Random Discs Giving Read Errors?

[J8son]

Update:

Thanks all for the help! I'm going to try and re-rip a few of these and Ill keep you posted on my progress!

[MOVIEGEEK]

That is odd, did you try setting "ignore read errors"?
If that doesn't help clean the discs with water and a lint-free cloth, also give AnyDVD a try. If AnyDVD chokes then it has to be bad discs, get an exchange.

[jman98]

ALWAYS tell the name of your problem discs (ie. Complete set of Lost or whatever). Just a few weeks ago we had a post where I think the original poster claimed there was an issue with his rips. After prodding him for more details we found out that he was having playback problems specifically with VLC and when he finally named the DVD set (it was "Home Improvement") I was able to find a thread on the internet that described his problem exactly with "Home Improvement" and how to fix the VLC playback issue for it.

I suppose it's worth mentioning that if you bought this set on Ebay from a "no questions asked" seller in Asia who sold you the set for a lot less money than you know it should cost to buy it in the US, you may be dealing with counterfeit discs.

[J8son]

That is odd, did you try setting "ignore read errors"?
If that doesn't help clean the discs with water and a lint-free cloth, also give AnyDVD a try. If AnyDVD chokes then it has to be bad discs, get an exchange.

Yes, I could probably do that and DVD Decrypter would probably be able to rip it successfully, however, would this not open the door to me now having VOB files as part of my collection that are corrupt or have errors present that I was not aware of?

ALWAYS tell the name of your problem discs (ie. Complete set of Lost or whatever). Just a few weeks ago we had a post where I think the original poster claimed there was an issue with his rips. After prodding him for more details we found out that he was having playback problems specifically with VLC and when he finally named the DVD set (it was "Home Improvement") I was able to find a thread on the internet that described his problem exactly with "Home Improvement" and how to fix the VLC playback issue for it.

I suppose it's worth mentioning that if you bought this set on Ebay from a "no questions asked" seller in Asia who sold you the set for a lot less money than you know it should cost to buy it in the US, you may be dealing with counterfeit discs.

This was a box set bought from Amazon.com by my wife as a gift.

I already tried using my eye glass cleaner I use for my glasses and a special cloth specifically for my lenses, but that didn't change anything.

[MOVIEGEEK]

That link to Amazon looks legit and it's getting good reviews so it must be defective discs, get an exchange.
Do the DVD's play ok?
Did you try AnyDVD or DVDDecrypter?

[J8son]

Yes, I'm trying DDV Decrypter on those disc that caused problems. I think I can rip them with it if I just check "Ignore Errors" but I'm afraid I'll get corrupted VOB files.

Is there a log file I can check to see if the read errors did occur before I move the folder to my collection?

Also, does this mean that this is unusual and has nothing to do with my hardware? Could I possibly improve this with a new DVD drive?

[jman98]

I strongly do NOT recommend using the "ignore errors" option. You will indeed get corrupted VOB files if you do that.

I don't think DVD Decrypter writes a log file by default, but I think you can turn that on if you wish. Do understand that DVD Decrypter was abandoned some years ago and it cannot handle some of the current bad sector copy protection methods.

I think you should return it for new discs. Yes, there is some chance that a new drive may do better for ripping those discs, but I can't guarantee it. I've seen ripping problems occur from old rental discs that have been abused and scratched over the years, but it's very unusual for your problem to occur with new discs. If you were facing the type of decryption issues that DVD Decrypter doesn't understand than all of the discs in a particular season would have that same issue.

[J8son]

I strongly do NOT recommend using the "ignore errors" option. You will indeed get corrupted VOB files if you do that.

I don't think DVD Decrypter writes a log file by default, but I think you can turn that on if you wish. Do understand that DVD Decrypter was abandoned some years ago and it cannot handle some of the current bad sector copy protection methods.

I think you should return it for new discs. Yes, there is some chance that a new drive may do better for ripping those discs, but I can't guarantee it. I've seen ripping problems occur from old rental discs that have been abused and scratched over the years, but it's very unusual for your problem to occur with new discs. If you were facing the type of decryption issues that DVD Decrypter doesn't understand than all of the discs in a particular season would have that same issue.

I see. I'm still wondering what could be so wrong with these three discs that the decryption fails, yet, they play perfectly in any DVD player or on the computer. Srange...very strange...

I do have one final question regarding the disc read errors.

Most the box set, as I said, was done with no issues using DVDFab, which is my preferred method.

On one of the problem discs, I used DVD Decrypter and, even though it took FOREVER, eventually it spat out the finished rip. This was with "Ignore Errors" still unchecked.

Can I assume that in this instance, even though it struggled with it that the VOB files ripped from this disc are fine? It gave me no notices or errors but made a lot of noise in the drive and took about x4 times longer than usual.

[J8son]

Actually, let me put it this way, using the above example:

Disc 3 of Season 2 gave me a read error with DVDFab. I fired up RipIt4Me/DVD Decrypter and tried it again. However, using this method (even without the compression steps) it probably took 45 minutes. Also, the disc was REALLY noisy. But, in the end, it did finish without giving me any error prompts.

Is there any reason to think there is anything corrupted with this disc providing I was not alerted to any issues, even though it gave me so much trouble?

[fritzi93]

Also, does this mean that this is unusual and has nothing to do with my hardware? Could I possibly improve this with a new DVD drive?

It doesn't seem likely on the face of it: i.e. only certain discs cannot be ripped.

Nevertheless, it wouldn't hurt to try on a different drive or computer. Also try removing and re-seating the cables. If the data cable is IDE (flat ribbon), try replacing that. All this is basic troubleshooting- easy things first to get them out of the way.

That said, I have a BD-ROM (LiteOn) that sometimes craps out on a Blu-Ray, whereas my LG BD burner will happily rip the same disc. Whenever that happens I say, that's it, you gotta go. Then it rips the next twenty discs fine. I've never had a drive behave like that; pretty much they work or they don't.

Good luck.

[jman98]

Can I assume that in this instance, even though it struggled with it that the VOB files ripped from this disc are fine? It gave me no notices or errors but made a lot of noise in the drive and took about x4 times longer than usual.

Yes, you can assume that. I have had that happen to me and the rips were fine.

[lordsmurf]

Defective pressed media happens.
I've been aggravated by this numerous times in the past decade.