From My Sony DVD Recorder to My PC: Help Me!

[nycfisherman]

I want to copy some of my favorite football games to my PC from my DVD Recorder.

I recently purchased a Sony RDR-GXY DVD Recorder and I'm using Sony brand: DVD-RW discs. I've tried both a "VR" format and a "video" format with the DVD-RW discs, but I've not been able to read these discs with my Personal Computer DVD or CD R/W drive. When I put the disc into either the DVD drive or the R/W CD drive, the PC does not recognize that there is a disc in the drive. My PC is a relatively new (less than 2yrs old) Dell unit with a 1.9 GHz speed, CD R/W and DVD drives.

I also tried using CD-R, but the Sony Recorder did not recognize the disc and would not format it. I've used the CD-R disks with my computer. Is there also a DVD-R disc?

What should i do differently so they the DVD's that I've created (or at least future DVD's) with my Sony DVD Recorder can also be viewed on my PC or to have the content transferred to my PC hard disk?

Also, is there any software that is recommended for cataloging and/or editing the content on my hard disk?

Thank you in advance for your advice!

[willy_annand]

You have just discovered Sony's latest "anti piracy" attempt.

I am sure if you check the pirate sites they will soon have a utility up there that reads the Sony RWs and allows duplication.

Bottom line is Sony does not want these disks read, thus preventing piracy.

[piano632]

Did you finalize the DVD-RW discs on the recorder before you put them in the PC? If you don't finalize them, there is no directory written on the disc for the PC to read. Use VIDEO format, then select the option somewhere on the menu to finalize the disc when you're done recording.

[jinky]

I had the same problem, nycfisherman. my DVD recorder is a Philips,
if its a DVD RW you have to finalise the disc as piano632 says,
then DVDSHRINK couldnt open the files so u have to Rip the dvd in in IFO mode. Rip it to your hard disc,
do each recording to a separate folder
open IFOEdit, open the IFO in it from one of
your folders, Go to VOB Extra's, Create New IFO's.

when the window comes up, make sure the
destination directory is in that folder. click ok.
it will create new IFO's
Open DVDSHRINK.
Open files ----> choose the IFO in the folder
you have just created with the new IFO's.
then with DVDSHRINK you can edit your DVD, then i burn with NERO.
hope this helps,
jinky

[jinky]

i forgot to say you rip the disc with DVD DECRYPTER.

[qpskfec]

You can avoid the -RW finalisation step if you use +RW discs. +RW doesn't need finalisation. (Your Sony will also record to -R, which does need finalisation like -RW)

I rip with dvdecrypter, rename the vobs to mpg, and load into ulead dvd movie factory.

[DaveS]

you need to finalize the disc (-RW) ... I think it's in the tools menu. For the Sony, when you eject a +RW, it will finalize but you can still write back to it w/o formatting...I thought that if you finalize the -RW, the only way to write again is to format (e.g. erase what you had)...btw, you don't have to stick w/ sony dvd's

[nycfisherman]

Thank you for the responses. Unfortunately, I still have not been able to read the DVD.

So far, these are the steps that I've taken:
1) Finalized the DVD-RW with the Sony DVD Recorder.
2) Placed the DVD into my PC DVD drive and started DVD Decrypter software. I have selected IFO mode. The decrypter log recognizes my disc drives.

Problem... In the bottom frame of the DVD Decrypter software, there is a message: "Device Not Ready (Medium Not Present)" It appears that the DVD is still not recognized by the drive.

Would you recommend any other DVD formats? For example, are there benefits for using the DVD-R format? The discs seem to be cheaper. Are there any other settings that need to be changed for the DVD Decrypter software to work properly?

Thank you in

[DaveS]

does the disc play on your sony?
does the disc play on another DVD player?
does the disc play on your PC using a software dvd player? (e.g. winDVD)?
does any other DVD play on your PC using a software DVD player / is any other DVD recognized on your PC w/ DVD Decrypter?

[netuer]

I bought a Sony and should get it in a few days. I am testing Panasonic E50 with DVD-RAM. It is very easy to copy the content to computer and make a DVD+R disk out of it (if you have the DVD-RAM DVD drive and a DVD athuring tool). But I have a DVD+R/RW drive and people say that Sony has a better analog PQ, so I am giving it a try. But I hope copy the content recorded on DVD+RW (Sony) is as easy as on DVD-RAM (Panny).

I will let you know after I receive my Sony.

[donpedro]

has a better analog PQ

What is PQ ?

[netuer]

PQ = picture quality

Sorry for the abbreviation.

[nycfisherman]

DaveS wrote...
does the disc play on your sony?
does the disc play on another DVD player?
does the disc play on your PC using a software dvd player? (e.g. winDVD)?
does any other DVD play on your PC using a software DVD player / is any other DVD recognized on your PC w/ DVD Decrypter?

Unfortunately, I'm still having problems....

I have tried -RW, +RW and -R disc formats and they all play on the Sony DVD Recorder.
None of these discs have been recognized by the PC.
I have played COMMERCIAL (NON SONY DVD-R CREATED) DVD's and VCD's on my PC using Windvd and MS media player.
In addition, DVDdecrypter recognized the COMMERCIAL (NON SONY DVD-R CREATED) )DVD and the difference between the VCD. Ulead Movie Maker recognized the files on the COMMERCIAL DVD.
I have NOT tried the discs from the Sony DVD-Recorder (-RW, +RW & -R) on another DVD player.
I have finalized the -RW +RW formats, but not the -R format by the DVD recorder.

At this point, it seems like there is another step around finalization to properly prepare these DVD's. Do you have any other suggestions as to what might be causing the problem?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[DaveS]

nycfisherman -

a few things come to mind & this is really just a process of elimination (fwiw, my RDR-GX7 produced dvd's work fine on my pc's dvd player and my (sony) standalone player, so unless something's wrong w/ your RDR-GX7, which is not likely but always possible, it's probably something else going on).

Based on your post, I would suggest:
- Download, install and run DVDInfoPro. (there used to be a DVDInfo, but I can't find it... the Pro version works fine too & the ads are not that obtrusive, and this is a great tool). Select your DVD Rom drive from the dropdown at the bottom and look at the "Drive Supported Read Features" ....it may be that it doesn't support the formats you are trying to give it (e.g. my drive in my IBM PC which is only 1 yr old doesn't support the +R or +RW formats).

- You definitely need to finalize the -R disks! ... on the Sony, press the tools menu button on the remote, select Disc Info, and from that screen, click on the finalize button.

If one of those two doesn't give any more clues as to what's happening, my next suggestion would be to try different brand of media...it could be that your dvd rom doesn't like the brand of media you are using, but this seems less likely to me that one of the above two telling what's happening...pls. keep us posted!