DVD copy problems

[ssbianchi]

Okay, I need help - I had posted on this forum several months ago regarding a problem, and was basically informed by GURM that I didn't know what I was talking about. Now that he's been banned, maybe I can get an idea from some intelligent people....

Bought a copy of THE INCREDIBLES. Wanted to make a copy that my nieces and nephews could destroy when they came over to my house for visits. DVD Decrypter worked fine.

Then, I played the movie on my computer. Used Windows Media Player. Once I did that, DVD Decrypter would not work anymore. It just wouldn't read the VOB files. I had to perform a reformat to get it working again. Just to make sure that this was the problem, I reformatted and only installed DVD Decrypter and the codec. Checked DVD Decrypter, worked fine. Played the movie, movie was fine. Tried to use DVD Decrypter after playing the movie, IT WOULDN'T WORK.

This happened with both the original and THE COPY I MADE. I used several codecs...I used several players (Blaze DVD, Nero Showtime, Power DVD). Had the same result every time.

Now, I was told several months ago that it was my fault - I must be doing something wrong. However, in the past 2 months, I have had calls from others with the same problem, and it's happened with a variety of movies. Every time, the only fix is a complete reformat.

Does anyone have any ideas???? I might believe I did something wrong, but now with other people having the same problem (with systems that I didn't build for them), I'm thinking there's something else at work.

Thanks.

[yoda313]

Have you tried dvdfabdecrypter? Dvd decrypter isn't updated anymore. That might help.

[budz]

download the latest version of DVDFAB DECRYPTER which you will use to rip the files then use DVD SHRINK to compress and whatever favorite burning software you want. windows media player in my experience sucks because it can cause some software conflicts. in my opinion having to many codecs on your pc can also cause software conflicts. just my 2 cents.

[guns1inger]

WMP is not a software DVD player, by any stretch of anyone's imagination (except, perhaps, Bill Gates). Use something like POwer DVD instead. I do remember your original post fondly - hours of amusement. If I remember correctly, many people were able to rip this DVD using a variety of methods, without suffering the symptoms you are describing. Since then there has been at least one post regarding an apparent trashing of a HDD by a DVD, however in the aftermath the user realised it was infact not the DVD, but other more nefarious software on his system.

While you say you have recieved numerous calls from people having the same problem. While I am not trying to impune your integrity in any way, we have not seen a widespread rash of posts from people describing this issue. If it were widespread and being caused by a variety of discs, I would expect the board to by inundated. It hasn't been.

Can you list off the discs that cause this problem, including barcode number (as there are often many releases of any given film). That way we can get the view from other people who own the exact copy you do.

Let me get the order of events straight :

1. You successfully rip one of these problem discs with DVD Decrypter.

2. You use DVD Shrink to compress to a single layer disc, and burn a copy that plays in your standalone player.

3. You playback either the original disc you ripped, or the backup you made in WMP without any problems

4. You can no longer rip any disc with DVD Decrypter.

Does that sum it up ?

You do realise that DVD Decrypter cannot see VOB files on your HDD ? It can only read DVD discs from your DVD drive, or burn an ISO from your HDD. Once you have ripped the disc to your HDD, DVD Decrypter can no longer access those files from your HDD.

[ssbianchi]

Here's the order of events:

1. Use DVD Decrypter to copy the movie to my hard drive. The program works great, reads the VOB files. I then use NERO Recode to burn to DVD.

2. Play the original disc (sometimes a copy) on the computer. Movie plays fine - used a variety of players (Blaze DVD, WinDVD, Power DVD, Nero Showtime).

3. Tried to read another DVD. DVD Decrypter would not read the disc past the first VOB file. Tried other DVD's, with no success. Only fix is a reformat.

4. Even though DVD Decrypter wouldn't read the files, movies would still play on the computer fine.

Since this was how Rip Guard was supposed to work, my original post was based on that assumption. I realize I was in error.

While I know my original post has caused many laughs, I was serious about the problem and others just dismissed it out of hand, basically labeling me as an idiot and not even entertaining the possibility that this could be something else. My family doctor took the same track when I went in for a checkup - said I had strep throat and it couldn't be anything else. Of course, it turned out to be cancer.

I know this isn't widespread, but the point was and still is legitimate. I have had 4 calls from others that I know who have had this problem. I only know two of the movies that they tried - Cinderella Man and Flight Plan.

I know there are other programs out there that work - DVD Decrypter STILL works great. I'm just paranoid about playing anything on my computer, because of this problem with The Incredibles.

I'll get bar codes off of the movie and post it tomorrow. I have lent it to a relative. But in the meantime, I'd like to hear any ideas.

[guns1inger]

Rip guard is designed to block ripping, but doesn't stop the program from functioning. It is done by screwing around with the structure of the disc so the ripping program believes the disc is corrupt. It's old school protection.

What you are describing, escpecially the need to reformat the PC to fix the problem, goes way beyond simple structure changes and would require the installation of software onto your machine, a'la Sony's rootkit.

I expect ripguard/Arccos type protection to continue to be used, as it allows the publishers to make life a little more difficult for the rippers (it takes at least a couple of hours to upgrade their software, so the publisher must feel pretty smug about that !), however to date, the rippers have been able to respond quickly, and the backups go on.

I agree that DVD Decrypter is still the best ripper available, however it does not rip the latest protection without assistance (anyDVD or PSL files). All of the discs you have mention have been confirmed as protected discs in at least some markets (I know that the Incredibles is not protected in Australia beyond standard CSS), however all of them have been backed up in all markets using DVD Fab Decrypter or AnyDVD.

when DVD Decrypter stops working, what error messages does it produce when a rip fails ?

Have you tried the latest (and I mean latest - download a new version every few days type latest) to see if it has the same issues ?