Archiving DVD backups stored on Hard Drive

[garrett84]

Hi,

I would like to archive my DVD backups that I have stored on a partition on my hard drive with Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost. I used DVDFab Decrypter/DVD Shrink on my original DVDs. Just looking to see if there would be any video issues in compressing and restoring the image at a later time. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Bjs]

Use ratdvd to compress them first before achiving them , as you have xp , it will save room , but take a little time for it to compress them dpending on lenght , and other component's included inside the vob's , such as multiple audio stream's .

To restore them to normal later , use ratdvd to decompress them back to normal .

You should leave the default's in ratdvd alone , it's good on retaining the quality during compression .

[BobK]

You should leave the default's in ratdvd alone , it's good on retaining the quality during compression .

You might want to test a couple DVDs using Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost- create a compressed image and then restore it and see if it's exactly the same. But I'm sure it will be- I use Acronis to backup my entire OS hard drive at least once a month- when it restores data/files it restores them to exactly what was there when you started.

I would not use ratdvd. ratdvd will let you convert it back to the original DVD format without losing any features such as menus, etc, but you will lose video quality.

[ROF]

Anytime you compress an image you lose quality. Whether that quality loss is detectable by you is dependent upon your tolerance for quality loss. Since these are backups which imply the info is important I'd recommend no compression at all if quality is to be maintained.

[RabidDog]

AFAIK ratdvd will lose some image quality depending on how much you compress the files. However I think you are talking about the compression options in Ghost etc. Unfortunately video files (esp DVD's ) are already highly compressed (from the original source) and the use of ghost compression will have little or no effect (could even increase file size slightly)l Best just to use drap and drop or Ghost without compression. The Ghost compression is LOSSLESS and will recreate exact duplicates of any files you backup. This works well with standard disk and file backups achieving reductions of typically 50% but sometimes even greater. PNG is also a lossless compression format for still images. Just go out and buy a new hard disk, possibly even cheaper per Gb than good quality dvdr and cases. You could "archive" them to S-vhs or ?? digital tape (40/80/160gb capacitys)

[garrett84]

Thanks for the replies all.

RabidDog, you are correct, I was talking about the compression options within Ghost and True Image. I should have worded that a little better.

I originally used DVDFab/DVDShrink as I was burning the backups to DVD -R/+R's for my son. However, with him being 8 yrs old, the backup discs didn't last very long. I kept each 4.36 GB folder with the ripped files saved on my PC, so I could burn again when necessary.

I eventually created a partition on the kids' PC and transferred each folder containing the ripped files over so he could watch the movies through a software player without discs.

Now that kids' partition is filling up, I would like to create an image using True Image or Ghost compression and copy the image to an larger external hard disk. I would then erase the current movies and copy new movies to his current partition.

I would basically repeat the process each time the partition fills up. When my son wanted to watch a set of movies off a certain image, I could then hopefully restore the image so he could watch and still have the ability to burn to disc if desired.

With RabidDog's explanation of the Lossless compression in Ghost / True Image at 50% or so, it seems like it would work ok. I was mainly curious on any possible quality loss, studdering or audio/video sync type problems I might encounter when I restored the image.

I will definately run a test on a separate drive and see how it goes. If anyone else has any thoughts/tips, that would be great.

Thanks

[biospot]

I recommend you do the simplest thing.
Don't back up a DVD in a non-compatible DVD format.. That is silly. If you are going to reburn a damaged DVD, you have to recover the files back using the other program after you make room.. then re-burn the DVD.

Just make a backup copy of the DVD. Test it to make sure it is OK, then delete the files off the hard drive.
Here are the advantages.

1. Get backup copy of required DVD and use Nero to copy it.
2. Done.

If you use other method here are the steps.

1. delete files to make room on hard drive.
2. load and run recovery program (ghost or other).
3. find correct DVD you backed up to (according to backup program)
4. use recovery program to recover to hdd the dvd files
5. if what you want happens to span 2 disks (almost a guarantee) then insert second disk
6. Continue recovery.
7. Burn files to new disk
8. delete files, and recover files you had to delete to make room on HD on step 1 above.
9 Done.

Which method is easier?
Method 2 has many points of failure. How much compression will you get? How much time and money for electricity for the computer to compress / decompress files.. how much of your time and effort.. how much if the backup recover program can not recover the files..... how much.. you should get the point now.

Also consider the following possibilities.
1. If you backup to dvd, and one failed to read, you will loose all the files for 2 sepearate dvds' (if they both span to the failed DVD in the backup program).
2. extra work, and time. Not to mention the expense of the backup program.


I have 3 sony jukeboxes with 650 DVD's in them. If I wanted to backup using a backup program, it would be unworkable. I simply make the DVD, Verify it works all the way through then delete from the hard drive. If I can't make a backup in the future, I re-rip from the original, or make 2 copies. 1 is the master and 1 is the working copy. Then I store the master on a spindle in the closet.
simple, easy, (almost) foolproof.

(I am the network backup admin for my company. I use tape drives, and backup programs all day every day. Believe me, this is the best way...)

Last.. the cost of DVD's is cheap now. The compression you may or may not get is not worth the time and complexity and increased chance of failure.
Just make 2 copies of each dvd, and delete the files from the Hard drive. If you are paranoid, make 3 copies. Put one in your bank safe deposit box...


Rgrds,
Biospot