Why multiples of the same file?

[nathanaa]

I ran one of my DVDs through DVDShrink tonight, and discovered something odd. The disc has two separate television specials on it, from different years but by the same performer.

Although there are only 2 specials, or episodes I guess, there are *4* main titles. The first two are the exact same size and time as each other, and the last two are the exact same size and time as each other.

I skimmed through 1 & 2, and could find no differences. I did the same with 3 & 4. They are all fullscreen, no widescreen option available. There is no director commentary, or anything else I can find that would explain to me why there are basically a double set of the same show on the disc.

Anyone know what this would be about? I'm baffled - I can't think of any reason why a company would do something like this.

[jimmalenko]

Could be that it's done to fill up the DVD, to trick people into thinking it's harder to back up than it really is, or could be if there's different audio, such as commentaries.

EDIT: just re-read your post and notcied there's no commentaries

[freestyler]

Easter Egg?

Could be that it's done to fill up the DVD, to trick people into thinking it's harder to back up than it really is

Assuming its a dual layer disc. I'll never buy that argument, though.

[nathanaa]

Hmmm......I don't think so. At least, not if I understand what you mean. There's no "follow the white rabbit" thing on this. The DVD is just two old Jeff Foxworthy Showtime comedy specials from 1991 and 1992. The disc is single side double layer.

I am at a complete loss here. Keep the ideas coming folks, thanks.

Nice avatar BTW freestyler - gf?

[NickSaunders]

I have seen this a couple of times on some rather short running time children's DVD's. My guess was that since there was enough room they put it on twice, once as a Play All and a second time for an Episode Selection. Of course that is just my "guess". Not sure why they would do it in that manner though unless they were using an authoring application that wasn't able to do episode selection and play all with a single set of files.

[jimmalenko]

I'll never buy that argument, though.

True. I'll rephrase that to

"...to trick people who don't know who or what www.videohelp.com is, and 50% who do..."

[nufan292]

Nice avatar BTW freestyler - gf?

He wishes, (hell I wish too). That's Lacey Chabert (sp?). Used to be on Fox's Party of Five, in Mean Girls, and Not Another Teen Movie. All I can say is, she's a hottie.

[freestyler]

True. I'll rephrase that to

"...to trick people who don't know who or what www.videohelp.com is, and 50% who do..."

hehe, you got it man. that and the free software we all know and love.

@nathanaa

naw its actually Lacey Chabert, hence "Lacey Member"

http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000327/

[jimmalenko]

naw its actually Lacey Chabert, hence "Lacey Member"

http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000327/

Who would've thought that that whiney little PITA in Party of Five would turn out to be a hottie ?

at least you're man enough to admit it's not your GF .... unlike d_unbeliever ...

[nathanaa]

Ahh, I'll bet that's it - there's a Play All or Select episode option. You would think there would be a way for them to just have it play all without doubling up on the files. I'll bet that is the answer though.

Lacey, that's who that gal is eh? The gal from Lost in Space and Daddy Day Care, now I remember her.

When I first saw Lost in Space I said to the group of people I was with - "Wow, she's going to be hot when she gets older". I got some *verrrry* strange looks from them. She was only 16 at the time but looked about 12. Anyway, thanks for the help folks.

[cal_tony]

I'm not sure I understand the problem or the comments correctly, but I have noticed on a few of my dvds that when I run them thru shrink, I also have the doubling effect if using re-author mode. If all of the titles are carried to the re-author side, the Dvd is much larger than the original. My assumption was that the dvd coding was such that shrink just turned the coding into a separate title file of exactly the same size and duration.