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thigatl
03-14-2008, 04:22 PM
I took the advice from the Patrick N to purchase DVDFab (ultimate) to start ripping my DVD collection. My goal is to have my movies in a library similar to my music so that I can access the movies by title/genre etc... through Vista Media Center or stream to my Xbox.

Warning - I am a techy wannabe... don't really know anything about vid formats, codecs...

So I figured DVDFab would be an easy one click solution. I am in the process of ripping Spider-Man as a test to see what settings are best for moving forward. I first ripped the 'full disc' and ended up with an empty AUDIO_TS folder and VIDEO_TS folder with a bunch of files in it that aren't recognized when I am in Vista Media Center... what am I doing wrong?

I also ripped the movie using the 'generic' setting that created what looks like an .avi file but when I try to launch it I get a missing codec message. This also took hours.

I am currently ripping using the XBox 360 settings with an estimated 10 hour completion!

Any suggestions on how to make this process efficient and end up with files that are playable on my PC and through my xbox? I am looking for the best quality. Storage is cheap and I plan on buying a windows home server to host this content at some point.

My PC is aged and is maxing out during the rip with Vista Premium on a 2.6ghz Pentium 4 with 2047mb Ram. I am thining of juist getting a nice (and quite) HTPC - any suggestions?
ircnode
03-14-2008, 07:04 PM
Try downloading Video Lan Player. Open the Video_TS with VLC (open directory) and it'll play in there.

Not sure how to help you out with the avi failing, but try making sure you have all the required codecs installed.

Also RedKawa (www.RedKawa.com) makes Videora, which is great for conversions. Give that a try. :)
md2389
03-14-2008, 07:50 PM
If those files in the Video_TS folder are .vob, you can play them with any program capable of playing a DVD. As for your AVI problem, I suggest you go into the configuration for DVDFab and check to see what its actually encoding with.
vandalet
03-16-2008, 06:06 AM
The way i do it is. After getting it on my drive like you have, i merge the .VOB files together that contain the actual movie, then convert that file to Xvid with MediaCoder. That way i have a file thats only about 1GB or so instead of 4-8. Google or Torrent RipIt4me to get the Vob Merge program if you want to try this method.
the_steveo
05-04-2008, 09:12 AM
In order for media center to recognise the files, you must hack the registry to add the dvd library. (searchable through google) Then in the dvd library add each of the dvd's folders. (I've read that some people have to move all of the files in the video_ts folder into the dvd's folder in order for it to view the dvd.) After that you are able to play each of the dvd's as if you placed them in the dvd drive, with full menu support.

If you want to have the synopsis and or album art you can go to dvdxml.com to download the *.dvdid file and place it in the dvd directory.

Hope this helps!:)
chris3d
05-04-2008, 07:03 PM
The way i do it is. After getting it on my drive like you have, i merge the .VOB files together that contain the actual movie, then convert that file to Xvid with MediaCoder. That way i have a file thats only about 1GB or so instead of 4-8. Google or Torrent RipIt4me to get the Vob Merge program if you want to try this method.

Yes, that way should work...but it will take you longer to get the file into a format that you can stream over the 360. Doesn't DVDFab (Ultimate ver @ least) have a feature to rip straight to a format such as .wmv or .divx?
vanden
05-05-2008, 01:38 PM
Show have use handbrake...

Just use the output file from Dvd Fab then put that folder in handbrake and pick a preset and click convert and your done...A dvd in a singal format that will work with your Xbox or PC...
Here a little list that mat help..http://www.curlybrace.com/words/?p=65
I use this on my ps3...
shadowtech
05-05-2008, 09:18 PM
Handbrake will actually do the entire process you're looking for I believe. It's a great product, and free. I'm not sure why Patrick recommended DVDfab over Handbrake.
vanden
05-06-2008, 01:46 PM
IT cant strip the drm of dvd now...
dark_shroud
05-06-2008, 04:29 PM
DVDFab should have an option to rip it to .wmv or DIVX. Use one of these formats to play it on your console. Personally I would have gone with AnyDVD. I generally use AnyDVD & the official Divx tools now because I was tired of dealing with a lot of the free software getting discontinued.