Why oh why can't I record a DVD-R? :(

[dvdfever]

I've recorded a six-episode TV show from my TiVo to my Philips DVDR75 DVD recorder on a DVD+RW, labelled each of the six episodes with a title and selected a menu image for each one, just as I would if I was recording direct onto a DVD+R.

This DVD+RW plays perfectly well in my PC in PowerDVD and in my Xbox.
(The PC is a P4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 440MX graphics, 120Gb hard drive. The DVD-writer which came with it is a Pioneer DVR-105)

The strange thing is that when I view the DVD+RW in Windows Explorer I get apparently twice as many files:
http://dvdfever.co.uk/vobprob5.jpg

Someone suggested this may be a copy-protection thing, but it's a home-made DVD with no copy protection on it, and it's hit or miss as to whether this actually happens. The supposed second set of VOB files do the same as the first set, but I can't fit everything on a 4.7Gb DVD-R on the PC so copy across the VIDEO_TS.* files, the two VTS_01_0.* files, and the files VTS_01_1.VOB through to VTS_01_5.VOB, and left the rest.

Trying to burn a DVD in Nero 5.5.10.54 (I was using 5.5.10.7 and only later found that 5.5.10.35 and up were compatible for my DVD-writer drive - but this has made no difference), after copying all the files across successfully from the DVD+RW to the hard drive, I've just followed the instructions at this site to create a DVD to the letter, including forcing DVD-ROM compatibility for Xbox, such that I can record onto DVD+RW, get it the way I want it, and then copy the files across on the PC.
http://www.dvdshrink.info/nero-udf-iso.php

This next pic is of Nero when I'm just about to burn the DVD, in case it helps:
http://dvdfever.co.uk/vobprob4.jpg

Playing them back:

The PC (PowerDVD) and Xbox would play the first five episodes no problem, but the sixth made both the Xbox and PowerDVD crash.

The PS2 said it couldn't read the disc, while the DVDR75 came up with the usual recorder's background and nothing else. The display read "INFO" and no button pressing makes a difference.

Trying to play the VOB files directly from both the hard drive and the problematic new DVD-R created on my PC, all of them play directly in PowerDVD that way, so I really don't know where I'm going wrong.

4 DVD-R discs dead, 21 to go...

Thanks in advance (this is really driving me up the wall),

[dvdfever]

Just an additional...

I'm using Ritek Yellow Top 4.7Gb 2x DVD-R discs with a purple writing side, if that helps, but it writes at 1x.

TIA,

[DaveS]

sorry - what is your objective? I think in the top of your post, you mention that the +RW plays well...what would you like to end up with that you don't have now?

also, suggest ripping your dvd w/ dvddecrypter ratther than windows explorer..

[ddlooping]

dvdfever, have you tried "feeding" the files to DVD Shrink ("Open Files"; select the VIDEO_TS.IFO one).
If it doesn't choke on them you might be able to "extract" one set of VOB files (you'll lose the menu though).

[dvdfever]

sorry - what is your objective? I think in the top of your post, you mention that the +RW plays well...what would you like to end up with that you don't have now?

also, suggest ripping your dvd w/ dvddecrypter ratther than windows explorer..

Excellent! Thanks very much for that suggestion. It works a treat!!

Now just looking for a decent program to rip a load of files straight to a DVD, in the same way that Nero does but didn't when I tried it before (although that might be because I was using version 5.5.10.7 and not the 5.5.10.54 version I'm on now, so should that work?)

TIA,

[dvdfever]

dvdfever, have you tried "feeding" the files to DVD Shrink ("Open Files"; select the VIDEO_TS.IFO one).
If it doesn't choke on them you might be able to "extract" one set of VOB files (you'll lose the menu though).

Thanks for the tip. Since I've got things working with DVD Decrypter now, I'll have a go with DVD Shrink shortly to test a DVD9 down to DVD5, but one step at a time for today

Excellent site BTW.

Cheers,

[ddlooping]

"Thanks for the tip."
You're welcome.

"Excellent site BTW."
Thank you, I appreciate it.

I tried to view yours but only the banners loaded.

P.S: I managed to load it after all. Very informative.

[dvdfever]

I tried to view yours but only the banners loaded.

Both are working for me. Which browser and are you on broadband?

[ddlooping]

I managed to load it after all. Very informative.