Video after Handbrake is a disaster

[deanna1ynne]

So I'm not a super techie person. But I ripped dvds using handbrake very easily for the last 8 years on my macbook. I just inserted it, added the language tracks I wanted (bilingual household means I always keep at least two), gave it names, and clicked start. Easy peasy, and everything was happy.

Then my macbook died, and I moved to a windows machine, and no amount of trying is getting handbrake to rip movies. I followed steps about adding the libdvdcss to the program folder. I've watched a whole lot of boring youtube videos that only tell me to do things I've already done. But when I open handbrake, do what I usually do, and then hit start, the output is one with great audio (I think, I don't watch for very long because.... -->) but a picture that resembles almost nothing. I've changed settings to the highest possible quality, only to get the same results. Doesn't seem to matter what movie I put in (one is a $6 cheap-o kids movie that I wouldn't expect to have stellar encryption).

Can anyone help me with this? I don't do it often (a few times a year, at this point, since most of my movies are already ripped and I only do it to new ones), and I just want a cheap/free/easy way to turn dvds into mp4's or something equally easy to put on for my kiddos on car trips. Is there an easy fix or do I just need to accept defeat and resign myself to spending money or going without?

Thanks so much for any advice or insight.

[Kerry56]

Use MakeMKV to rip straight to an MKV file, uncompressed. MakeMKV is free to use for DVD's. You just have to install the new versions as they are released, or get a new beta key from here: http://www.makemkv.com/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1053

If you want an MP4, especially if you want a smaller file, use Handbrake on this newly created MKV file from MakeMKV. Use the Normal or High Profile and don't futz with the settings.

[jagabo]

Rip the DVD to a VIDEO_TS folder with DVDFab (the free trial works for this and the ripping feature continues working after the trial period expires). You should be able to convert that VIDEO_TS folder to an MP4 with Handbrake.

If you want to try libdvdcss again: If you are using 64 bit Handbrake you need to use a 64 bit lib. If you're using 32 bit Handbrake you'll need a 32 bit lib.