Is this method valid????

andy

Hi

I am trying to backup a DVD9 to DVD5 keeping the menus and the main movie only. (Why?? - because I think the menu looks nice, and just to see if I can!  )

My end result seems to work when played back through PowerDVD on a PC but I have no stand-alone to verify the result, so I am wondering if someone could be kind enough to read through my technique and comment if they feel there are any glaring errors.

(Done using xXx R2 PAL - first try!)

My method is as follows:

1) Create ISO with DVDecrypter and mount with Daemon Tools

2) Load VIDEO_TS.IFO in IFOEdit and play movie to see which VTS sets it says are used. (In this case VTS 3 and 4). Exit

3) Copy all the VIDEO_TS files and VTS_xx_0.IFO/BUP/VOB to a directory

4) Copy all the VTS_yy_n.VOB files identified in step 2. [In this case they fit easily on a DVD5. I guess you could add a DVD2ONE/IC step to create a smaller main movie set and use those if needed - will experiment later]

5) Load VIDEO_TS.IFO (copied) in IFOEdit and click 'Get VTS Sectors' when asked if edit all IFO files say Yes.

6) Check in PowerDVD - menu's work but if click on a option we have not copied (eg. deleted scenes) then nothing should happen.

7) Ask others if this is all nonsense or if it should actually work!  

My ultimate aim is to backup a DVD9 to 2xDVD5 with the menus and entire movie on one and the menus and extras on another. As far as I can tell a guide for this does not yet exist. The DVD9-2x5 guide here seems to insist on splitting the main movie over the two discs, which I don't want.

Thanks for your comments,
Andy

DVD players handle errors differently than PowerDVD, so I would go through all the menus and map any quot;JUMP TO TITLE Xquot; that points to one of the VTS's that you have removed to one that still remains (I always make them point to play the movie).

Also, there has to be a VTS_01_1.VOB on the disk, so you're going to have to rename one of the remaining VTS's to this one - then, you're going to have to change any references from the old VTS number to the new VTS number.

But generally, this method works quite well.

Thanks for the reply. Sorry to be stupid but could you tell me how to do the two things you described. I am puzzling through IFOEdit but can't quite get the hang of it.

For example,

VTS_03_0.IFO - the main movie IFO has 4 menus (main, subtitles, scene selection and extras) pointing to VOB-IDs 1-4 respectively. However the there is only VOB ID 1 listed above which has the 28 chapters of the main movie. How do I discover where the others go and how do I remap them.

Very puzzled

Thanks
Andywhat silk suggested r correct.

However I would recommend a more safer way to follow.

There r 2 issues to be considered here.

1. If u don't select any of the deleted features then most probably there won't be any errors from the standalone. It really depends on it and the way it implements the dvd specs. I know some standalones check the integrity of the dvd and don't accept it if it is wrong.
Just to be on the safe side I would include all the vts_xx_0.vob, ifo, bup of the missing features even if I do not use them.

2. It must be a vts_01_1.vob in the set. I suggest that u will find one small vob, the smallest u can find, rename it vts_01_1.vob and throw it in there.
Now u can 'Get VTS Sectors' and u will be on the safe side for most of your backups.

Now imagine this scenario.
movie begins with a logo. Actually it is a 2 chapter pgc. The logo itself and a dummy cell of 15 frames or so.
as soon as it ends it continues to the 2nd cell that holds the link command to the main menu.

In this scenario your methode won't work because u have stripped the logo and therefore it cant continue to the 2nd cell and jump to the main menu.

That's why trilight suggest that u mustn't ever strip anything from a dvd. Instead replace it with a screen that has the same pgc/cell structure in order to have consistent menu behavior regardless of the standalone playing it.

Many thanks for the reply. I have discovered a very useful tool - menuedit - being discussed here. It just disables the menu buttons which is exactly what I wanted, but I have some questions about your points:

1) Yes. I kept the VTS_xx_0.IFO/VOB/BUP but I didn't realise that you need VTS_01_1.VOB as well. It's not in Doom9's guides but you're right, its better to be safe than sorry.

2) I was thinking of replacing the vobs with a few blank frames. Do you know if I need to recreate chapter points or is just a correct VTS/Title/PGC/Cell structure enough (for example most of the VTS sets in xXx have 2 chapters - does this matter). Also you say in (1) copy the smallest VOB to VTS_01_1.VOB - does it have to have the same structure PGC/cell etc... or is it just the fact its there that standalones check for.

Kind Regards,
Andy