Converting a DVD to a file I can put on a flashdrive.

[gibdanson]

I was given a DVD at work of a training video and I need to convert it into a file that I can put on multiple flashdrives and send out to instructors. WMV is my first choice. I don't really have any experience doing this and I need some guidance. What is the best way to do this?

Thanks!

[Baldrick]

If you really want wmv can you try freemake video converter. Just select +dvd to load your dvd and to wmv to convert.

[jman98]

WMV would NOT be my choice.

I have seen fully patched and up to date versions of WMP flat out refuse to open non-encrypted WMV files that VLC could open and play with no problems on the exact same PC.

WMV is not officially supported on non-Windows platforms (ie. Mac and Linux servers). It is possible to play those files on those platforms, but if you have low tech users of those operating systems, they may not know how to get WMV to play.

Now I do have to admit that you could convert to WMV and everything could be fine, but if you have problems, and the chance of this is not zero, then you are SOL.

[Ai Haibara]

What would the instructors be using to play it?

Would it be possible for them, for instance, to play a disc image of the DVD or VIDEO_TS folder rip as though they were the actual DVD (or would they mind doing that)?

If just the training video itself, I'd think an MPEG (VOB2MPEG, etc.) would work better and be more compatible across OS platforms than WMV (especially if space isn't an issue on the flash drives) or AVI (probably if space IS an issue).

[codemaster]

I would recommend MP4 instead of WMV, and MeGUI to convert the DVD to MP4. MeGUI has a Basic DVD Ripping Guide on it's wiki.

With MeGUI you can also extract the dvd chapters, and include them in the MP4 file, if they are needed.

[turk690]

If the DVD is encrypted, I'd AnyDVD it then make an *.iso file of it with ImgBurn. I'll put this *.iso on the flash drive, include Virtual CloneDrive (or tell users to download and install it) so that this image file can be mounted on recipient's PC, then viewed with, say, MPC.
Most training DVDs I have encountered are not encrypted, and are not even DL. If that were the case then all tools required to do all above are freeware: ImgBurn, Virtual CloneDrive, MPC. No fancy extractions and conversions and you get the DVD with all of its original quality and functionalitie as is, 1:1.

[johns0]

Just use dvdfab to rip to your hdd and as Ai Haibara has suggested is to use vob2mpeg,mpeg 2 is more universally accepted then wmv across o/s platforms.

[usually_quiet]

I was given a DVD at work of a training video and I need to convert it into a file that I can put on multiple flashdrives and send out to instructors. WMV is my first choice. I don't really have any experience doing this and I need some guidance. What is the best way to do this?

Thanks!

What is going to be used to play the files? We are all assuming it will be computers, but what kinds? If something else will be used, that is crucial information to have.

Assuming a personal computer will be used, .wmv, .mpg, and .mov are good choices for some operating systems, but I don't think any of them are natively supported by all operating systems. Installing third-party software may be necessary for some computers to play one or two of these three kinds of files, and old, underpowered Windows XP systems that do not have graphics cards capable of decoding H.264 could struggle with playing H.264 .mov files regardless.

I could be wrong, but don't think any version of Windows has native support for the .mov container. XP, Vista, and Windows 7 machines won't have a problem playing .mpg or .wmv files with Windows Media Player, but the Windows 8/8.1 version of Windows Media Player and the Video App do not include MPEG-2 support (they do support .wmv). Playing .mpg files with a Windows 8/8.1 machine requires installing a third-party software player or Windows 8 or 8.1 Pro plus Windows Media Center.

For OSX .mov support is built-in, but isn't support for MPEG-2 only available via paid software or a third party player for OSX versions older than Lion? Support for .wmv is only available via third party software if someone uses OSX.

I don't think any either OSX or Windows has native support for DivX or Xvid avi.