Can you unfinalize a DVD-R?

[imrealdumb]

Hi.

I have an HDD camcorder and I paste videos together and put them up on YouTube. Someone has a DVD camcorder and wanted me to do something similar. Unfortunately, they finalized the DVD-R and I don't see the individual files when I try looking at the DVD on my PC. You can't record to the DVD anymore and plugging it via USB into the PC doesn't do anything.

I can "see" the directory of the DVD, but it's just a couple of small files and one large big one. Is there any way I can unfinalize the DVD? The goal is to be able to see the individual files and copy them onto my PC. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.

[minidv2dvd]

open the dvd with dvdshrink and see if the "files" have been turned into chapters.

if not use vob2mpg and convert to a single mpeg-2. then you can use something like mpg2cut2 to make clips. or womble mpeg video wizard if you have it.

[MOVIEGEEK]

You can't unfinalize write-once media and it sounds like it was recorded in VR mode, use ISOBuster to extract then rename the VRO extension to MPG.

[usually_quiet]

Only the pay version of ISOBuster works with well VRO files. Also, some editors are fussier than others about having a real .mpg format to work with. TAW will read and split up the individual recording sessions, but it is payware.

If you need a free solution, instead of renaming the file, it would be better to use MPEG Streamclip to open the VRO file, and export it as a regular .mpg, (not headed .mpg). MPEG Streamclip will ask to fix timecode breaks. Allow it to do that before exporting as a .mpg. The resulting log file will tell where to find the start of individual recording sessions within the file. You can also extract the clips as separate mpgs using MPEG Streamclip editing function if you don't have a another editor you prefer using.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Only the pay version of ISOBuster works with well VRO files.

True but it's worth $30USD.
BTW: NeroVision and Pinnacle Studio also support VR files.

[imrealdumb]

Thanks for the replies, folks. So is there NO way to actually access the original files once the DVD has been finalized? I'd rather not have to slice the now combined video into segments if I don't have to.

Sorry if I'm missing something. I just want to use a program to extract the original files - not have to splice it apart unless I have to.

Thanks.

[classfour]

Have you tried opening the disk in TDA?

[usually_quiet]

Thanks for the replies, folks. So is there NO way to actually access the original files once the DVD has been finalized? I'd rather not have to slice the now combined video into segments if I don't have to.

Sorry if I'm missing something. I just want to use a program to extract the original files - not have to splice it apart unless I have to.

Thanks.

A couple of questions: What do you mean by "original files"? A DVD file structure with VOBs IFOs BUPs or individual mpg files? ...and are you looking strictly for freeware solutions?

[edong]

"Unfortunately, they finalized the DVD-R and I don't see the individual files when I try looking at the DVD on my PC."

On the contrary, I have trouble opening an UNfinalized DVD-R in my PC. Maybe it's just me.