-Video Convert Master v4.9
-WinAVI Video Converter 7.5
-AVI DivX MPEG to DVD Converter and Burner Pro 2.3
-ImTOO 3GP Video Converter 2.1.6.2
-Easy DVD Extractor 2.2
-DVDIdle Pro 5.9.7.5
-AnyDVD 5.9.6.1
-All Video Splitter 2.8
-Easy Video Splitter 1.28
-Easy Video Joiner 5.21

I have all this video and all these tools, where would you start to free up the harddrive?

[mats.hogberg]

Back it up as is on a few DVD-Rs, or buy a new HDD. There's no "one guide fits all". Why have you bought all those apps if you don't know (or have found out) how to use them?

/Mats

[CilyPudi]

I bought the software when I first got the computer and did not know which worked best. So I tried different ones.

I guess what I am asking is, is there a preferred format that I should convert them all to and burn. How do I back them up and would they play on a DVD in the various formats "as is"?

And what about converting them all to the smallest format I can the burn. After that, could I reburn the DVD? Sorry, but I really am a newbie.

[boldego]

I'd probably just burn them to DVD-R as data files. ImgBurn version 2 will burn data folders and it's free.

[mats.hogberg]

is there a preferred format that I should convert them all to and burn.

Different playback devices have different "preferred" formats. XviD/DivX is a good compromise between quality and file size, but requires a player capable of AVI playback.

How do I back them up

Just burn them to a (number of) DVD-R as data.

would they play on a DVD in the various formats "as is"?

Probably not.

And what about converting them all to the smallest format I can the burn.

That'd be something like XviD AVI

After that, could I reburn the DVD?

I really don't get what you mean by that

Sorry, but I really am a newbie.

Yes, and we've all been there. Then we started reading guides here at Videohelp (and asking questions when we stumbeled on things we didn't understand! )

/Mats

[dvdfreak123]

Simple like mats.hogberg has said and back all up to DVDR, burn max data to disk so not to use to many DVD disks. Next if you have a divx/xvid player you can try and see if they will play as you will not hurt anything.. Later you can go back and recopy to computer and change the formats to something compatible with your players.. This is what I suggest if you need to clear up space now....

just my 2cents

[CilyPudi]

Thank ya'll! Now I am getting somewhere!

So, I'm understanding that .avi is a "good' general format to put effeciently onto DVD-R and later, if I want, I can recopy the exact .avi files from the DVD back onto my HD, and then do with them as I want?

Would there be an increase or decrease in quality (I know the size will increase) in mpeg, wma or 3gp files when I convert them to .avi?

And did boldego mean I could somehow convert video files to data files without degrading them and then burn the small data files onto a disk? What kind, CD-R or DVD-R?

[redwudz]

AVI is not a 'format' actually, just a general type of video. Xvid is a format, and makes fairly compact video. A ~5GB DVD video can be compressed down to ~700MB with decent quality for a small screen. You can convert it back to DVD, but you can't get back the same quality as the original DVD.

There will never be an increase in quality, but how much of a decrease will depend on the format (codec) used and the settings for it. The bitrate used for the video mainly controls the quality and the resulting size. If they are already highly compressed with a codec like RM or WMA, you probably won't get them any smaller, at the same quality.

By putting them on a disc as 'data', they just mean burning them as is, in what ever format they presently are, instead of formating them to DVD or SVCD or Divx or VCD or the more common playback formats that some standalone players can use.

[CilyPudi]

@redwudz, you said the conversion quality "depends on the format (codec) used and settings".

That is why I listed the software I have available, because I am not expert with it, and i thought someone might recognize something and recommend the settings to get the best quality. Most of my files are .avi, .mpeg, MPEG2 and .wma.

You see my converting and burning software, what would one do themself with it?

Also a question, when I reinsert my created 'data DVD', how do I prompt the computer to download files off it, and may one pick and choose from it?

I know I could experiment and find all this out, but heck I'm here and I'm up 8) . Thanks for following.

[edDV]

Don't expect this "disk full" problem to ever be solved. I have 1.4 TB and still must stop what I want to do to work on clearing disk space. A new drive gives you a few days of luxury, then again the disk is full.

[CilyPudi]

HA! @edDV I love it! "GET A NEW DRIVE" A blunt honest answer, cut to the chase, forecast my future. Very easy to read between the lines!

You have been here, know I am likely to continue amassing alot of material and screw messing with all the converting burning crap. I like that! And you are correct.

But I'd still like to know about the burning stuff.

[redwudz]

The only ones I've used much from that list is ConvertXToDVD and AnyDVD. Neither one is much use for conversion to Xvids.

For smaller files I would use VirtualDub Mod and the Xvid codec. For full length videos, such as movies, AVI.net or FairUse Wizard or AutoGK are a few that work well. Some formats, like WMV, you could try SUPER. It will also do Xvid conversions of MPEGs instead of VirtualDub and may be a little easier for beginners.

A 'data' DVD would just be a direct copy of the files you have on your hard drive. If you want to work on them, just copy them back to the hard drive. For playing, you can do that from the DVD. VLC is a good all around player that handles most any format and doesn't need installed codecs, or your present software players should work fine.

The settings for any codec or conversion depend on too many factors to list here. The main factor is bitrate, which determines the overall quality and size of the encoded video. Most codecs like Xvid have default settings that work fine for most videos and you can leave them set as is. If you want the video smaller or you want to change the quality, you can change those settings.

The programs I use most for video:

Freeware

Gspot
VirtualDub Mod
SUPER
Audacity
VLC Media Player
DVD Shrink
DVD Decrypter
ImgBurn
DVDFab Decrypter


Payware

Nero (Only for burning.)
MPEG Video Wizard
FairUse Wizard
ConvertXToDVD
TMPGEnc Plus Encoder
TMPGEnc DVD Author
ISO Buster

There are freeware programs that will do about the same things as the payware programs listed.

[3Simon7]

If you had 40G of different types video on your computer, what would you do to remove it but preserve it.

I put most of my files on DVDs but since the price of hard drives has fallen I've
been saving my most cherished videos on hard drives.

Here is an example of a 200 gb drive for $50, which can store a LOT of files.
I use Maxtor and Seagate and there are plenty of threads and opinions on both!!!
Here's the link........
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/3492233

Also, I have about 10 external hard drive cases which can be switched from PC to PC.
An example is pictured at the bottom of my post.

I also have internal drive trays that can be pulled out of the PC.

Since the price of drives has fallen so much I am leaning more toward them
instead of DVDs, but of course a drive can crash!

[CilyPudi]

Thanks all. I got alot of info to work with. Thanks redwuds for the lengthy reply. For you, In my Program Files I have XvID folder with AviC.exe in it. Does this mean I have what I need to burn XviD and how do I use it. Just fyi, I've got Super, VLC, Audacity and ConvertX.

I have PowerISO v3.2, but I haven't installed it yet. Is this the same as ISO Buster? What will I do with it (lazy)?

But, I think I got it. Using all your input, take care of all the little stuff I got now and then spring for a extra $50 hardrive!

I'm still not sure how to "copy" data back onto my HD with a burned disc.

[redwudz]

I just use Koepi's latest Xvid build: XviD Codec

Power ISO should do about the same as ISOBuster. I only use that when I want to extract a file from a ISO, not often.

You can just 'drag a drop' a file from the DVD to your hard drive.

[CilyPudi]

I grabbed the Koepi codec and the VirtualdubMOD. I guess that's all for now unless anyone else adds. I'll explore further now. thanks.

[waheed]

I was in the same situation. I had over 100GB of video files, with space used up. I decided to buy an additional hard drive (400GB to be precise) rather than burn to DVD (as would be time consuming). Now I only use the 400GB hard drive for multimedia storage (music, games, videos etc...) I also have other hard drives for backup purposes.

[SingSing]

DVD video looks dim and lifeless on most PC screens, vs on TV. Harddisk may not be an idea place to store and watch video, if the PC does not have a good TV output.