How can you tell if the orginal DVD is double layered??

[videobruce]

Other than by the length of the movie, just how can you tell if a store bought or rental DVD movie is doubled layered other than by guessing according to the length?

Thanks.

[Alex_ander]

Decrypt it and look at video folder size.

[classfour]

Larger than 4.38 GB (in windows) it's likely to be double layered

[JimmyJoeBob]

The way I tell and it may not be 100% correct is to look at the color of the bottom side of the disc, If it appears silver in color it most likely is DVD-5, if it is gold colored then it is most likely DVD-9. The length of the movie is a guess. I have seen martial arts movies that were 90min long and 6.5GB in size.

[the_legend]

For the most part though, any recent movie is dual-layer...spare very few, so you could just assume it was double layer.

[cd090580]

Simply look at the back of the dvd case. It's always written DVD5 or DVD9 or a text like "dual layer disc: layer transition may trigger a slight pause".

[Sam Ontario]

Most movies are now DVD-9, i.e. double layered. Some will label them as DVD-9 on the cover.

[videobruce]

The movies I am getting are from Netflix so there is no 'box', just a mailing label.

[handyguy]

Few, if any are dvd5 these days.

[kevo777]

More movies than conventional wisdom will tell you are NOT dual-layered. Of all the movies I buy (or rent) each week, it's almost a 50/50 shot. Some studios just don't see the need for tons of extras that would call for a higher bitrate, in turn ultimately requiring a dual-layer disc. Either that (and/or often in both cases) the movie runs longer than two and a half hours.

Alex_ander's suggestion is the most fool-proof way of determining this without having the packaging.

[Capmaster]

The way I tell and it may not be 100% correct is to look at the color of the bottom side of the disc, If it appears silver in color it most likely is DVD-5, if it is gold colored then it is most likely DVD-9.

True enough of burned dye discs, not so true with commercial pressed discs

I like classfour's suggestion - put the disc in the drive and open Windows explorer to look at it.

Few, if any are dvd5 these days

We get about a 60/40 mix of DVD-9/DVD-5 with Netflix. Of course some of ours are pretty fringe stuff.

[oldandinthe way]

Nero Infotool states the disk capacity. If its about 8gb - its double layered. Nobody appears to write a double layer disk of less capacity. Some even duplicate material to pad it out.

[Cornucopia]

Load the disc in DVD Decrypter, it'll specifically say whether it's single or dual layer (I find it easier to see this in ISO mode).

Scott

[rijir2001]

Hold the disc on its side and count the layers.




Sorry guys I just couldn't resist.

But truely. Aren't there a few companies that have used dual layer media for all off their releases? So when they need it it was available.

I could be very wrong on this. but I thought I remember reading it somewhere.

[videobruce]

Hold the disc on its side and count the layers.

I have been, but I was told "if I don't stop it, I'll go blind"...............

Or was that something else?

[Noahtuck]

The way I tell and it may not be 100% correct is to look at the color of the bottom side of the disc, If it appears silver in color it most likely is DVD-5, if it is gold colored then it is most likely DVD-9.

True enough of burned dye discs, not so true with commercial pressed discs

I sure wish i could find these gold & silver recordable dvdr's
:P
(oh yeah, welcome back lurker.. i noticed the other day surfing through after i was wondering who was digging up all those old thread's )

Simply look at the back of the dvd case. It's always written DVD5 or DVD9 or a text like "dual layer disc: layer transition may trigger a slight pause".

Not here (U.S.)... i have a lot of store bought pressed disc's that state neither.

Other than by the length of the movie, just how can you tell if a store bought or rental DVD movie is doubled layered other than by guessing according to the length?

Thanks.

Lot's of good way's to tell as stated here, i use DVDInfoPro & DVD Decrypter if i really need to know before ripping, if it really matters
Or as stated windows explorer, nero inof tools, ect ect ect.......

[Dr_Layne]

Why is everyone giving advice on how to copy a rental? OP stated the dvd's are from Netflix.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Why is everyone giving advice on how to copy a rental? OP stated the dvd's are from Netflix.

Good point,against forum rules.

[Capmaster]

I sure wish i could find these gold & silver recordable dvdr's
(oh yeah, welcome back lurker.. i noticed the other day surfing through after i was wondering who was digging up all those old thread's

I meant looking at commercial DVDs and being able to tell the density by its color. DVD-5 dye burned are purple and many times DVD-9 are gold. But the commercial DVD-9 are always silver.

Thanks. It's good to be back. I see someone claimed my top "All time poster" spot. Gotta work on that

Those old threads aren't "old threads" to me. I've been on hiatus here since April 2005, so everything is a new thread

[Cornucopia]

Why is everyone giving advice on how to copy a rental? OP stated the dvd's are from Netflix.

Seems to me, he just wanted to know what the size/structure was. Since when did that become a crime, even for rentals?

Scott

[Noahtuck]

Why is everyone giving advice on how to copy a rental? OP stated the dvd's are from Netflix.

Why is everyone giving advice on how to copy a rental? OP stated the dvd's are from Netflix.

Good point,against forum rules.

Hmmm... i must have missed the part where he asked how to copy them

Other than by the length of the movie, just how can you tell if a store bought or rental DVD movie is doubled layered other than by guessing according to the length?

Thanks.

Strikes again

[videobruce]

Since when did that become a crime, even for rentals?

The MPAA has enought $$..............

[Rich86]

Other than by the length of the movie, just how can you tell if a store bought or rental DVD movie is doubled layered other than by guessing according to the length?

Thanks.

Both "Nero Info Tools" and "RipIt4Me" (once you go to step 1 in Wizard mode) both clearly display the layer configuration of whatever media is in your drive at the time.

[ron spencer]

Turn it over and look at the hub!!! You can see the layers Id'd there!!! Some even say LO and L1

[MOVIEGEEK]

OP:
Sorry I jumped the gun on thinking you were copying rentals,nobody on here does that.

I use DVDDecrypter to see what the properties are.

[Dr_Layne]

Sorry I was reading between the lines.

[pepegot1]

Use info software to find out. There is plenty of free stuff. I use Plextor Tools, which comes with their drives.