DVD to HD

[croz]

I have recently bought an external HD (500GB) on which I plan to place some of my DVD collection (as I do nights and sick of taking in DVD's all the time).
I have DVD shrink, DVD-Decrytor and DVD Genie.
What I want to do be able to do is plug my new HD into my laptop, click a film to watch and then this loads up with the same menu screen as if I had placed a DVD in the drive. I would then be able to use the menu's for scene selections etc.

I have searched the site and read a few threads about DVDshrink and the re-author function etc. I have tried the usual backup method (but stopped at the burn stage) but this just puts a load of files on the hard disk and on clicking them the main menus do not appear to work. I have tried re-author, same effect. I have also tried to create an image but again same affect.

Anyone have any clues as to whether this is possible. In a nutshell I want to click a single file on the hard drive to basically load up the movie as if the DVD was inserted into the drive.

I am pulling my hair out and spending ages trying to get several methods to work.

[Baldrick]

You can rip to an iso/img with dvddecrypter. Then play the iso with a dvd software player that can open isos directly like vlc. Or mount the iso with daemon tools and play with any software dvd player.

Or use the ratdvd format.

[manono]

Yeah, don't play the vobs, but the DVD. You can open the IFO in a DVD player, such as PowerDVD.

Although a guide for this shouldn't be necessary, here's one that explains both what I just described, as well as Baldrick's mounting-the-ISO method (under "Alternative Method" at the bottom):

http://www.doom9.org/mpg/hd-playback.htm

[blinky88]

Nero ShowTime will play an ISO file created by Shrink.

[croz]

Many thanks for your replies. It seems what I had done is correct but I was using WINDVD. Re-installed my PowerDVD and all works a treat. Again many thanks.

[manono]

Yeah, I've had trouble with WinDVD as well. If you prefer it, I believe (if I remember correctly) that WinDVD wants the DVD inside a VIDEO_TS folder. I think WinDVD has improved since that guide I linked to was written, as I think I remember only clicking on the VIDEO_TS folder. It's been awhile since I've used WinDVD, so I could be foggy on the details.