Can I convert DVD copied to HD into a MKV file?

[nzdreamer55]

Hello everyone,
I've got several hundred DVD's that I copied to my hard drive using 1clickDVDcopy and DVD43 to decode them for copying. I did this before I really knew much about how to convert and play movies on my computer. I was able to watch them through windows media center, but I am finding that it takes a long time to load them and watching them over my network, and is sometimes a poor experience. I decided to start converting them to just the movie section of the DVD or episoid of the DVD (for things like TV shows) and after looking around at my options started using MakeMKV which has been really nice. The problem is that not all of the DVD that have been copied to my hard drive will get converted to MKV files with MakeMKV as it will throw up errors during the conversion. I have tried to trouble shoot this, but have yet to make them work.

I've tried to use DVD Shrink to open the DVD's in hope of converting them to an iso file and then putting through MakeMKV, but often it does not work. I can play the individual VOB files with VLC, so I know the data is still there.

I'm not sure what to do next or what would be the easiest (cheap) steps to take to make these into MKV files. Maybe take the VOB files and feed them into something that would make a MKV file? I seek the guidance of the great videohelp gurus for my problem.

Thanks
Steve

[lowellriggsiam]

Convert the dvds to iso files and then use handbrake. Set the container output to mkv.

[Baldrick]

Throw up errors? What is the error message?

I don't know anything else that is as simple as makemkv. Maybe make a single mpg with VOB2MPG. Or use pgdemux to demux the vob to video and audio files that you then put it in a mkv with mkvmergegui.


edit: I assume you don't want to reconvert or?

[nzdreamer55]

Throw up errors? What is the error message?

I don't know anything else that is as simple as makemkv. Maybe make a single mpg with VOB2MPG. Or use pgdemux to demux the vob to video and audio files that you then put it in a mkv with mkvmergegui.


edit: I assume you don't want to reconvert or?

Yes you are right in that I don't want to reconvet. I am trying to have files that are pretty "clean" so that if I want to convert them to play them on a device (e.g. ipod) I am starting with "good" material.

I'll try with makemkv again and post the errors that I am getting. I like the handbrake idea, but am not sure that it will work either. I toyed with burining a DVD and then feeding it back into makemkv.

Thanks agian for the help.

Steve

[nzdreamer55]

Forgot to ask, If I use handbrake, do I have to reconvert or is there a simple repackage option that takes the audio and video out and repackages into an mkv container? I see that there is a way to have audio pass through.

Steve

[Baldrick]

With handbrake must you reconvert the video.