Finalized Error - IFO File is Invalid

[codymonster]

Help.. please help.
I had a DVD disk from a Sony camcorder.
I finalized the disk. Now I'm trying to convert the files to MPEG I get the error IFO File is Invalid. "The IFO FIle is invalid. D:\Video_TS\VTS_01_0.IFO"
I was able to get some of the video but not all of it.
I'm using Bigasoft VOB Converter (Trail Version).
The disk is no longer readable in the camcorder.

This disk holds the video of when my second child was born. And this is the part that is missing!!!
If I can't get this fixed my wife is going to kill me!! She has no clue yet!

IS there anyway to fix this?!?!

HELP HELP HELP

[johns0]

Please do not post the same question in other forums,i deleted your post there,just continue in this thread.

[hech54]

I'm using Bigasoft VOB Converter (Trail Version).

Stop using garbage like this.
Can you copy and paste the contents of the disc to your computer?

[usually_quiet]

Help.. please help.
I had a DVD disk from a Sony camcorder.
I finalized the disk. Now I'm trying to convert the files to MPEG I get the error IFO File is Invalid. "The IFO FIle is invalid. D:\Video_TS\VTS_01_0.IFO"
I was able to get some of the video but not all of it.
I'm using Bigasoft VOB Converter (Trail Version).
The disk is no longer readable in the camcorder.

This disk holds the video of when my second child was born. And this is the part that is missing!!!
If I can't get this fixed my wife is going to kill me!! She has no clue yet!

IS there anyway to fix this?!?!

HELP HELP HELP

Can you open the DVD in Windows Explorer/File Explorer and see a list of the individual files and folders on the DVD?

[manono]

You can try opening all the VOB files at once in DGIndex and then going File->Save Project and Demux Video. If you're lucky you'll get an M2V of the video and the audio, whatever it is. Reauthor using Muxman.

[codymonster]

Please do not post the same question in other forums,i deleted your post there,just continue in this thread.

Sorry.. I thought I should post in the camcorder section then I saw this section for video errors.

[codymonster]

I'm using Bigasoft VOB Converter (Trail Version).

Stop using garbage like this.
Can you copy and paste the contents of the disc to your computer?

Okay.. my first time doing this. I don't know what else to use.
Could you suggest something?

Yes, I can copy to my computer

[codymonster]

Help.. please help.
I had a DVD disk from a Sony camcorder.
I finalized the disk. Now I'm trying to convert the files to MPEG I get the error IFO File is Invalid. "The IFO FIle is invalid. D:\Video_TS\VTS_01_0.IFO"
I was able to get some of the video but not all of it.
I'm using Bigasoft VOB Converter (Trail Version).
The disk is no longer readable in the camcorder.

This disk holds the video of when my second child was born. And this is the part that is missing!!!
If I can't get this fixed my wife is going to kill me!! She has no clue yet!

IS there anyway to fix this?!?!

HELP HELP HELP

Can you open the DVD in Windows Explorer/File Explorer and see a list of the individual files and folders on the DVD?

Yes.. Looking at the disk on the camcorder the other videos will come up.
Although it takes forever! I would still like to get this fixed so I can play in outside of the camcorder.

Thanks for the help.

[hech54]

Yes, I can copy to my computer

If you can copy the entire contents of the disc to your computer and all of the footage is there....you are basically done.
You need to join the VOB(?) file(s) into one single lump of video.....and DO IT FROM THE COPY on the computer.

VOB2MPG might work as long as the disc was authored somewhat normally by the camera during the finalizing process.

[codymonster]

Got some time today to work on this issue. I can not download the files from the mini-CD to my HD. It says that it can not read files. However when I load the disk into the camcorder it will read the files. Although it takes forever to initialize. Any ideas would help.
Thanks everyone for the help so far. I've downloaded and started to use the suggested programs. Thanks for the input.

[hech54]

Got some time today to work on this issue. I can not download the files from the mini-CD to my HD. It says that it can not read files. However when I load the disk into the camcorder it will read the files. Although it takes forever to initialize. Any ideas would help.
Thanks everyone for the help so far. I've downloaded and started to use the suggested programs. Thanks for the input.

VOB2MPEG is NOT going to help in this situation until you get the disc copied to your computer.

[ron spencer]

If the camcorder can read the video but external units cannot, then it is obviously not finalized. Finalize it in the camcorder. Or attach the camcorder to your computer via USB or firewire (you did not say model number of camcorder) and copy the files over. If you get all the files over, I would use handbrake to convert to whatever you want. Keep originals of course.

[codymonster]

Got some time today to work on this issue. I can not download the files from the mini-CD to my HD. It says that it can not read files. However when I load the disk into the camcorder it will read the files. Although it takes forever to initialize. Any ideas would help.
Thanks everyone for the help so far. I've downloaded and started to use the suggested programs. Thanks for the input.

VOB2MPEG is NOT going to help in this situation until you get the disc copied to your computer.

Yes I know.

[codymonster]

If the camcorder can read the video but external units cannot, then it is obviously not finalized. Finalize it in the camcorder. Or attach the camcorder to your computer via USB or firewire (you did not say model number of camcorder) and copy the files over. If you get all the files over, I would use handbrake to convert to whatever you want. Keep originals of course.

But I did finalize it. Even the finalize button is grayed out on the camcorder.
I can't use un-finalize either
I've tried to use the DVD player on my computer AND connect via firewire to USB from the camcorder.
I'm able to get 11 of 15 files down to my computer.
It's a Sony DCR-DVD305 BTW

It's just freaking odd... I can see the videos when I open them on the camcorder but not move them over to the HD.
I get the error "can not read disk" just strange.

[usually_quiet]

ISOBuster might allow you to copy the videos that you want to save. Only the full/paid version is able to recover individual recordings, but try the free/trial version first. The free version allows users to see what the full version may be able to recover. If the free demo version doesn't show the recordings that you want, then it isn't worth paying for the full version.

[ron spencer]

What files won't copy? The video files end in .vob; if you can get those off all is OK. You can use vobmerge to merge them all and convert to mp4 later.

[codymonster]

What files won't copy? The video files end in .vob; if you can get those off all is OK. You can use vobmerge to merge them all and convert to mp4 later.

Nope, can't get the VOB files off.
When I use the recommended ISO Buster it gives me sector errors.
Again.. its weird. When I try to download the 4 of the 15 files to my HD it doesn't work.
However, when I run the disk in the camcorder I can see the video and it works.

[usually_quiet]

When I use the recommended ISO Buster it gives me sector errors.

If ISOBuster is returning sector errors it means the DVD drive cannot read anything from that part of the DVD. If the DVD is not dirty or scratched, then there is nothing that can be done to improve readability.

Someone with more experience with data recovery might be able to find a way to copy the missing video from your disc regardless, but you probably can't.

[codymonster]

When I use the recommended ISO Buster it gives me sector errors.

If ISOBuster is returning sector errors it means the DVD drive cannot read anything from that part of the DVD. If the DVD is not dirty or scratched, then there is nothing that can be done to improve readability.

Someone with more experience with data recovery might be able to find a way to copy the missing video from your disc regardless, but you probably can't.

That is what I'm fearing as well.
But the odd thing is that the video plays from the camcorder but I can't move the files to my HD.
Freaking bizarre!

[usually_quiet]

But the odd thing is that the video plays from the camcorder but I can't move the files to my HD.
Freaking bizarre!

The camera may still able use its own information about recordings that it has stored on the DVD (in a proprietary format) even if finalization failed.

It isn't an ideal solution but, if all else fails and the video that you want to save still plays, it can be re-recorded with a capture device of some kind.

[ron spencer]

When I use the recommended ISO Buster it gives me sector errors.

If ISOBuster is returning sector errors it means the DVD drive cannot read anything from that part of the DVD. If the DVD is not dirty or scratched, then there is nothing that can be done to improve readability.

Someone with more experience with data recovery might be able to find a way to copy the missing video from your disc regardless, but you probably can't.

That is what I'm fearing as well.
But the odd thing is that the video plays from the camcorder but I can't move the files to my HD.
Freaking bizarre!

So you have followed all steps in the manual that are stated on pages 58 and 59? If you have and no other players can play, then you can only capture the output via SVideo, as there is no HDMI on it is there.

Page 63 also tells you how to "unfinalize"

[codymonster]

When I use the recommended ISO Buster it gives me sector errors.

If ISOBuster is returning sector errors it means the DVD drive cannot read anything from that part of the DVD. If the DVD is not dirty or scratched, then there is nothing that can be done to improve readability.

Someone with more experience with data recovery might be able to find a way to copy the missing video from your disc regardless, but you probably can't.

That is what I'm fearing as well.
But the odd thing is that the video plays from the camcorder but I can't move the files to my HD.
Freaking bizarre!

So you have followed all steps in the manual that are stated on pages 58 and 59? If you have and no other players can play, then you can only capture the output via SVideo, as there is no HDMI on it is there.

Page 63 also tells you how to "unfinalize"

Yes, followed 58 and 59. And "unfinalize" is greyed out. Can't unfinalize the disk.
I agree, I think I'm out of options, will have to capture the output via the A/V jack.
However, I can't find the A/V connecting cable. I've moved 4 times.. one of them overseas.
God knows where the thing is at!

[gonca]

Have you tried using different DVD drives
Use ISOBuster to create a managed image with one drive and then use a second, third, etc, drive(s) to fill in the missing info
Sometimes one brand of drive can get around an error that another brand can't
Works better (?) if different chipsets are use in the drives

[ron spencer]

What type and brand of disc is it?

Dvd-r or DVD-RW, etc

[codymonster]

What type and brand of disc is it?

Dvd-r or DVD-RW, etc

Sony DVD - R

[usually_quiet]

What type and brand of disc is it?

Dvd-r or DVD-RW, etc

Sony DVD - R

DVD-R is not re-writable media. That is why it isn't possible to unfinalize it.

[ron spencer]

DVD-R is not re-writable media. That is why it isn't possible to unfinalize it.

This absolutely right. If you used DVD-R you will not be able to unfinalize. There obviously is an issue with the finalization process, the media, or the recorder. I would try to play the DVD-R in a bunch of DIFFERENT players to see if it works (PC and standalone). If you can find a player that works, the you can capture via HDMI with no quality loss if you have a suitable capture device. If not, then composite capture will have to do.