How to PREVIEW a VIDEO_TS folder before burning?

[rhuala2]

Can anyone please tell me a quick way to preview a VIDEO_TS folder before burning? In other words play the VIDEO_TS just like it would be viewed on the burned DVD-R without actually burning the sucker. Thanks.

rhuala

[markums2k]

All the authoring apps I've used have included a preview of the DVD, which is always fairly accurate and trustworthy. Sounds like you may have put the folder together on your own or with an app that doesn't let you preview the disc. In this case, all I can think of is to burn that thing to an RW disc and see how it goes (however, I'm ignoring a key phrase in your post... "without actually burning")

I'm almost certain that there's previewing software somewhere around here... maybe somebody else could point that out.

[q1aqza]

Use the DVD player in IFOEdit (which is free). I've found this closely simulates a real standalone player.

As an example, I once ripped a DVD and deleted a few trailer VOBs. PowerDVD seemd to be 'clever' and overlooked the fact that there were VOBs missing and played OK - I burned to disk and then tried it in my standalone and it failed cos it was looking for the missing VOBs. I played the same VIDEO_TS folder in IFOEdit and it showed the same error as my standalone. I now use IFOEdit to test all my DVDs before burning and so far it has been 100%. It has saved me from having to burn to a -RW first as a proper test.

[EnemyWithin]

WinDVD will do that if the folder is named VIDEO_TS. Just double-click the VIDEO_TS.IFO file and it will start playing.