Problem with Sonic software?

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@Digitalchick wrote:
Hi! I have a Dimension 5100. I've been using the Sonic software without any problems until now. A friend transferred some VHS movies onto DVD for me, but it's a weird format. It won't play on my new Dimension, but it does play on my home DVD player and my Mac (other family members have no problem playing it on their Dell computers). I've given up trying to make it play on my new Dell. So... now I want to copy the DVD, but because it won't play on my computer... I don't seem to be able to copy it. Using Sonic, I tried to do "Copy." It DOES copy, then asks me to insert a blank DVD. But it keeps asking me to insert a blank DVD... it doesn't "see" the blank DVD I've put into the drive. I don't know if the problem is the DVD, the Dell or the software. All other programs I've tried try to read the DVD... I just want the data copied. Is that even possible? Thanks.

Julie

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If you make an exact data copy, you will then have 2 DVDs that don't work…

Do you happen to know what format this is in, other than "weird"?

You really need to capture the original and re-render it to a new DVD.

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@Digitalchick wrote:
Hi! I have a Dimension 5100. I've been using the Sonic software without any problems until now. A friend transferred some VHS movies onto DVD for me, but it's a weird format. It won't play on my new Dimension, but it does play on my home DVD player and my Mac (other family members have no problem playing it on their Dell computers). I've given up trying to make it play on my new Dell. So... now I want to copy the DVD, but because it won't play on my computer... I don't seem to be able to copy it. Using Sonic, I tried to do "Copy." It DOES copy, then asks me to insert a blank DVD. But it keeps asking me to insert a blank DVD... it doesn't "see" the blank DVD I've put into the drive. I don't know if the problem is the DVD, the Dell or the software. All other programs I've tried try to read the DVD... I just want the data copied. Is that even possible? Thanks.

Julie

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Consumer burned DVDs are perhaps 80% to 90% compatible in the real world. There is 'plus' media and there is 'dash' media and both claim high 80% compatibility with Players…

I have 2 DVD-ROM drives that simply will not read any 'dash' media or any RW media.

If the disc is 'dash' media make sure your friend Finalized it. ('plus' media does not need finalizing)

Also try copying an individual xxxx.vob file to your PC. If it copies OK, rename it to .mpg and see if it will edit.

Hi Jim! Thank you for your response. The guy who made the dvd used one of those stand-alone burners... so no software (well, none that he could identify). There are 10 files on the DVD... six VOB files, two BUP files, and two IFO files. All of those are in a folder entitled "VIDEO_TS." I have tried everything to open the video. This guy put ALL of our old home movies onto DVD. I wanted to edit them... that's why I had him convert them. It's also why I bought this Dell! And I can't even get the files to play, let alone copy them.
I realize that if I make an exact copy, it also won't work on my Dell. But I'm making it for a friend who has a Mac, and it plays just fine on the Mac. I just don't have a DVD burner on my Mac, otherwise I'd burn it that way. But I don't get why I can't copy data... really, that's all it is, right? I can't even copy the files from the DVD onto my desktop. Anyway, as I said, my brother can play the dvd on his (older) Dell. I called the man who made the DVDs and he thinks that maybe my DVD player can't read this type of DVD. But it's the most common type of DVD... can't recall offhand what he meant. And it's a brand new Dell... so if the older ones can read/play it, the newer ones should be able to, too, right?
Ugh. I'm so frustrated!

Thanks again!

Julie