DATA files rather than MPEG files from a DVD-Video?

[DieselsDen]

I recently updated my computer and re-installed my purchased Pegasys software. But now, whenever I rip a DVD using TMPGenc DVD Author or XPress, the resulting MPEG files results in DATA files. I can convert them into MPEG files by just changing the suffix, but it's a pain. Is there any way to get the resulting rips to read as MPEGs?

[redwudz]

That sounds like a Windows problem. Normally a DVD file would be a VIDEO_TS folder with VOBs, IFOs, and BUP files. The MPEG files are in there, in a VOB wrapper with some added features.

If you extract the MPEG files from the VOBs and they are not recognized, you may not have a proper MPEG codec installed.

[jagabo]

VOB2MPG

[SmokieStover]

When you import DVD video using TMPG DVD Author 2.0 (My version is called Tsunami-MPEG DVD Author Pro, you are given the option of copying to the hard drive. If the DVD files are already on the hard drive, select no. If they are on a DVD disk, select yes and they are then copied as one mpg file per title with the extension .DAT. Change the extension to .mpg, and you can use it with any other program that uses mpg.

If the DVD files are on the hard drive (you need the whole VIDEO_TS File....BUB, IFO, VOB) and you want them extracted as one mpg to use elsewhere, select yes and change the extension after the file is written.

Can't see why anyone with TMPG DVD Author would mess with VOB2MPG.

If you just want to rip the DVD files to hard drive, use DVD Decrypter. If you are talking about encrypted DVD, use a more updated ripper.

[jagabo]

I was just responding to Redwudz's "extract the MPEG files from the VOBs" -- in case the OP needed it. Guess he won't.

[DieselsDen]

Thanks for all the replies. It is the damnedest thing. Before, I could extract DVD-Video to my HD as MPEG files. Now, after re-installing the programs, the extension defaults to DATA, though they are easily re-named.

[redwudz]

This all may be a 'Windows thing'. I would take one of your misnamed files and look at the 'Properties' page for that file. Change the 'Open With' to a MPEG player.

You said they are shown as a 'Data' extension. There's no such extension I am aware of. If you are running XP, look in any folder and access 'Tools>Folder Options>File Types'. If '.data' is there as a file type, change it to .mpeg.

You may have a program somewhere in your system that messed things up and changed the file types. Or it may be as simple as you don't have a MPEG-2 codec installed and it's defaulting to none or 'data'.

[SmokieStover]

Thanks for all the replies. It is the damnedest thing. Before, I could extract DVD-Video to my HD as MPEG files. Now, after re-installing the programs, the extension defaults to DATA, though they are easily re-named.

I have been using Version 2.1.6.80 since about June 2005 with XP Home SP 2. It always has shown the extracted mpg with the data extension. Works fine that way for authoring. Change extension to mpg for everything else.

I remember using the trial versions of DVD Author 1.5 and 1.6. I think 1.6 extracted to mpg with the mpg extension. Or perhaps it was another Version.

Can't find the data extension in Windows Explorer using tools>etc.

[redwudz]

Just to avoid confusion, a .dat extension is not a data file. It's a file extension used in the VCD video format for the MPEG-1 video files. Not used for DVDs. May be used with SVCDs also, but I haven't been around them in some time.

As I mentioned before, I don't know of a .data extension. Never seen that before in any computer.

And though it's obvious, if you don't have 'Hide extensions for known file types' unchecked in 'Folder Options>View', you aren't seeing the true extension most times.

When Windows has a video file it doesn't recognize, it just calls them 'clips', with a generic icon and no extension.

[SmokieStover]

Just to avoid confusion, a .dat extension is not a data file. It's a file extension used in the VCD video format for the MPEG-1 video files. Not used for DVDs. May be used with SVCDs also, but I haven't been around them in some time.

As I mentioned before, I don't know of a .data extension. Never seen that before in any computer.

And though it's obvious, if you don't have 'Hide extensions for known file types' unchecked in 'Folder Options>View', you aren't seeing the true extension most times.

When Windows has a video file it doesn't recognize, it just calls them 'clips', with a generic icon and no extension.

That was a typo in my first post. My version of TMPG DVD Author extracts DVD to mpg (mpg2) as an mpg with the "data" extension. Always has. The authoring project file uses the extension "tda2". I know for sure that TMPG DVD Author 1.6 used a different extension for the project file, and those project files would not work in my version of TMPG DVD Author.

It's not really a problem. When importing the DVD the program gives you the option to create and name a new folder........just name it XYZ mpg. After it's created, open the folder and change the extension to mpg for use outside of the Authoring program. Otherwise leave the extension as is.

'Hide extensions for known file types' in 'Folder Options>View' is unchecked for me.

[DieselsDen]

The "data" extension exists and can clearly be seen when viewing the extensions. Of course, I could hide it through my folder viewing options, but that doesn't change its form. And yes, I can edit and view it on numerous programs...it's just that I don't want to go through the extra step of altering it to .mpg.

Fo example, the ripped file will read:

DVD-2007-12-13-0005.data DATA File 289,576 KB

Obviously, the numbers after DVD refer to date and numbering of the actual file.

Anyhow, it's good to know I'm not the only one with this "problem."

[lordsmurf]

Sounds like a TDA thing.
Don't use TDA to read discs anyway.