Huge DVD VOB file sizes

[torquay7]

I'm sure there's a simple answer to this, but...

I purchased a two-disc DVD recently of a UK comedy series (Campus). Disc One has episodes 1-4, disc two has episodes 5-6 plus extras. I want to rip the series for backup & playback.

However, the VOB structure is repeated (VTS_01, VTS_02 etc through to VTS_08, with the same content for each stream, more or less), and the file size of each disc is 85GB/72GB respectively! I've never seen this before. Aside from the inexplicable logic of this type of DVD structure, it exceeds the capacity of DVD media. Can anyone explain this? Just mystified, that's all.

Thx

[hech54]

It's the "Play All", Play One", "Play All From Here" structure of the disc menu.
It may be easier to understand by looking at it in MakeMKV first.

[torquay7]

Okay, but why would each disc have dozens of files totalling 70GB+, many times the capacity for dual-layer DVD media? How is this possible? And aren't most DVDs authored to allow for the playback of selected episodes from the one source unless the content is split into different VOB files? Thanks for your reply BTW.

[jagabo]

Okay, but why would each disc have dozens of files totalling 70GB+, many times the capacity for dual-layer DVD media? How is this possible?

The files reference the same data on the disc. For example, say you had a book with a table of contents that read:

Chapter 1 pages 1 - 100
Chapter 2 pages 2 - 101
Chapter 3 pages 3 - 102

If you add up the number of pages for each chapter you get 300 pages. But the book only has 102 pages.

[october262]

I'm sure there's a simple answer to this, but...

I purchased a two-disc DVD recently of a UK comedy series (Campus). Disc One has episodes 1-4, disc two has episodes 5-6 plus extras. I want to rip the series for backup & playback.

However, the VOB structure is repeated (VTS_01, VTS_02 etc through to VTS_08, with the same content for each stream, more or less), and the file size of each disc is 85GB/72GB respectively! I've never seen this before. Aside from the inexplicable logic of this type of DVD structure, it exceeds the capacity of DVD media. Can anyone explain this? Just mystified, that's all.

Thx

this sounds like a copy protection issue.
the disc has many fake VTS / VOB files in order to look like the disc is
bigger than what it actually is.
what did you use to copy the disc ??

[torquay7]

De-encrypted with DVD43, but I can't copy the entire contents without freeing HDD space. I realise this shouldn't be necessary, but - having never seen this before - I don't know which VTS/VOB files are the real McCoy. I'll just rip each disc with Handbrake from the CD/DVD drive (not my usual practice so I assume that doesn't affect quality).

Anyway, I appreciate those replies. Just found it an odd and pointless way to structure a DVD.

[jagabo]

Just found it an odd and pointless way to structure a DVD.

It's fairly common.

[hech54]

De-encrypted with DVD43, but I can't copy the entire contents without freeing HDD space.

DVD43 has not been updated since 2009. As i said earlier....look at it in the FREE MakeMKV and it might make more sense to you.
As jagabo said...."The files reference the same data on the disc."

[torquay7]

It's fairly common.

The files reference the same data on the disc.

Okay, I'll take your word for it. I've come across some screwy file structures in DVDs before but I honestly can't recall opening a disc folder in Explorer and seen files exceeding 8.5GB of data. Anyway, I'll certainly give MakeMKV a try. Cheers

[manono]

Or, if you don't want to make an MKV out of it, DVDFab HD Decrypter.

[jagabo]

It's fairly common.

The files reference the same data on the disc.

Okay, I'll take your word for it. I've come across some screwy file structures in DVDs before but I honestly can't recall opening a disc folder in Explorer and seen files exceeding 8.5GB of data.

Maybe "fairly" isn't the right word. I've seen it on maybe 1 or 2 percent of the DVDs I've ripped.

Anyway, I'll certainly give MakeMKV a try. Cheers

MakeMKV will follow the playback instructions in the IFO files (like a DVD player would) so it shouldn't have any problems.