Scratched/Smudged/Rental Discs Not Copying Well?

[TenaciousJP]

I made a backup of a DVD I rented to try out my DVD-RW drive.

I made the copy and when the disc plays in any of my set-top players, it constantly skips and freezes, rendering the movie unplayable. All the chapters, audio, video, subtitles, etc. are intact, and the disc plays flawlessly in a computer DVD drive. Also, the DVD files that were ripped to the hard drive play fine.

Then, I looked at the rental disc. It was severly smudged and scratched up. Maybe that explains the slower rip that took place. But I'm new to the game, so I don't know.

Any possible answers or tips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[TenaciousJP]

Another thing...

I made a copy of a DVD-9.

I used a guide for "movie-only copy" and ripped just the movie, with 1 audio stream and 1 subtitle stream.

I remember reading in a guide about "what files should be on a DVD." One of the files that "should be on the DVD" was not on there. This file was the VIDEOTS.VOB file. I had every other file that "should be there" and the DVD did play on my set-top players, although with skippy and freezing playback.

I followed the guide step by step, so I don't think that this is the problem. Perhaps the combination of cheaper media and a scratched/smudged source disc was the problem. But, we all know how burning a compatible DVD is a very intensive process. One missing file or one slightly corrupted file, and BAM! You've got an expensive coaster.

Sorry for the many posts, but thanks for the help!

[BJ_M]

buff them carefully with car paste (non abrasive) ... if really bad (hazed surface you can mix a small amount of baking soda w/ wax ..

also at your local motorcycle shops get some plastic cleaner restorer (like used for lexan windscreens) ..

always use lens cloths not paper towels (too abrasive) and clean from center to outside edge in straight line as much as possable .. though i do a final buff out going around .. ...

[BJ_M]

VIDEOTS.VOB is ok - common