DVDXCOPY improvements - or how to remove .VOB ID's

[jeddah_superstar]

Slicepie,
so by delteing that text file, and also that 14 seconde 321 disclaimer warning ,will stop that digtal watermark ? are you sure about it? if yes where can i find these infos?

[slicepie]

Slicepie,
so by delteing that text file, and also that 14 seconde 321 disclaimer warning ,will stop that digtal watermark ? are you sure about it? if yes where can i find these infos?

STAY TUNED, I'LL FIND IT AGAIN AND POST THE LINK WHERE I FOUND THE ARTICLE. AS FOR IT COMPLETELY ELIMINATING THE WATERMARK, I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. ALL I DO KNOW IS THAT IF THE 321 DISCLAIMER IS NOT REMOVED, THEN IT WILL BE THERE.

[jeddah_superstar]

Slicepie,
Any new infos. or links for 321 studio WATERMARK? still waiting !!

[slicepie]

Slicepie,
Any new infos. or links for 321 studio WATERMARK? still waiting !!

This is where I found the original article - follow this link
http://www.321studios.com/PRESS/12.03.2003.htm

Follow this link to learn more about digital watermarks (you need Adobe Acrobat to view this page)
http://csrc.nist.gov/nissc/1999/proceeding/papers/p10.pdf

I will post anything else I find in the future!! Hope this helps a little, and Merry Christmas!

[AeR0]

wow. really i cant believe anyone goes through all that work just to remove them dumb screens.. like wouldnt u be better off to just use another program?

like i use xpress but i dont like the back up warning but ahh i get over it!

[slicepie]

wow. really i cant believe anyone goes through all that work just to remove them dumb screens.. like wouldnt u be better off to just use another program?

like i use xpress but i dont like the back up warning but ahh i get over it!

I know what you are saying, but if I have the opportunity to customize my backups the way I want them, I'm going to. Anyway, the Backup Disclaimer is the digital watermark, so deleting it from playback should wipe it out.

[AeR0]

what do u mean by digital watermark??

wow. really i cant believe anyone goes through all that work just to remove them dumb screens.. like wouldnt u be better off to just use another program?

like i use xpress but i dont like the back up warning but ahh i get over it!

I know what you are saying, but if I have the opportunity to customize my backups the way I want them, I'm going to. Anyway, the Backup Disclaimer is the digital watermark, so deleting it from playback should wipe it out.

[slicepie]

[quote="AeR0"]what do u mean by digital watermark??


The digital watermark is a code that is written into all DVDX Copy, Xpress, Gold, and Platinum software. It plants a 'mark' onto every disc that is burned using the software so that, if need be, the disc can be traced back to the computer on which it was created. Look a few posts before this one and follow the link for more info.

[slicepie]

wow. really i cant believe anyone goes through all that work just to remove them dumb screens.. like wouldnt u be better off to just use another program?

like i use xpress but i dont like the back up warning but ahh i get over it!

Hey Aero,
It really isn't much work to remove these disclaimers. I've done it so many times now, that I can literally do it in less than 2 minutes.

You just find the folder where Xpress saves the files, open the VIDEO_TS file in IfoEdit, click preview to make sure it's the .vob ID that you want to delete, and click 'delete playback' and save it in IfoEdit. That's it, like I said, less than 2 minutes.

[dbminter]

Just a few more notes on the watermarking technique used by DVDXCopy:


First, why anyone would go through the trouble to remove the DVD Backup logo from playback. There is an entirely legitimate reason. 321 Studios designed the creation code so the logo is very small and displayed with a timed Pause function. However, on some players, like the Panasonic DMR-E20 and E50 models where I have seen this behavior myself, it can cause a freeze effect. It may be simply resolved (On the E50, it can be resolved by pressing Pause, Next, Pause, Play.) or it may lock up the player entirely. That's why I get rid of the logo. If it didn't mess with my player, I'd leave it. e.g. 321 Studios needs to change the logo, create an X second long VOB instead of utilizing a smaller file and using fancy functions.


Second, the watermark itself. It exists in two forms. One easy, one subtle. The easy one is the .TXT file the software puts in the root directory of the DVD disc. As has been noted, an attempt to delete the file will cause the software to crash out because it can't find it. But, the DVD Backup logo is also a watermark in its own way. When you edit IFOEdit to remove the logo playing back on start from VIDEO_TS.IFO, remember that the actual logo file itself, of course, still exists in VIDEO_TS.VOB. About the only way to remove it would be to reauthor it. You could also use Nero Recode to replace it, but, you'd also replace all the other material in VIDEO_TS.VOB. Some DVD's have some stuff, usually you can do without it, though, in the VIDEO_TS.VOB, like Something Weird Video DVD's. However, be aware some players don't like the way VIDEO_TS may be reauthored. I know from experience the Playstation 2 Boards 1 and 7 don't always like it. Depending on what was removed and how, they have a tendency to "sit" on certain titles. Yes, you guessed. Titles that are displayed with the Pause function. However, on the PS2, this can sometimes, though not often, be remedied by pressing Next, and almost always fixed by pressing Menu to load the main menu.


Third, as for how 321 claims they can trace a disc back to the owner of the license of the software that made that particular disc for the very first time, I can only guess it's contained in that .TXT file. I never did examine it thoroughly. I supposed it could also somehowbe made as a small BMP and injected as a frame into some black frame areas of a VOB somewhere, but, that would be an awful lot of work when the .TXT file idea sounds much easier. :>


Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the subject.

[slicepie]

That is some very useful information. The one thing thaat particularly caught my attention was when you mentioned the .TXT file being a watermark. I never even considered that there could be more than just the backup disclaimer. Anyway, even though I didn't know that the >TXT file might be used in that context, I already had formulated a way to copy discs without using it. Rip to harddrive with X Copy, use IfoEdit to remove disclaimer and FBI warning, use IMGTool to convert VIDEO_TS to .ISO, and use DVD Decryptor to write in .ISO mode. It's not really that hard either. You spend more time waiting for stuff to happen than you do actually doing anything yourself. Just something thought I'd share.

Oh yeah, and since the copies made using this process do not contain the .TXT file, X Copy will be able to read them next time too.

[dbminter]

Yeah, in fact, back when DVD X Copy was like Version 1.1 when I first got it, I HAD to use a similar method since the burning engine didn't work right yet. Made DVD's playable only on PC's. I use Nero to just create a DVD-Video job with the VIDEO_TS folder contents in DXC's temporary directory and burn it straight to disc, thus removing the TXT file, too. Plus, I can control the UDF and ISO labels that way.


Of course, regardless, the DVD Backup logo will still be in the VIDEO_TS.VOB file either your way or mine. The only way to remove it is to reauthor the file. I use Nero Record as I said, with some slight player annoyances, like the PS2 one mentioned earlier.


I'm curious now. I examined that .TXT file once about a year ago when I first noticed it and tried to delete it from the disc. I think I'll create another test just to extract that file and check it out. Also, I don't know how these might affect them either, but, during the actual creation process, in DXC's temporary directory is a fold containing a series of GearWorks label files. These might contain some kind of watermarking instructions, too, so, I'll probably just snag everything that isn't a large
.VOB and check them all out.

[dbminter]

The final line from ARCHIVE.TXT:

"Archived by 321Studios DVDXCopy version X.X.X[XXX] on DDD MMM DD TT:TT:TT YYYY

SSSSSSSS-SSSSSSSS"


Where X are numbers in the version number used to create the copy, DDD is the day in three letter format, e.g. Mon for Monday, MMM for month in 3 letter format, e.g. Feb for February, DD for the numeric calendar day, e.g. 01 for the 1st, TT:TT:TT the time it was created in hours, minutes, and seconds, YYYY the year it was created, and S are alphnumeric characters in some kind of uniquely generated serial. It does not match the activation code, so, it must be based on some kind of hash or encryption routine. My guess is this S code uniquely identifies itself with a given user's activation code as the hash key. Thus, the S code can be used with the master hash to determine the hash key, and thus the user's activation code for the unique software install that created the original of that disc. And, so, my guess is that's how 321 Studios would know if you're using their software to mass duplicate DVD's. Which, of course, would take FOREVER!


So, if ARCHIVE.TXT is not present on the disc, about the only thing anyone could say is they know someone used a 321 Studios program to create a master copy somewhere, because of the DVD Backup and Please Insert Disc 2 logos, unless you remove them. But, there would be no way to uniquely identify who did it. However, if they really wanted to, the law would just make up some on the spot rule and charge you with it later. "Well, you DID get this copy from someone somewhere... possession of stolen RIAA property! 30,000 years in a salt mine! Take 'em away, Jack Webb!"


I did not see anything out of the ordinary added to the VOB's except the DVD Backup logo to VIDEO_TS.VOB and the Please Insert Disc 2 added to the final VOB in the main video stream. I didn't check the .IFO's or .BUP's because how could they really hide anything unique in there and still expect the DVD player to function correctly?

[jeddah_superstar]

Yeah, in fact, back when DVD X Copy was like Version 1.1 when I first got it, I HAD to use a similar method since the burning engine didn't work right yet. Made DVD's playable only on PC's. I use Nero to just create a DVD-Video job with the VIDEO_TS folder contents in DXC's temporary directory and burn it straight to disc, thus removing the TXT file, too. Plus, I can control the UDF and ISO labels that way.


Of course, regardless, the DVD Backup logo will still be in the VIDEO_TS.VOB file either your way or mine. The only way to remove it is to reauthor the file. I use Nero Record as I said, with some slight player annoyances, like the PS2 one mentioned earlier.


I'm curious now. I examined that .TXT file once about a year ago when I first noticed it and tried to delete it from the disc. I think I'll create another test just to extract that file and check it out. Also, I don't know how these might affect them either, but, during the actual creation process, in DXC's temporary directory is a fold containing a series of GearWorks label files. These might contain some kind of watermarking instructions, too, so, I'll probably just snag everything that isn't a large
.VOB and check them all out.

So by deleting the Archive text file, and deleting that decliamer logo
will gurntte me that 321 studio can not still trace that disk?

[dbminter]

I make no guarantees because nothing is ever 100%. One of the basic precepts of probability and statistics. But, from everything I could examine on a DXC disc, all I could find that directly traced a disc back to its user license was the License.txt file. The DVD Backup screen can't trace anyone back; all it can do is show that someone at some time used a 321 product to backup the original DVD.


And, you can easily delete the .TXT file by simply using your own burner and copying over the file. The backup screen is imbedded in VIDEO_TS.VOB. And, while you can use something Nero Recode to replace it with a black color or another picture, I tried replacing the backup screen with a single color, but, the Playstation 2 didn't play the disc right. It's a small price to pay, because, all you have to do is press Menu to load the menu. But, I can't say how this might affect other DVD players. The PC and the Panasonic DMR-E50 don't mind the edit.


I think I'll try and replace the backup logo and see, but, I still believe it's going to be a problem replacing it since 321 programs it to use a Pause function.

[slicepie]

The backup screen is imbedded in VIDEO_TS.VOB. And, while you can use something Nero Recode to replace it with a black color or another picture, I tried replacing the backup screen with a single color, but, the Playstation 2 didn't play the disc right. It's a small price to pay, because, all you have to do is press Menu to load the menu. But, I can't say how this might affect other DVD players. The PC and the Panasonic DMR-E50 don't mind the edit.


I think I'll try and replace the backup logo and see, but, I still believe it's going to be a problem replacing it since 321 programs it to use a Pause function.

Why not just use IfoEdit to 'delete playback' of the backup logo and be done with it. I use X Copy Xpress and when I delete the playback of the backup logo, I simply pop the disc into my dvd player and it starts at the beginning of the movie. What could be simpler than that? IfoEdit effectively erases the VIDEO_TS file, re-saves it and also re-saves the .BUP file associated with it. It has not failed me yet and I can't think of an easier way to do it.

[dbminter]

The previous post was ultra worried. He wanted ALL vesitges removed. When you edit any of the .IFO files, you merely tell the player to do something differently. When you delete the playback of a VOB ID from the VIDEO_TS.IFO file, it skips playing it, but, the video still exists in the VIDEO_TS.VOB file. Thus, the previous poster wanted to remove the DVD Backup screen, too, thus, no one could trace what application originally created it.

[dbminter]

Well, I tried testing replacing the DVD Backup logo with a singular image, like Nero Recode allows. But, on the PS2, same result as if I'd replaced it with just a singular color. The PS2 didn't like it at all. Would NEVER load the DVD beyond the first loaded Title. So, if you want to go in and remove the logo, be aware that it may cause a player to not behave properly.

[slicepie]

Ok, everyone. Anyone that has read this thread from start until now will undoubtedly know that I am a DVD X Copy and X COPY XPRESS advocate. However, I have been having a problem lately. I have attempted to make a backup copy of X2: X MEN UNITED 6 or 7 times with the same results. Each copy freezes at the 2:03:42 mark. I have also tried using DVD Decryptor, DVD Shrink, and NERO. Those programs or any combinations of those programs has produced the same result. Now, I have had freezes before and it turned out that I was using a disc that was not empty. After erasing the disc, everything worked fine. This is not the case this time. And it is not bad media, because I have used the same rw- dvds many times with no errors.

Anyone with any ideas on what to do? Also, I think I saw a similar problem with X2 posted somewhere, but it was a while ago and I couldn't find it now. I would appreciate anyone who can help mw with this problem.

[dbminter]

When you say you tried DVD Decrypter, did you try first decrpyting X2 to a large ISO file on the HD? If not, try, if you have the free HD space, which, you should in this day and age of large HD and the size of DVD's.
try to ISO extract the X2 disc. If it decrypted to an ISO file successfully, then, try to rerun DXC or XCX with that ISO file loaded as a virtual drive and then work on that virtual drive. This has worked for me with discs that didn't want to behave when read in physical drives. Inferring that the source discs weren't damaged, of course.

[slicepie]

When you say you tried DVD Decrypter, did you try first decrpyting X2 to a large ISO file on the HD? If not, try, if you have the free HD space, which, you should in this day and age of large HD and the size of DVD's.
try to ISO extract the X2 disc. If it decrypted to an ISO file successfully, then, try to rerun DXC or XCX with that ISO file loaded as a virtual drive and then work on that virtual drive. This has worked for me with discs that didn't want to behave when read in physical drives. Inferring that the source discs weren't damaged, of course.

No, I haven't used Decryptor in ISO read mode. I ripped the disc in FILE mode and converted to ISO with ImgTool Classic, then burned in ISO write mode. I tried using DVD X Copy Xpress to rip, convert to ISO using ImgTool, then burn in ISO Write mode with Decryptor. No luck there either. I also tried tried ripping in FILE mode in decryptor, shrinking to fit with DVD Shrink, and burning with NERO. Still no luck. I even tried to rip, shrink, and write with DVD Shrink and that didn't work either. Finally, I tried just using Xpress to rip and write, but it still froze at 2:03:42. The only other option I can think of is to use XCOPY XPRESS and click the box marked 'entire disc' and see if that does the trick.

The problem with your suggestion is that the disc is approx. 5.2 GB, blank discs are only 4.7 GB. I will still have to use a product like DVD Shrink t omake it fit. But I will give it a try. Thanks for your input.

[dbminter]

If you still have the ImgTool ISO, then, you can try that, too. Ripping to File with DVDD and converting them to an ISO is pretty much the same thing as just ripping to ISO. Of course, I'm a perfectionist who tries all possiblities, so, you may want to try DVDD ISO rip, too. I'm the type who will restore a virgin Windows factory install image to run a test. That way, I can isolate a problem easier: fewer candidates to test.


If it still fails, then, it must be something in how the files on the disc were authored. Nothing you can do about that, e.g. how CloneDVD wouldn't read in Panasonic DMR-Ex0 made discs, how Nero Recode may not like if you edit IFO's other than VIDEO_TS.IFO, etc.

[slicepie]

Ok, nobody has posted here in awhile, so, for an update, it turned out that the problems I was having with X2 were media related. I went out on a whim and purchased Maxell Dvd-r discs and made a backup with no problems. I think my Memorex Dvd+rw's are all used up.

I now have a new problem: On the last 2 discs I have copied (Freaky Friday and American Wedding), neither VOBrator nor IfoEdit have been able to find the backup disclaimer. Are they obsolete at this point? Have I forgotten how to use them properly? Is there a newer program that works better? I'm not sure what is going on. I am using DVD XCOPY Xpress 3.0.2 (I refuse to upgrade). The only time this happens is when I rip the entire disc. It's easy when just the movie is ripped because there's only one VOB ID to delete from playing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[slicepie]

One more thing. Ever since the courts handed down the ruling that prevents 321 Studios from including decryption technology into their software, I get constant upgrade reminders whenever I open XCOPY XPRESS. Anyway, my point is simple. If you have upgraded and found that "newer is not better" just like I did, you can go back. I upgraded, realized I couldn't rip discs with XPRESS anymore, and immediately downgraded back to version 3.0.2. Of course in order to do that, you have to have the lower version's install file saved somewhere (like on a disc), and you still have to enter your original code(s).

What I'm really trying to say is that if anyone is in need of a downgrade let me know by writing slicepie69@yahoo.com. I will reply with an attached file of version 3.0.2.

Also, I am unaware if this posting violates any forum rules or legal issues regarding the distribution of copyrighted software. I believe it should be ok since the program won't even install unless you have the correct code to activate it.

One last thing, should this post be moved from the "How To Remove .VOB ID's" topic to another part of the forum, please let me know so I can track it. Thanks to all!!

[dbminter]

I seem to recall reading somewhere, not tested it yet, that with the RF ripper free versions of the software 321 released in the wake of the rulings, the 321 splash screens are removed... mostly because Platinum version still doesn't work! It cannot properly split a disc in the way that DVD X Copy could. Platinum chooses the points where you can split, and, it's always a consecutive stream of values. It's too arbitrary, as well.


If they have removed the splash screen, I guess they realized why should they go out and try to be even more coddling to the lawyers than necessary, and in the process freezing some people's DVD players, if it's not going to do anything to sway the case.


I'm having my own unique problems with VOBRator. It's suddenly stopped working at all. Crashes every time it tries to read in a VOB now. On IFOEdit, it's always been common for me to have a display that's all gray when an item is selected and almost all begin with an mpeg decode error.

[slicepie]

I'm having my own unique problems with VOBRator. It's suddenly stopped working at all. Crashes every time it tries to read in a VOB now.

With VOBrator, it tends to crash on XP. You need to change it's properties and force it to run in 256 colors. It works better that way.

[dbminter]

That's the first thing I tried. It's common law now with VOBRator. :> No, it's not that it won't load, it crashes trying to read in the VOB's, any VOB, even VOB's I had read in before to find which one had the VOB ID for the splash screen. It's something I've installed since then, and this is a new computer, so, I just need to dig around and find out what it was. I had had it working fairly well with XP; although many times it wouldn't display the video and I had to demux it and examine each mv2 file individually, but, I didn't mine that. Beats having the app CRASH and doing nothing.

[dbminter]

Oh, discovered what it was by accident. The Compatibility mode had been switched off. If set to Windows 95/ME, it runs. I bet I just copied over the shortcut when I did the installs on this new computer and forgot to set those options. Since, despite what you'd THINK and a shortcut should have all those options included IN it instead of the Registry it doesn't you have to remember to set the options manually. Stupid, isn't it? Equally stupid that I forgot to do it!

[knowhour]

I tried changing the VIDEO_TS.IFO file with the one from the original DVD, but it dint play in my dvd. Then I tried erasing the VIDEO_TS VOB file is the first file in the temp folder for DVD X COPY PLATINUM. It plays in my DVD, is a cheap brand, but it dont play in brand dvd's such as SONY OR SAMSUNG, that I know of.

Another way is to replace that VIDEO_TS, this is the VOB file "not" the IFO. Dont erase the one in the temp folder, just copy and paste the one form the original DVD. you will not get the 321 backup screen but the Warning that is printed in all dvds. this works without problems on any DVD player.

[dbminter]

The original warning, which, you can remove by using IFOEdit to change the necessary .IFO (Not always VIDEO_TS.) So, most of the time, I just let DVD X Copy, or Nero Recode or DVD Shrink, etc., do its work, go in with IFOEdit and remove the splash screen, plus anything else (Logos, advertisements, promos, etc.) that I don't want interfering with playing the disc. Then, I create a disc image with the files with Nero and burn the image.